Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 265 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Jeep Cherokee, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 94 | 35% |
| Vehicle speed control | 38 | 14% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 18 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 15 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 6% |
| Structure | 9 | 3% |
| Power train | 8 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 3% |
| Visibility | 8 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I HAD MY JEEP TOWED TO THE DEALER AS I HAD NO BRAKES AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. I RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT THE ABS PUMP AND COMPONENTS WERE BAD, AND IT WOULD COST $1600 TO CONVERT IT TO NON ABS WITH MASTER CYLINDER, B
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
DEALERSHIP CAN NOT GET PARTS TO FIX THE ABS BRAKES WHICH WERE RECALLED AND HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. MY JEEP HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE NOVEMBER 2015 WAITING FOR PARTS. NOW THEY TELL US THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO GET
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2016 AND I DROVE IT FOR 6 WEEKS. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 75 MPH WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DELAMINATED AND CAUSED A WRECK IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED 3 TIMES I GOT OUT OF THE VEH
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO 22 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SEIZE THE VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V260000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICL
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
1989 JEEP CHEROKEE. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEM AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON JANUARY 24, 2013 FOR RE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DU
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1989 Jeep Cherokee. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
THERE MAY BE HYDRAULIC FLUID CONTAMINATION FROM CONDENSATION FORMATION THAT CAN PLUG THE ABS BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FILTER; STRESS CORROSION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SNAP RING HAS BEEN TRACED TO CHLORINE LEAKING FROM THE LOW PRESSURE HYDRAULIC HOSE WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO BREAK; FRONT BRAKE HOSE TO TIRE INT
Risk: CONTAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN CAUSEMALFUNCTIONING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM; LOW PRESSURE HOSE LEAKAGE CAUSESLOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND ALSO RESULTS IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE MASTERC
Fix: REPLACE ABS LOW PRESSURE HOSE; REBUILD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER; INSPECT, SERVICE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS, AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSE AS NECESSARY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.
Risk: 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 MAN
Fix: 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 PU
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 80 | excellent |
| Performance | 65 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 265 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 94 of them (35%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.