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#BS-1988-JEECHE-17201988 Jeep Cherokee
Based on reports from 118 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 118 complaints, 4 crashes, 7 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.9x the class average.
Top reported problems
heater not working
1 complaints • Severity 8/10
stalls out while driving
1 complaints • Severity 8/10
starts then stalls
1 complaints • Severity 8/10
Preview: What's in your full report
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
19 owners reported speed control issues — failures commonly reported around 76K miles.
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Speed Control (19 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
1988 Jeep Cherokee: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Speed Control Issues
Speed Control complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 1988 Jeep Cherokee, with 19 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 75,544 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 76K-mile mark.
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly Issues
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 1988 Jeep Cherokee, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts:front:buckle assembly-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System Issues
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1988 Jeep Cherokee, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Electrical System:ignition Issues
Electrical System:ignition complaints account for 3% of all reports filed for the 1988 Jeep Cherokee, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:ignition-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1988 Jeep Cherokee. Recent trend: stable.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (4 recalls)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. DRIVERS CAN MISTAKENLY STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THEY INTEND TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Jeep Cherokee is the 2019 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.
1988 Jeep Cherokee vs. Class Average (Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD)
This vehicle
118
Class avg
41
2.9x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical special purpose vehicle 2wd vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 118 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Jeep Cherokee Model Years
1988 Jeep Cherokee: Frequently Asked Questions
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Get the Full 1988 Jeep Cherokee Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 118 owner reports. Know before you buy.