1990 Jeep Cherokee Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 54about this part
- Share
- 20%of 270 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 105,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 54 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1990 Jeep Cherokee, 20% of the 270 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 105,000 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have owned a Jeep Cherokee sport which was purchased new in 1990 for years now. I have experienced sudden acceleration events more than ten times now, most recently in 2008. It seems each time I will be driving along, possibly braking, and zoom! The engine revs and the vehicle accelerates. It is like driving a car out of control. I am aware that chrysler has blamed such occurrences on operator error but, more than once now, I have checked to be sure my foot was not on the gas pedal when this acceleration was happening. …”
NHTSA complaint #10315694, filed 2010-03, 10,000 miles“Vehicle was on road while the owner noticed that there was smoke coming out of the cruise control switch. Consumer pulled over and unexpectedly the vehicle caught on fire. Results showed that there was a short with the cruise control switch.”
NHTSA complaint #10117097, filed 2005-03, 200,000 miles“I sent two complaints in letter form. One was in january to the DOT in washington dc, and I sent another letter to the NHTSA office in white plains, ny on april 5th. Please contact me by phone or email because this has been an ongoing problem with my Jeep that is a safety hazard to all other drivers and myself. Chrysler fails to see the importance of this issue, and I have gotten nowhere with their inadequate customer service.”
NHTSA complaint #705385, filed 1999-04“Sudden engine acceleration, 2000-2500 rpms at stop or neutral when normal is 800 rpms. Cause unknown. This was the third incident over three years. In the two previous incidents, shutting off the engine and restarting stopped the high revving. This last time, it wouldn't stop until I shut off the engine for 20 minutes. I had to ride the brake and use neutral in my automatic transmission. My vehicle is a 1990 Jeep Cherokee. If has efi, electronic ignition and cruise control. It doesn't happen often but it does happen.”
NHTSA complaint #10068329, filed 2004-05“My vehicle had a sticker indicating that the tps recall had been completed prior to my ownership. I have been experiencing the same problems with the tps that caused the original recall on the part. The throttle position sensor has been causing intermittent high engine idle speeds immediately after starting the engine. The idle cannot be reduced by tapping the gas pedal. The rpms continue to increase until I turn my vehicle off. I have to restart the engine anywhere from 1 to 6 times before I can get a normal idle speed. …”
NHTSA complaint #709999, filed 1999-08Related recalls
- 90V177000Oct 2, 1990Malfunction of fuel injection system throttle postition sensor could cause intermittent high engine idle speed immediately after starting engine.Covers: Jeep Cherokee 1989–1990, Comanche 1989–1990, Wagoneer 1989–1990
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 11% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 8 | 2% |
| 2019 | 83 | 5% |
| 2018 | 20 | 3% |
| 2017 | 60 | 4% |
| 2016 | 76 | 5% |
| 2015 | 120 | 7% |
| 2014 | 185 | 7% |
| 2001 | 5 | 2% |
| 2000 | 10 | 3% |
| 1999 | 10 | 3% |
| 1998 | 11 | 3% |
| 1997 | 15 | 4% |
| 1996 | 13 | 3% |
| 1995 | 72 | 12% |
| 1994 | 38 | 7% |
| 1993 | 36 | 9% |
| 1992 | 19 | 17% |
| 1991 | 12 | 5% |
| 1990 | 54 | 20% |
| 1989 | 45 | 24% |
| 1988 | 25 | 26% |
| 1987 | 19 | 33% |
| 1986 | 3 | 14% |
| 1984 | 2 | 29% |
Other parts of the 1990 Jeep Cherokee
153 complaintsEngine cooling
28 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
17 complaintsFuel system
16 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsSeat belts
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsSeats
6 complaintsTires
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1990 Jeep Cherokee
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology