The 1986 Jeep Cherokee has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 28,129 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC88V1060001988-07-011,600 affected
Defect
BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR CANISTERS MAY DEVELOP LEAKS DUE TO BUMPER IMPACT.
Consequence
THIS WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND ANINCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy
REPLACE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM CANNISTERS WITH NEW TYPE CANNISTERS; ALSO, INSTALL A RESTRICTION ORIFICE TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT VACUUM IN EVENT CANNISTER LEAKAGE OCCURS.
STEERING86V1590001986-12-096,958 affected
Defect
STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS REMAINED IN ACID ETCHING BATH TOO LONG. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COUPLERS COULD BE OUT OF TOLERANCE RESULTING IN STEERING WHEEL…
Remedy
REPLACE OUT OF TOLERANCE STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS.
ACCELERATOR CABLE BUSHING COULD DISCONNECT FROM THE ACCELERATOR LEVER ASSEMBLY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ENGINE CONTROL WITH ENGINE RETURNING TO IDLE.
Remedy
REPLACE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET AND LEVER ASSEMBLIES.
JEEPS MAY HAVE AN IMPROPERLY CONNECTED FUEL LINE FITTING WHICH COULD BECOME DISCONNECTED AND CAUSE GASOLINE TO BE SPILLED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE FUEL LINE BECOMES DISCONNECTED, SPILLS GASOLINE AND AN IGNITION…
Remedy
RECONNECT FUEL LINE FITTING, AS REQUIRED.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
1fires
SEAT BELTS
1
1crashes3injuries1deaths
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
1
STEERING
1
1injuries
Total complaints26
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I bought the car and drove it home on november 13, 2013 with the intentions of making a vehicle to use in the winter for bad weather or very bad snow. Here are issues I face. The speedometer goes crazy once I reach speeds over 35mph. It goes well pass the 85mph mark and back down to 15mph and…”
“I bought the car and drove it home on november 13, 2013 with the intentions of making a vehicle to use in the winter for bad weather or very bad snow. Here are issues I face. The speedometer goes crazy once I reach speeds over 35mph. It goes well pass the 85mph mark and back down to 15mph and…”
“Consumer having problems with power brakes booster . Hard to stop vehicle.”
“While having new tires put on mechanic noticed that back brakes were down to rivets, and will start tearing into the drums. Consumer stated this was why vehicle was leaking brake fluid very badly. Please provide any further information.*ak”
“Ongoing steering problem reported by previous owner & experienced by present owner; steering wander, esp. At freeway speeds, all parts undamaged or replaced inc. Tie rods, struts, shocks, bushings, etc...; alignment to specs without improvement. *ak”
“Ongoing steering problem reported by previous owner & experienced by present owner; steering wander, esp. At freeway speeds, all parts undamaged or replaced inc. Tie rods, struts, shocks, bushings, etc...; alignment to specs without improvement. *ak”
“Ongoing steering problem reported by previous owner & experienced by present owner; steering wander, esp. At freeway speeds, all parts undamaged or replaced inc. Tie rods, struts, shocks, bushings, etc...; alignment to specs without improvement. *ak”
“Ongoing steering problem reported by previous owner & experienced by present owner; steering wander, esp. At freeway speeds, all parts undamaged or replaced inc. Tie rods, struts, shocks, bushings, etc...; alignment to specs without improvement. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA88005 Opened 1987-10-23 · closed 1989-03-28
ELEC. REAR WINDOW
ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLAINTS AND ODI EXAMINATION OF VEHICLES SUGGESTS THATIMPINGEMENT OF THE TAILGATE LOCK DUST COVER AGAINST THE KEY MAY EITHERINDUCE OR CONTINUE UNINTENDED UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE TAILGATE WINDOW.STATUS:CHRYSLER RECALLED BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 19, 1987.HOWEVER,WE BELIEVE THAT THE SELF EXAMINATION…
InvestigationPE88001 Opened 1987-10-23 · closed 1988-01-28
FIRES CAUSED BY CLTCH LK
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
InvestigationPE89151 Opened 1989-08-11 · closed 1989-12-11
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Jeep Cherokee as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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