1996 Jeep Cherokee Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 3%of 447 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 127,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the seats of the 1996 Jeep Cherokee, 3% of the 447 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 127,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I own a 1996 Jeep Cherokee and the sheet metal that connects the drivers seat to the adjustable track under the seat is tearing and coming lose. I feel that this is a extreme safety hazard which could lead to an accident and further increased injury during that accident when the seat becomes disengaged from its anchoring points. While the Jeep is 7.5 years old, I am only 5ft 10in 195lbs and do not think that the metal should be tearing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10063948, filed 2004-03, 155,000 miles“Underside of front seat (metal rail connecting to tracks) broke suddenly near retaining bolts on both front connections. Metal was flimsy (1/8 in or so) and did not appear to be reinforced against shear (up/down) stress at connection point to accommodate seat motion when drivers got into/out of vehicle. I was just getting in to go to work when it failed, but it could just have easily happened in traffic or at a traffic stop.”
NHTSA complaint #10329912, filed 2010-05, 173,000 miles“While accelerating from a stop one of the attachment bolts holding the front driver seat to the slide rails tore through the sheet metal on the left front attachment point. Upon removal of the seat, broken welds were found on the right rear of the frame and part of the frame was cracked.”
NHTSA complaint #10100711, filed 2004-11, 93,480 miles“Getting into my 1996 Jeep Cherokee the nut which secures the drivers lower seat cushion frame to the seat adjuster pulled through the cushion frame. I am the original owner of this vehicle and it has never been in an accident and has 88932 miles on it. I feel this is a safety issue. If this vehicle is in an accident the forces which would need to be resisted would far exceed those a person could apply getting into the vehicle. Therefore, I feel this is obviously either a design problem or a manufacturing problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10045902, filed 2003-11“The front left corner of the drivers seat has broken loose from the adjustment slide. This causes the seat to tilt back when accelerating. The metal is torn from around the bolt. The bolt is still intact. The upper left door hinge is also coming loose from the body. The weld that secures the hinge to the body is failing. I contacted the local dealer (not the one who I bought the car from) and the service manager told me that he had not seen these problems before. Since it is out of warranty he suggested I take it to a body shop. …”
NHTSA complaint #759502, filed 2002-03Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 3 | 0% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% |
| 2016 | 5 | 0% |
| 2015 | 8 | 0% |
| 2014 | 6 | 0% |
| 2001 | 18 | 8% |
| 2000 | 22 | 6% |
| 1999 | 15 | 4% |
| 1998 | 12 | 3% |
| 1997 | 1 | 0% |
| 1996 | 15 | 3% |
| 1995 | 2 | 0% |
| 1994 | 9 | 2% |
| 1993 | 8 | 2% |
| 1992 | 3 | 3% |
| 1991 | 6 | 3% |
| 1990 | 6 | 2% |
| 1989 | 2 | 1% |
| 1988 | 1 | 1% |
| 1985 | 2 | 12% |
Other parts of the 1996 Jeep Cherokee
93 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
60 complaintsEngine cooling
54 complaintsBody and structure
47 complaintsElectrical system
43 complaintsSteering
37 complaintsSuspension
31 complaintsFuel system
28 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsTires
14 complaintsSeat belts
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Jeep Cherokee
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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