Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1981 Jeep Cherokee. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗VISUAL SYSTEMS:GLASS:WINDOW:TAILGATE AND BACK DOOR
- Summary
- THE KEY OPERATED TAILGATE WINDOW WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE IF THE SPRING LOADED KEY DOES NOT RETURN TO OFF POSITION WHEN RELEASED.
- Consequence
- WINDOW COULD CLOSE ON A CHILD OR OTHERS RESULTING INPERSONAL INJURY.
- Remedy
- OWNERS SHOULD NOT LEAVE KEY IN TAILGATE OF UNATTENDED VEHICLE. REPAIR MECHANISM TO ASSURE PROPER KEY RETURN OPERATION.
FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL
- Summary
- THE TRANSMISSION THROTTLE CONTROL ROD SPRING MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THIS MAY CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO CLOSE MORE SLOWLY THAN NORMAL. VEHICLES MAY RETURN TO IDLE SLOWLY.
- Remedy
- EACH END OF THE SPRING WILL BE INSPECTED AND RELOCATED, IF NECESSARY, TO ENSURE CORRECT POSITIONING.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (1)
1 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seats is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 1 | 100% |
How 1981 compares with other Cherokee years
Best and worst Cherokee years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1 | 2 |
| 1984 | 7 | 3 |
| 1985 | 17 | 3 |
| 1986 | 21 | 4 |
| 1987 | 57 | 5 |
| 1988 | 97 | 0 |
| 1989 | 191 | 3 |
| 1990 | 270 | 5 |
| 1991 | 233 | 5 |
| 1992 | 113 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1981 Cherokee for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1981 Jeep Cherokee FAQ
How many recalls does the 1981 Jeep Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 87V178000 (visibility), 81V015000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1981 Jeep Cherokee problems?
Owners filed 1 complaints with NHTSA. Seats (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1981 Cherokee compare with other years?
Among the 1981–1992 Jeep Cherokee model years at least five years old, the 1981 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1990 the most (270). The 1981 drew 1. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.