1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,250 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, alongside 12 recall campaigns and 8 defect investigations. It scores 45/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 141,000 miles.
Below average
Where 1996 sits among all Grand Cherokee years
What owners report
“Vehicle was in park and engine was running, the transmission slipped into reverse causing, accident.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 Grand Cherokee
“Consumer stated that while driving at any speed and without warning the fuel pump failed. Dealer notified. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 Grand Cherokee
“The consumer has had the brakes and rotors turned or replaced every 3-6 months. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 Grand Cherokee
“Had jeep in for ac problem, dealer noticed cracked exhaust manifold. I suspected this before, as engine sounded different. In talking with service rep, they advised "we have seen a lot of these, it cracks in a curved part of the manifold. The replacement manifold has a flexible curve where the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 Grand Cherokee
“Sunroof rusted out- replaced by dealer, automatic door locks failed and vinyl paneling peeled- both thing replaced by dealer. Check engine light came on for no reason- sensor replaced twice by dealer.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 Grand Cherokee
“Consumer stated the alarm on dash keeps indcated the doors are open. The dealer has been contacted. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 Grand Cherokee
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 200 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 137,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 95,000 and 167,215 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (12)
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Fix: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will…
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF…
Fix: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND…
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST,…
Fix: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT…
NAPA AND CARTER REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMPS MANUFACTURED BY OTD, INC., AND DISTRIBUTED BY FEDERAL MOGAL, MAY HAVE AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CHECK VALVE. THE PART NUMBERS OF THESE PUMPS ARE P74697M AND P74708M. THEY WERE MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 15 AND 27, 2002.…
Fix: IF YOU PURCHASED AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP FOR YOUR MY 1995 OR 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AFTER JULY 15, 2002, AND ARE NOT SURE WHETHER THE FUEL PUMP IS ONE OF THOSES INVOLVED IN THIS…
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER HAS NOT PLACED THE SHIFTER LEVER FULLY INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AFTER SEEMING TO BE STABLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH "QUADRA-TRAC" TRANSFER CASE, TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE, AND ANY OF 225/70R16, 225/75R16 OR 245/70R15 ROAD TIRES. WHEN THE TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE IS IN USE, THE FRONT AXLE CAN OVERHEAT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE WITH A FULL SIZED TIRE AND WHEEL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MEMORY SEAT OPTION. THE MEMORY SEAT MODULE WIRING HARNESS CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SEAT SPRING, A LOW RESISTANCE SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP RESULTING IN LOCALIZED HEATING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE MEMORY SEAT CONTROL MODULE AND WIRING HARNESS AND A PROTECTIVE SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE SEAT FRAME.
THE FASTENERS WHICH SECURE THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT FUSE TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER CLAMP LOAD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR FUSE WITH A FUSE LINK AND ANY DAMAGE TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER WILL BE REPAIRED.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 13V252000.
Led to recall campaign 02V053000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
The 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee drew 1,250 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 45/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems?
The top reported problems for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee are transmission & drivetrain (307 complaints), fuel system (147), and brakes & stability (144).
At what mileage do 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems show up?
Owners most often report 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems around 137,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 95,000 and 167,215 miles.
Does the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee have recalls?
12 recall campaigns apply to the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.