1994 Jeep Cherokee

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

71/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 585 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Jeep Cherokee, and it carries 9 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Structure	206	35%
Engine and engine cooling	80	14%
Service brakes	60	10%
Vehicle speed control	37	6%
Power train	35	6%
Seat belts	29	5%
Electrical system	19	3%
Tires	12	2%
Equipment	12	2%
Steering	11	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WA
NHTSA complaint: Engine

MY MOTHER WAS REAR ENDED WHICH CAUSED THE FRAME INCLUDING THE SEAT TO COMPLETELY NOT HOLD TOGETHER,, MY MOTHER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS IT PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER,, KILLING HER INSTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint: Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE) AND 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKA
NHTSA complaint: Power train

AFTER RECEIVING THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE OF THE AFFECTED PARTS ON MY JEEP, I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE GIVEN A CALL BACK WHEN THE SPECIFIC PART CAME IN. 3 MONTHS PAST AND I RECEIVED NO C
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

LAST YEAR THE NHTB ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE'S ISSUE WITH THE GAS TANK PLACEMENT. IT WAS STATED EACH EFFECTED JEEP WOULD RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FROM CHRYSLER TO INSTALL A TRAILER HITCH IN THE BACK
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

FOR AT LEAST A YEAR NOW THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE YOU RECALL JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES YEARS 1993-2004. THEY SAY THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 64 DEATHS DUE TO THIS DEFECT. JUST YESTERDAY, A FAMILY OF 4 WAS OUT ON A DRIVE WH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

I HAVE A 1994 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT ONLY LETS GO SUDDENLY, BUT OFTEN DOES NOT EVEN ENGAGE AT ALL. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

CONSUMER REQUESTING INFORMATION ON A 1994 JEEP CHEROKEE. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS REAR ENDED AT A STOP LIGHT AND WAS PINNED IN THE SEAT BY THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 1994 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.

Fuel system 08V056000

U.S. DRIVE RIGHT IS RECALLING 107 MY 1994-1998 RIGHT HAND DRIVE, 4-WHEEL DRIVE JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, 'CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS;' NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT;' NO. 111, 'REARVIEW MIRROR;' NO. 114, '

Risk: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.

Fix: U.S. DRIVE RIGHT WILL MAKE ALL THE REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS. A REPRESENTATIVE WILL TRAVEL TO THE CUSTOMER'S LOCATION AND MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS ON SITE. THE RECALL WILL BE PERFORMED ON A REGIONAL BASI

Exterior lighting:brake lights 11V279000

U.S. DRIVE RIGHT IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1994-1996 JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES IMPORTED FROM JANUARY 2007, THROUGH APRIL 2011 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT," FOR THE HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLY. T

Risk: INADEQUATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: U.S. DRIVE RIGHT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND MAIL KITS ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC OF THEIR CHOICE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12

Exterior lighting:headlights 09E025000

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.

Exterior lighting 09E012000

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.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	71	good
Longevity est.	73	good
Maintenance	81	excellent
Depreciation	80	excellent
Performance	71	good
Efficiency	29	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 11% of other
Longevity: better than 14% of other
Running costs: better than 81% of other
Value retention: better than 89% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 71: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 73: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1994 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 81: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1994 Jeep Cherokee?

Owners have filed 585 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 206 of them (35%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1994 Jeep Cherokee reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (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.

How long will a 1994 Jeep Cherokee last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1994 Jeep Cherokee?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. 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.