1993 Jeep Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report door hinges and welds separating from the body, and brake problems that include rotor corrosion, sticking calipers and repeat rotor replacement. Most reports come at high mileage (median around 130,000), so these are largely age- and wear-related patterns; a notable cluster of unintended-acceleration and cruise-control complaints was filed at very low mileage.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Door hinges and welds tearing away from the body

   • 77 complaints (18%)
   • median 118,000 mi at 10.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2018

   Complaints describe door hinges pulling out of the body or frame, hinges cracking at the attachment point, and welds separating so a door sags, will not close, or drops. Several owners say a door came completely off or became unusable, and some report rust around the hinge area. Where dealers were involved, owners say the problem was called common on these vehicles and that repairs were quoted to the owner rather than covered. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 50,000 miles up past 200,000, and often described as developing gradually rather than suddenly.

   What to check: Open and close every door slowly and watch the hinge area for cracks, rust staining or movement in the body panel; check underneath for separation of the hinge from the frame.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The passenger door upper hinge had slowly become unattached to the body of the vehicle. There was never any rough usage of the door. The hinge now is completely unattached and the door is useless and cannot be opened for fear of it falling off. The driver door is just now showing signs of the same problem. This vehicle was well taken care of during its ownership. This is a manufacture defect that we need to take care of and simply cannot afford it. I hate to see my wife riding in the back seat. It isn't right. It's not our fault.”

   NHTSA complaint #10070513, filed 2004-01

   “1. Doors loose from the body of the car. 2. Drivers door almost fell off. Passenger rear door fell completely off. 3. Parts repaired. Please see defect investigations documents inim-sq00009-9370p, inot-sq00009-15635p, inon-sq00009-15636p, inme-sq00009-15626, and in-ea01005-nn.pdf.”

   NHTSA complaint #10088512, filed 2004-08, 50,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake rotors corroding, warping or calipers sticking

   • 84 complaints (20%)
   • median 117,610 mi at 11.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2017

   Owners describe front rotors that corrode or warp and need frequent replacement, and calipers that lock up while driving, causing dragging, heat and smoke. Some complaints mention corrosion of rear wheel cylinders or of brake lines, and one owner reports a brake pedal that stays down unless pulled up by hand. Complaints also note grinding noises and repeat rotor and pad work; one owner asked about reimbursement for parts they felt a rotor campaign should have covered. Mostly reported above 100,000 miles, with a few caliper lock-ups described after only 15-20 minutes of driving.

   Recall 99V340000

   What to check: Check rotor surfaces for heavy pitting or rust and look for uneven pad wear; after a test drive, feel each wheel for unusual heat that would suggest a dragging caliper.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1993 Jeep Cherokee and the front brake caliper on the driver side locked up on july 4, 2017, while driving around town, about 15 minutes after being started, without any hard braking. The next day the caliper was replaced. Today, 9/28/2017, while driving at highway speed about 20 minutes after car being started to drive to work, a shimmy developed. When I got to work a few miles later, the caliper was locked again and was smoking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11030321, filed 2017-09, 230,350 miles

   “The ignition will not turn back. It is locked in place. I have to pull the wire off the distributor & the battery cable to kill it. This happens when my brake light on the instrument panel comes on. Also, the heater, ws wipers & radio will not come on. My brake pedal stays down constantly, I have to physically pull up on it each & every time (the law has stopped me for this). My brakes make a horrible grinding sound at times. I have found similar complaints with all linking ABS system failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10058330, filed 2004-02, 117,610 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden unintended acceleration in reverse or at start

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the vehicle accelerating on its own, typically when the selector is moved into reverse or just as the vehicle is about to move off, with the driver reporting that the brake pedal did not stop it. Some reports involve a crash into a building, steps or a driveway, and a few mention injuries. In several cases owners say the dealer or a shop could not reproduce or diagnose the problem. Reports are scattered in age, and several were filed at low stated mileage, so no consistent mileage pattern shows in the sample.

