Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 2,113 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Jeep Cherokee, and it carries 8 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 | 591 | 28% |
| Power train | 328 | 16% |
| Visibility | 142 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 103 | 5% |
| Air bags | 96 | 5% |
| Seats | 96 | 5% |
| Suspension | 52 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 51 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 41 | 2% |
| Steering | 39 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated, and the instrument gauges failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was not di
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The airbag light is on all the time and the horn does not work. Failed clock spring. Mileage 123,000. 1999 Jeep Classic. No cruise control.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Found that there is a plastic fuel tank mounted behind the rear axle hanging down below the bumper and was told if I get rear ended it could cause an explosion that would need to have a hitch receiver installed to protec
NHTSA complaint: Structure
1999 JEEP CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE. THE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG ON A HIGHWAY DOING 70 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR STARTS STOPPING THIS TIME YOU BARELY GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. OR, YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG THE CAR STOPS YOU PUT ON YOUR FLASHERS AND YOU HEAR THE TRUCKS
NHTSA complaint: Engine
LATELY I BEEN HAVING TROUBLE STARTIMG THE JEEP. AT FIRST IT SEEMS AS IF THE BATTERY IS LOW. SOUNDS LIKE IT WONT START BUT THEN IT SLOWLY PICKS UP AND STARTS IF I PRESS THE GAS. I CHANGED BATTERY BUT STILL HAVING TROUBLE.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I HAVE A LEAK IN MY GAS TANK. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO PUT GAS IN IT AND NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM MY GAS TANK BEFORE I STARTED FILLING IT. IT WAS DRIPPING OFF GAS TANK COVER....
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 1999 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.
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIAT
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
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 AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE
Risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-32
| Reliability raw | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 80 | excellent |
| Performance | 65 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 2,113 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 591 of them (28%). There are 8 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (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 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 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 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.