Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1989 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 ↗CHRYSLER/ABS
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.
- Consequence
- IF THIS OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION WOULD BE LOSE AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT AND THE BASE MANUAL BRAKES WILL REMAIN FUNCTIONAL.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE). OWNERS WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR PREVIOUS ABS COMPONENT REPAIR COSTS.
BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:LINES:FITTINGS
- Summary
- THERE MAY BE HYDRAULIC FLUID CONTAMINATION FROM CONDENSATION FORMATION THAT CAN PLUG THE ABS BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP FILTER; STRESS CORROSION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SNAP RING HAS BEEN TRACED TO CHLORINE LEAKING FROM THE LOW PRESSURE HYDRAULIC HOSE WHICH MAY CAUSE IT TO BREAK; FRONT BRAKE HOSE TO TIRE INTERFERENCE WHICH MAY CAUSE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HOSE.
- Consequence
- CONTAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN CAUSEMALFUNCTIONING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM; LOW PRESSURE HOSE LEAKAGE CAUSESLOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND ALSO RESULTS IN CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE MASTERCYLINDER SNAP RING, RESULTING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE; FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKEHOSE DUE TO HOSE TO TIRE INTERFERENCE WILL CAUSE FAILURE OF ONE HALF OF THEBRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN EXPECTED.
- Remedy
- REPLACE ABS LOW PRESSURE HOSE; REBUILD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER; INSPECT, SERVICE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS, AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSE AS NECESSARY.
FUEL:FUEL INJECTION:IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT
- Summary
- MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.
- Consequence
- HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN CAR IS FIRST PLACED IN GEAR COULDRESULT IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION.
- Remedy
- REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
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 (191)
191 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 191 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 91 | 47.6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 45 | 23.6% |
| Fuel system | 15 | 7.9% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 6.8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 13 | 6.8% |
| Power train | 9 | 4.7% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 3.7% |
| Structure | 7 | 3.7% |
| Suspension | 6 | 3.1% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 3.1% |
How 1989 compares with other Cherokee years
Best and worst Cherokee years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 17 | 3 |
| 1986 | 21 | 4 |
| 1987 | 57 | 5 |
| 1988 | 97 | 0 |
| 1989 | 191 | 3 |
| 1990 | 270 | 5 |
| 1991 | 233 | 5 |
| 1992 | 113 | 1 |
| 1993 | 418 | 3 |
| 1994 | 519 | 5 |
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.
Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,350
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 444 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 22 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 22 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 21 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 20 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1989 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
1989 Jeep Cherokee FAQ
How many recalls does the 1989 Jeep Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 96V260000 (brake), 91V003000 (brake), 90V177000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1989 Jeep Cherokee problems?
Owners filed 191 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (91), Vehicle speed control (45), Fuel system (15) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1989 Jeep Cherokee get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 18 city, 22 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1989 Cherokee compare with other years?
Among the 1985–1994 Jeep Cherokee model years at least five years old, the 1985 drew the fewest complaints (17) and the 1994 the most (519). The 1989 drew 191. 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.