   What to check: Before buying, test the throttle and shift linkage by hand with the engine off and ask whether the throttle cable and cruise-control servo have been serviced; confirm what happens when reverse is selected on a level surface with light brake pressure.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After the consumer shifted the vehicle in reverse, the vehicle lurched backward and ran over the consumer. Consumer was transported to the local hospital by ambulance. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #10108540, filed 2005-01, 73,000 miles

   “Consumer states that in reverse the vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing a collision, and the aribag did not deploy. The dealer has been notified. Consumer put her foot on the brake and then attempted to put vehicle in reverse, however vehicle acclerated down the driveway and into and up the steps, consumer suffered a broken back and lacerations to her head and was in the hospital for 9 days, the air bag did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #818859, filed 1997-11
4. 4
   Steering

   Front-end shimmy or wobble at highway speed

   • 32 complaints (8%)
   • median 200,000 mi at 21.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2018

   Owners describe a violent front-end shake that starts after hitting a bump at highway speed and can require slowing almost to a stop to regain control, sometimes called a death wobble. Complaints mention repeated replacement of front-end parts, alignments and tires without a lasting cure, and one owner reports being unable to turn left and being told the steering gear box needed replacement. Others describe frame cracks near the steering gear attachment as part of the same front-end looseness. Mostly reported above 150,000 miles, usually triggered by bumps or potholes at highway speed.

   Recall 97V069000

   What to check: Inspect the frame rail where the steering gear mounts for cracks or missing reinforcement, check track bar and tie-rod play, and drive the vehicle over a rough patch at speed if it is safe to do so.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle is experiencing the death wobble because of the oem steering and suspension components. I was driving down ronald reagan parkway in davenport, fl pulling a trailer and hit a minor bump pot hole in the road when my Jeep started to exhibit the 'death wobble,' I was able to control it, but being on a two lane road and a truck next to me I was scared of an accident because of the wobble.”

   NHTSA complaint #11119502, filed 2018-08, 235,000 miles

   “My car is a 1993 Jeep Cherokee is has a same problem as a recall #97v069000 it need the reinforcement plates.,the frame is crack and the steering gear attaching bolts are broken because of it, I went to the deller marino chrysler Jeep dodge location 5133 w irving park rd ,and I spoke with the assistant service manager jorge alicea, about this recall because my VIN # is not in the list well please make understand this people my car has the same problem than the recall shows please ,my car is affected with this problem my VIN my car a Jeep …”

   NHTSA complaint #10298300, filed 2010-01, 131,250 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Stalling, no-start or cutting out while driving

   • 25 complaints (6%)
   • median 120,805 mi at 11.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Complaints describe the engine stalling or cutting out without warning, sometimes after reaching operating temperature or under load, and then not restarting for 20-30 minutes until it cools. Some owners report the engine bucking or stalling around a quarter tank of fuel, or difficulty getting the key to turn and the vehicle to crank. Where owners went to dealers, several say no fault code was stored and the problem could not be reproduced. Reported from roughly 70,000 to over 200,000 miles, with some stalls described after only a few minutes of running.

   What to check: Ask for service records on ignition switch, crank sensor and fuel pump work; start the vehicle cold and warm it fully during the test drive, and check whether it restarts promptly after being shut off hot.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “You need to fix this nhsta web site so people can enter complaints without all the validation - it was very painful to enter this request and I bet many people just give up. Examples: I looked for chrysler and could not find other was not an option, too many other companies to scroll through - finally I realized daimler chrysler. Also I entered a perfectly valid and the web site would not accept it saying it was invalid. Now - on to the real issue... 1993 Jeep cherokees with 50k-70k miles will stall on highway/other roads (quite dangerous). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10192297, filed 2007-06, 70,000 miles

   “Ignition does not always turn over. It sometimes takes 15 minutes of trying to turn the key. I sometimes have to take the vehicle out of park and put it back into park to get it to start. It is not the battery. It seems be related to the vehicle being in park or neutral and the key turning over. This has been occurring over the past 4 months.”

   NHTSA complaint #10056726, filed 2004-02, 147,000 miles

Buying note. On a vehicle of this age, condition and rust history matter more than paperwork: check door hinge areas, frame rails near the steering box and brake hardware closely before buying. Ask what has already been replaced and budget for wear items, since most reports in this sample come at high mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.