Complaints
287
Crashes
13
Fires
19
Injuries
17
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1989 Jeep Cherokee Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#167 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:123,626 mi
Crash-related:2
#234 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:97,000 mi
Crash-related:4
#311 complaints
Brake Master Cylinder
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1989 Jeep Cherokee.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 67 | 2 | — | 123,626 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 34 | 4 | — | 97,000 mi | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 10 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 8 | 1 | 3 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 4 | — | 2 | — | |
| Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 | — | 1 | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
67
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
123,626
Unintended Acceleration
34
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
97,000
Brake Master Cylinder
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1989 Jeep Cherokee. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Jeep Cherokee Years
1989 Jeep Cherokee — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1989 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1989 Jeep Cherokee has 287 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 67 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1989 Jeep Cherokee?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (67 complaints, avg 123,626 mi); Unintended Acceleration (34 complaints, avg 97,000 mi); Brake Master Cylinder (11 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1989 Jeep Cherokee?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 114,663 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1989 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA complaints for the 1989 Jeep Cherokee include 13 crash-related reports, 19 fire reports, 17 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1989 Jeep Cherokee have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1989 Jeep Cherokee as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1989 Jeep Cherokee?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Jeep Cherokee reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1989 Jeep Cherokee
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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