Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 517 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Jeep Cherokee, and it carries 7 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 | 139 | 27% |
| Structure | 96 | 19% |
| Power train | 44 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 33 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 33 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 28 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 18 | 3% |
| Steering | 14 | 3% |
| Tires | 13 | 3% |
| Visibility | 12 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE DRIVER'S DOOR HINGES CAME OFF THE BODY OF THE JEEP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGES ARE ALSO LOOSE. IT LOOKS TO BE FAULTY WELDING ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTORER.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE DEATH WOBBLE BECAUSE OF THE OEM STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. I WAS DRIVING DOWN RONALD REAGAN PARKWAY IN DAVENPORT, FL PULLING A TRAILER AND HIT A MINOR BUMP POT HOLE IN THE ROAD WHE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I OWN A 1993 JEEP CHEROKEE AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE LOCKED UP ON JULY 4, 2017, WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN, ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER BEING STARTED, WITHOUT ANY HARD BRAKING. THE NEXT DAY THE CALIPER WA
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
FOUND 8 WIRE STRANDS PROTRUDING FROM SIDEWALL OF ONE TIRE ON FRONT OF CAR WHILE WASHING THEM
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
HITTING BUMPS AT 55 MPH SENDS VEHICLE INTO UNCONTROLLABLE FRENZY. CANNOT CONTROL VEHICLE, MUST SLAM ON BRAKES AND PRACTICALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. I KNOW THOUSANDS OF JEEPS SUFFER THIS "DEATH WOBBLE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, GASOLINE LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS MOST DISTINCT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
MY CAR IS A 1993 JEEP CHEROKEE IS HAS A SAME PROBLEM AS A RECALL #97V069000 IT NEED THE REINFORCEMENT PLATES.,THE FRAME IS CRACK AND THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHING BOLTS ARE BROKEN BECAUSE OF IT, I WENT TO THE DELLER MARIN
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1993 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.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, OR WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRI
Risk: THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
| Reliability raw | 77 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 80 | excellent |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 517 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 139 of them (27%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (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 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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.