1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 34about this part
- Share
- 4%of 893 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 130,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 34 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4% of the 893 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 130,000 miles. 29 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.
“On january 24,2014 my wife was a fatality after a 45 m.p.h. Collision with a guardrail butt, then rolling over after the initial impact. The air bags did not deploy either on initial impact or the rollover. She was wearing her seat belt. Has there ever been a recall on these vehicles pertaining to these air bags failing? My wife may still be alive today if not for this defect.”
NHTSA complaint #10568623, filed 2014-03, 130,000 miles“I was driving the vehicle on interstate 81 south and slid on ice which made me hit at guard rail at a high speed and flip the vehicle. At impact at least 40 m.p.h. The airbags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10013944, filed 2003-04, 134,000 miles“The consumer's vehicle was involved in a collision, it struck a tree head on. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle did not have enough impact to deploy the air bags. The front grill was pushed into the engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10087885, filed 2004-11, 14,000 miles“My horn has not worked for many years until yesterday my husband who drives my Jeep rarely was driving it and had a close call and he hit the horn and it worked? He tried to do it again and it failed to work. This is a one owner car and we have never taken it in to have it checked out. Not sure if it has something to do with the air bag assembly in the steering wheel or what it could be. Please advise if any other complaints and possible fixes for this problem. Thank you”
NHTSA complaint #10621257, filed 2014-08“I was in a car accident when I tried to avoid another car that slid into my lane. The back part of the Jeep hit a telephone pole and then I slid in the ice and hit a tree head on. Police estimated the speed I hit at was 30 MPH. None of the airbags deployed and my seat belt didn't lock up when the brake was on so I hit the windshield and steering wheel.”
NHTSA complaint #757116, filed 2002-01Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 6% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0% |
| 2023 | 12 | 3% |
| 2022 | 9 | 3% |
| 2021 | 20 | 5% |
| 2020 | 17 | 7% |
| 2019 | 19 | 5% |
| 2018 | 24 | 3% |
| 2017 | 15 | 4% |
| 2016 | 12 | 4% |
| 2015 | 104 | 8% |
| 2014 | 211 | 9% |
| 2013 | 33 | 4% |
| 2012 | 43 | 3% |
| 2011 | 60 | 4% |
| 2010 | 11 | 9% |
| 2009 | 11 | 8% |
| 2008 | 40 | 5% |
| 2007 | 29 | 3% |
| 2006 | 60 | 5% |
| 2005 | 95 | 5% |
| 2004 | 326 | 25% |
| 2003 | 256 | 34% |
| 2002 | 486 | 33% |
| 2001 | 26 | 3% |
| 2000 | 59 | 4% |
| 1999 | 83 | 5% |
| 1998 | 36 | 4% |
| 1997 | 36 | 4% |
| 1996 | 34 | 4% |
| 1995 | 30 | 4% |
| 1994 | 37 | 6% |
| 1993 | 24 | 4% |
Other parts of the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
280 complaintsFuel system
134 complaintsBrakes
118 complaintsEngine cooling
88 complaintsBody and structure
85 complaintsSteering
67 complaintsElectrical system
65 complaintsSuspension
50 complaintsTires
35 complaintsVehicle speed control
35 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaintsEquipment
26 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Jeep Grand 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