10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,558 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Jeep Cherokee engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments

problem #20

Jul 072006

Cherokee 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 171,150 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I one day was on my way home from work one day and the check engine light came on and my car suddenly lost all back pressure I could not climb hills and started to smoke but before I could make it home my car began to smoke and eventually caught on fire leaving stranded with no vehicle in site I then called the police dept they had to put out. They said I was lucky to get out.

- Gloversville , NY, USA

problem #19

Feb 132003

(reported on)

Cherokee

  • miles
The vehicle stalled, which caused consumer to lose all power.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #18

Oct 312002

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Mounts failed when turning car into parking lot. Car is at dealer for repair now. Sheared off bolts have to be drilled out.

- Berwyn, PA, USA

problem #17

Jul 052002

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer states that 3 grade 8 engine mount bolts on the left side have sheared off.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #16

Oct 012001

Cherokee 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was driving along and hit a bump. Consumer heard a noise and thought that linkage shifted. Consumer's mechanic discovered that right motor mounts broke.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #15

May 032001

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Car has been well-maintained throughout ownership/no abuse of any sort on our part hastened the extensive repairs/overall repair bill was $1500.head gasket and assoc. Problems caused the water pump to seize up, the serpentine belt to slip off/the metal parts to be chewed up which went into the radiator causing the water lines and the radiator to be flushed as well.we are concerned about the extensiveness of this problem and the repair cost. We have contacted Chrysler, but they said they will not proceed with a recall until NHTSA reports this problem to them.that file # is 8646708. We previously owned the same make and model(1988 Jeep).we sold it at 200,000 miles--never having extensive repair problems such as this.

- Midland, TX, USA

problem #14

May 042001

(reported on)

Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

All 3 bolts that hold motor mounts to block broke off while driving, causing engine to drop or fall. Consumer is requesting manufacturer compensate him for damages and also car rental the he had to endure.

- Independence, WV, USA

problem #13

Apr 082001

Cherokee

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving consumer heard fan hitting housing of the radiator. Also, vehicle would not go in 5 th gear or reverse. Motor had dropped about 3 inches. Motor mount bolts had broken.

- Honeybrook, PA, USA

problem #12

Oct 132000

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
The shearing of the right engine mount to engine bolts could have allowed the engine to drop down onto the steering mechanism thereby causing loss of control. Due the the engine droppping down on the right side, the rear transmision mount was torn from the cross member and the transmission shifted right which could have caused a drive shaft disconnection. I don't know if the engine shift could have impacted the throttle linkage. This shearing of the 3 mounting bolts was not caused by normal wear and tear as the bolts failed simultaneously. It is possible that the bolts were not sufficiently hardened, or possibly over tightened at assembly causing premature failure. The vehicle was essentially disabled and the only thing keeping the engine in place was the distributor landing on the chasis mount hanger.

- Somers, NY, USA

problem #11

Aug 262000

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
I crossed a railroad track at approximately 15 mph and came to a stop approximately 1 block away. As soon as I applied the accelerator, a loud bang and the sound of "dragging a muffer" occured. I immediatley pulled over and discovered that the shroud around the primary fan was broken into many pieces. I took the Jeep to the dealer the next day they were open (occured on a Saturday) and was told that the 3 bolts securing the right engine mount to the block had sheared causing the engine to fall several inches. This requires removing the engine to drill and tap the three holes to install a new bolts. Diamler-chrylser is willing to pay for the bolts but not the $1000 labor. The Jeep has never been off road and maintained excellently.

- Hanover, PA, USA

problem #10

Aug 262000

Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine front motor mounts that screw into the side of the engine have sheared off. Dealer has repaired problem, but has no reason for the cause.

- Hanover, PA, USA

problem #9

Mar 072000

Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Felt a thunk beneath the Jeep, discovered the bolts holding the engine in place (3) had sheared off allowing the engine to dropdown on one side.

- Rr 1 Box 656, PA, USA

problem #8

Sep 101999

Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The right side engine mount broke, causing the engine to drop out of place while driving. Dealer has been contacted.

- Carmel, NY, USA

problem #7

Aug 301999

(reported on)

Cherokee

  • miles
Three engine bolts sheared off, leaving the engine hanging low on the front end. This happened while traveling at 60 mph. Dealer has replaced the bolts.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #6

Mar 081998

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
On the first occasion the motor mount bolts broke and the side of the engine collapsed downward. Due to the collapse the fan moved down and it hit the fan cover. When the motor mount collapsed it chipped away at the surface of the engine block. The second time the motor mount bolts came out completely and the engine fell to the side again this time wedging fan into the radiator. The first time the dealership repaired the motor mounts, but obviously did not do a good enough job, in order the keep the motor mount secure.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #5

Jun 121999

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Upon hitting a bump on an interstate highway, I noted unusual sounds coming from the undercarriage of my 4-wheel drive vehicle. I immediately took this vehicle to a repair facility where it was discovered that three (3) of the six (6) bolts which attach the engine to the body of the vehicle had broken off, causing the engine to shift. The only reason that the engine did not fall off entirely is that a part of it caught on the chassis of the vehicle, preventing the engine from falling off entirely. The repair facility manager indicated that this type of mishap occurs regularly with Jeep vehicles.

- College Point, NY, USA

problem #4

Jun 121999

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Upon hitting a bump on an interstate highway, I noted unusual sounds coming from the undercarriage of my 4-wheel drive vehicle. I immediately took this vehicle to a repair facility where it was discovered that three (3) of the six (6) bolts which attach the engine to the body of the vehicle had broken off, causing the engine to shift. The only reason that the engine did not fall off entirely is that a part of it caught on the chassis of the vehicle, preventing the engine from falling off entirely. The repair facility manager indicated that this type of mishap occurs regularly with Jeep vehicles.

- College Point, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 201999

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
The water pump went out on way out of town. White smoke poured out from behind the Jeep. We immediately pulled over and used our phone to call for help. We were told from a mechanic that it sounded as if the water pump went out. We waited for the Jeep to cool off, then added water to the radiator. We were able to drive at 35 mph until we found a service station to pull over at. At that time the technician told us that it was indeed the water pump and there was no more that could be done that day (Saturday-5:00P.M.). we got our vehicle towed back home to lafayette, la. The next morning and at that time the towing/service technician also said it looked as if the engine head gasket was blown. Is that common for this vehicle with this milage" also, the brakes went out and we had them fixed a month ago at lafayette motors Inc. Could they have known about the water pump or is that impossible? also, was there supposed to be any warning as a check engine light" we got no warning, but the smoke pouring out.( dot number: )

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #2

Jan 271999

Cherokee

  • miles
While driving about 5 to 10 mph heard a loud noise and pulled over to see what the problem was. Took the vehicle to the shop, and dealer noticed that the motor mounts had sheared off.

- Keyser, WA, USA

problem #1

Jul 281998

Cherokee

  • miles
When driving vehicle hit a bump in which the engine mount bolts sheared off, causing the engine to drop several inches, resulting in the vehicle driving very rough. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer replacing parts.

- Yorba Linda, CA, USA

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