1996 Jeep Cherokee vs 1998 Jeep Cherokee
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Jeep Cherokee | 1998 Jeep Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 447 | 399 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 50 | 80 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 57 | 34 |
| Fire reports | 27 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–19 | 16–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 136,650 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Jeep Cherokee | Jeep Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 86 | 80 |
| Power Train | 60 | 65 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 47 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 54 | 30 |
| Air Bags | 26 | 52 |
| Structure | 47 | 27 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 21 | 32 |
| Steering | 37 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 29 | 13 |
| Stalling | 23 | 28 |
| Rust / corrosion | 21 | 10 |
| Electrical failures | 9 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 8 | 6 |
| Steering problems | 7 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
1996 Jeep Cherokee
1998 Jeep Cherokee
Compare all Jeep Cherokee vs Jeep Cherokee years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.