1988 Jeep Cherokee Recalls

No recalls on record Updated July 2026

No NHTSA recalls on record for the 1988 Jeep Cherokee. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Complaints by component

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
19
3crashes3injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
15
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
6
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
3
3fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
3
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
3
Total complaints118

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Upon pulling out the driveway power steering was lost. The gear box dropped. There was another frame welded to the original frame. Found that the vehicle had been in an accident. Contacted the dealer. *ak”

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · reported 2004-08-01

“The rear passenger tire experienced tread separation. *jb the consumer was driving when loud noise had come from the right rear wheel well. The exact same problem happened to the left front tire. (model peerless force 4) *scc”

TIRES:TREAD/BELT · reported 2003-05-12

“Jeep cherokee driver side seat belt buckle does not stay latched... The mechanism has collapsed inside the buckle.. Daimler-chrysler refuses to replace this part of the seat belt under warranty.. This is a chronic problem with these older jeep cherokee seat belt buckles... This is the second older…”

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY · reported 2003-04-14

“No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak”

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM · reported 2001-08-02

“Vehicle was parked with engine running, consumer applied brake and put vehicle in reverse. Vehicle went backward at high speed, and hit parked vehicle. Accident report stated vehicle went 86 feet, and hit parked vehicle at 50 mph. No injuries. $ 2030 damage to vehicle. *ak consumer stated the…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2001-07-18

“When I come to a stop or near stop, and turn either to the left or right, the engine shuts down as I start entering into the intersection. It does this only when I have turned the steering wheel to start my turn. It has actually stalled when I'm nose out into traffic. Most of the time it will…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · reported 2001-07-04

“Dt* the contact stated that the shoulder part of the seat belt strap does not lock up. Has had vehicle for 5 years and the seat belts in the front do not function properly and have never functioned properly. They should lock up when vehicle breaks but they do not. Updated 7/13/2006 - *nm”

SEAT BELTS:FRONT · reported 2001-06-01

“While driving about 55 mph on highway accelerator pedal always went to the floor, throttle stayed open. Could step on brakes pedal to make throttle close, butit will activate again.*ak”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL · reported 2001-04-08

Defect investigations

Investigation PE88001 Opened 1987-10-23 · closed 1988-01-28

FIRES CAUSED BY CLTCH LK

NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

Investigation PE88029 Opened 1988-02-23 · closed 1988-09-19

THROTTLE CONTROL

SUMMARY:THE PE WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER JEEP'S RECALL OF CERTAIN1987 MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0 LITER FUEL INJECTED 6 CYLINDERENGINE (87V-035) HAD INVOLVED ALL THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES.AREVIEW OF THE ODI FILES HAD INDICATED THAT 1987-1988 JEEP VEHICLESEQUIPPED WITH THE 4.O LITER ENGINE…

Investigation PE89151 Opened 1989-08-11 · closed 1989-12-11

SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR

===

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Jeep Cherokee as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.