Complaints
1,250
Crashes
156
Fires
26
Injuries
119
Fatalities
8
Recalls
1
Worst 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1160 complaints
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Crash-related:66
#262 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Avg mileage:102,959 mi
#353 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:84,333 mi
Crash-related:9
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 160 | 66 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 62 | — | — | 102,959 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 53 | 9 | 1 | 84,333 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 49 | — | — | 75,806 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 38 | 1 | 2 | 148,147 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 38 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 31 | 2 | — | 128,475 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 30 | 1 | 2 | 131,383 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 30 | 4 | 2 | 120,100 mi | |
| Fuel System | 28 | — | 1 | 196,801 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 28 | 8 | — | 100,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 23 | — | 2 | 94,000 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 21 | 2 | — | 211,906 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 20 | 19 | — | 14,000 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 20 | — | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 20 | — | 1 | 44,481 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 18 | — | — | 100,200 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 17 | — | 2 | 174,212 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 17 | 1 | — | 173,025 mi | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 16 | — | 2 | — | |
| Body Structure | 15 | — | — | 218,500 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 15 | 1 | — | 147,000 mi | |
| Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire | 15 | — | 1 | — | |
| Airbags | 14 | 10 | — | 129,800 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 14 | — | 1 | 111,801 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 14 | 1 | — | 145,217 mi | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 14 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 14 | 1 | — | 190,000 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 12 | 1 | — | 137,855 mi |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
160
complaints
Crashes
66
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
62
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,959
Automatic Transmission
53
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
1
Avg Miles
84,333
Fuel Pump
49
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,806
Electrical Faults
38
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
148,147
Structure:Body:Door
38
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
31
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
128,475
Gasoline Fuel System
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
131,383
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
30
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
120,100
Fuel System
28
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
196,801
Unintended Acceleration
28
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
—
Avg Miles
100,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
23
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
94,000
Suspension Failures
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
211,906
Air Bags:Frontal
20
complaints
Crashes
19
Fires
—
Avg Miles
14,000
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
44,481
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
100,200
Engine Problems
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
174,212
Steering Defects
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
173,025
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
218,500
Tire Defects
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
147,000
Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
14
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
129,800
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
111,801
Transmission / Drivetrain
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
145,217
Power Train:Axle Assembly
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
190,000
Engine & Cooling
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
137,855
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,560,000 vehicles.
13V252000Structure · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
~1,560,000 affectedChrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Other Jeep Grand Cherokee Years
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 1,250 NHTSA complaints, 156 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch with 160 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Top reported problems: Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch (160 complaints); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor (62 complaints, avg 102,959 mi); Automatic Transmission (53 complaints, avg 84,333 mi). 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 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 121,330 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee include 156 crash-related reports, 26 fire reports, 119 injuries, and 8 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 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,560,000 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Jeep Grand 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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