1991 Jeep Cherokee Problems: Brakes (233 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 1991 Jeep Cherokee is Brakes (65% of 233 owner reports). There are 9 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Brakes — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 233 complaints · 9 recalls
What problems show up on the 1991 Jeep Cherokee?
152 of 233 filings named Brakes (65% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Engine (13 reports).
There are 9 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Lights, Brakes, and Cruise / speed control. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 1990 has 265 reports on file; this year has 233. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Brakes 152 complaints · 65.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 13
- Fires 9
- Injuries 14
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 152 | 65.2% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 13 | 5.6% | 0 crashes · 3 fires |
| Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) | 13 | 5.6% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 10 | 4.3% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 10 | 4.3% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 9 | 3.9% | 0 crashes · 5 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 4 | 1.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 2 | 0.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 2 | 0.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 200 | 85.8% | 9 crashes · 9 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 96V260000 was reported 715 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 97I002000 was reported 830 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 98V005000 was reported 1,096 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 09E025000 was reported 4,136 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 1995-Q2 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 1995-Q3 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 1995-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 1996-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 1996-Q2 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 1996-Q3 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 1996-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 1997-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 1997-Q2 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 1997-Q3 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 1997-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 1998-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 1998-Q2 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 1998-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 1998-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 1999-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 1999-Q3 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 1999-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2000-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2000-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2000-Q3 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2000-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2001-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2001-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2001-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2002-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2002-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2002-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2003-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2003-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2003-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2004-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2004-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2004-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2005-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2005-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2005-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2006-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2007-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2010-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2012-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2012-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 90V206000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 91V023000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 91V063000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 96V260000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 97I002000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 98V005000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 06E026000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 09E012000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 09E025000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE93057 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE95049 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP95007 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE96053 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA97001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP02005 |
Safety Recalls (9)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Lights, Brakes, and Cruise / speed control.
-
Recall campaign 06E026000
Safety recall 06E026000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 09E012000
Safety recall 09E012000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 09E025000
Lights
- Report date
- Component:
- Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
- Consequence:
- DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 90V206000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- CONTACT AT FULL JOUNCE MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE TUBE TOCOLLAPSE AND RESTRICT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE TO THE LEFT REAR BRAKEWHICH AFFECTS THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy:
- REPLACE LEFT REAR BRAKE TUBE WITH TUBE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE CONTACT WITH BUMPER.
-
Recall campaign 91V023000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR AND RESULT IN PARTIALLOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY.
- Remedy:
- REPOSITION BRAKE TUBE TO AVOID CONTACT WITH STEERING SHAFT; ALSO, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED BRAKE TUBES.
-
Recall campaign 91V063000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- DETACHMENT OF THE HOSE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSES THELOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION AND HYDRAULIC BRAKE ASSIST, LEAVING ONLY MANUAL BRAKESAND DECREASING STOPPING ABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DISCHARGE OFHYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE AREA OF THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.
- Remedy:
- REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE.
-
Recall campaign 96V260000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- IF THIS OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION WOULD BE LOSE AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT AND THE BASE MANUAL BRAKES WILL REMAIN FUNCTIONAL.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE). OWNERS WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR PREVIOUS ABS COMPONENT REPAIR COSTS.
-
Recall campaign 97I002000
Cruise / speed control
- Report date
- Component:
- Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
- Consequence:
- PEDAL MISAPPLICATION BY A DRIVER CAN CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF THESE VEHICLES.
-
Recall campaign 98V005000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 7 of 233 complaints · page 1 of 10
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 1991 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to slow as needed. The brake warning light was illuminated. The depressed the brake pedal with extreme force and the vehicle came to a stop. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed because the vehicle was an older vehicle. The contact was informed that had already been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 96V260000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was imported from Canada, and once it was imported, the vehicle warranty was voided. The failure mileage was 175,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT BECAME STIFF AND HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FROM A GREATER DISTANCE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUNTINGTON BEACH CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (16701 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92647, ([redacted]) AND A PRESSURE TEST WAS PERFORMED, WHICH FOUND AN INTERNAL LEAK AT THE ABS PUMP AND MASTER CYLINDER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SYSTEM DID NOT BUILD UP OVER 800 PSI AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,970.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT LOST BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY WHILE BEING OPERATED ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RYAN AUTO MALL (LOCATED AT 1000 HIGHWAY 55 E, BUFFALO, MN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V260000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), WHICH STATED THAT THE COMPONENT HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY. THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN HUNTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING ABS BRAKE ISSUES ON HIS 1991 JEEP CHEROKEE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PUMP TO REPAIR THE ABS BRAKES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL #96V260000 *JS
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND AND FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V260000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY ABS PUMP HAS FAILED, AND CHRYSLER IS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH NHTSA RECALL #96V260000 HAVING TO DO WITH THE ABS PUMP. THE RECALL CLEARLY STATES THAT "THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE". I CALLED THE CHRYSLER RECALL CENTER TODAY, AND AT 5:01PM PST, SASHA TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THAT PART, AND I WAS DENIED HELP. THE NHTSA RECALL CLEARLY STATES OTHERWISE. TRYING TO FIND ANSWERS ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH CHRYSLER DENYING AND REFUSING SERVICE, BECAUSE APPARENTLY THIS PART CAN NO LONGER BE HAD. WHY IS THEIR DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE STATED LIFETIME COVERAGE ON THE RECALL? I ALSO LEARNED THAT LAST YEAR CHRYSLER WAS FINED $105 MILLION BY THE NHTSA FOR MISHANDLING RECALLS. IF THE NHTSA ALLOWS CHRYSLER TO DENY THIS, LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY MAY FALL ON BOTH PARTIES, AS I WILL BE CONTINUING WITH LEGAL ACTION. *TR
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 JEEP CHEROKEE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED EVEN THOUGH THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 096V26000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. IN MAY OF 2016, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SEOND TIME BECAUSE THE ABS PUMP MOTOR FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER BEING PRODUCED AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE AT THE FAIR VEHICLE PRICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE AMOUNT OFERED PER THE REPURCHASE PROGRAM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. ...UPDATED 09/19/16 *BF *CN
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 1991 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners named Brakes most often — 152 of 233 reports (65%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 1991 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA lists 9 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Lights, Brakes, and Cruise / speed control. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 1991 Jeep Cherokee?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.