The 1987 Jeep Cherokee has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 33,628 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR CANISTERS MAY DEVELOP LEAKS DUE TO BUMPER IMPACT.
THIS WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND ANINCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE.
REPLACE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM CANNISTERS WITH NEW TYPE CANNISTERS; ALSO, INSTALL A RESTRICTION ORIFICE TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT VACUUM IN EVENT CANNISTER LEAKAGE OCCURS.
VEHICLE MAY CONTAIN AN OUT OF TOLERANCE THROTTLE BODY.
THIS COULD PREVENT THE ACCELERATOR FROM RETURNING TOIDLE WHEN RELEASED.
REPLACE SUSPECT THROTTLE BODIES.
CRUISE CONTROL MODULE COULD HAVE INCONSISTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION.
INCONSISTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION COULD RESULT INLOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
REPLACE MODULE, AS NECESSARY.
A STUD MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON TOP OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF ENGINE THAT COULD CONTACT THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: CHAFING OF THE FUEL HOSE COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
REMOVE STUD AND REPLACE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE AND LINE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES WITH ACCUMULATED MILEAGE.
STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS REMAINED IN ACID ETCHING BATH TOO LONG. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COUPLERS COULD BE OUT OF TOLERANCE RESULTING IN STEERING WHEEL…
REPLACE OUT OF TOLERANCE STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Dt: the contact stated this vehicle had the same problems as indicated in the recalls; 97i002000 concerning the accelerator pedal , recall 88v106000 concerning the power assist hydraulic service brakes/recall 87v035000 concerning vehicle speed control linkages/ 86v159000 concerning the steering…”
“Dt: the contact stated this vehicle had the same problems as indicated in the recalls; 97i002000 concerning the accelerator pedal , recall 88v106000 concerning the power assist hydraulic service brakes/recall 87v035000 concerning vehicle speed control linkages/ 86v159000 concerning the steering…”
“Dt: the contact stated this vehicle had the same problems as indicated in the recalls; 97i002000 concerning the accelerator pedal , recall 88v106000 concerning the power assist hydraulic service brakes/recall 87v035000 concerning vehicle speed control linkages/ 86v159000 concerning the steering…”
“Dt: the contact stated this vehicle had the same problems as indicated in the recalls; 97i002000 concerning the accelerator pedal , recall 88v106000 concerning the power assist hydraulic service brakes/recall 87v035000 concerning vehicle speed control linkages/ 86v159000 concerning the steering…”
“Dt: the contact stated this vehicle had the same problems as indicated in the recalls; 97i002000 concerning the accelerator pedal , recall 88v106000 concerning the power assist hydraulic service brakes/recall 87v035000 concerning vehicle speed control linkages/ 86v159000 concerning the steering…”
“Steering column snapped. As a result, steering failed. *ak”
“When braking after driving at highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. As a result, the vehicle experienced extended stopping distance. Recall 87v03500 was issued, but this vehicle was not included due to vin. *ak the vehicle would not stop until the key was turned off. The engine would…”
“This jeep is unpredictable because it accelerates for no expected reason it seems to get stuck on a high throttle idle speed when I first turn it on. I would turn it on and it will accelerate at very high revolutions , it sounds like its going to explode, so I turn it off then on again and it will…”
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…
ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:THE MULTI-POINT INJECTIONSYSTEM (MPI) USED ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAS HAD WIRING HARNESS FAILUREAND FAILURE OF THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (CPS).BOTH FAILURES HAVE A HIGHFREQUENCY AND ARE THE SUBJECT OF JEEP TASK FORCES.NUMEROUS MODIFICATIONSTO BOTH ITEMS HAVE BEEN…
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:THE FUEL INJECTED 6 CYLINDER(242 CID) IN-LINE ENGINE IS APPARENTLY NEW TO THE INSTALLATION INTO THEJEEP CHEROKEE.ANALYSIS:THE FUEL INJECTED ENGINE ALLEGEDLY STALLS WHILE THE VEHICLE ISCRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (35-55MPH).TWO FAILURE MODES HAVE BEENIDENTIFIED, STALLING WHEN…
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
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…
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Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Jeep Cherokee as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.