2nd Mar 2003, 22:00

ConcumerReports advises to avoid buying a 2000 Jeep Cherokee. They only go back to 1994, but they recommend the 1995, 1996 and 2001 only, based on reported problems.

13th Aug 2003, 14:15

We own a 1988 Jeep Cherokee and a 1997 Jeep Cherokee and I'm sad to say we won't buy another one. Ever since Chrysler stopped using Borg-Warner transmissions in their Jeeps we feel the quality of their products have gotten worse. My neighbor had a 1995 Grand Cherokee which spent most of its life in the shop due to transmission problems. Shortly after the dealer gave them a new transmission, they sold it.

Our 1988 Jeep Cherokee has had a lot of parts replaced over the years, but most of it was due to normal wear and tear. The dealership did replace a cracked manifold a few years back due to an old recall problem. Overall, we really like this Jeep and it has 145,000 miles on it, but it is getting tired.

Our 1997 Jeep Cherokee has more plastic parts on it than the 1988 Jeep Cherokee. More things to replace when they wear out. Like both glove box locks and the button on the brake release all gave out shortly after three years. There is a constant rattle in the overhead consul. The temperature sensor sometimes works and then reads -12 degrees F on a nice 70s day. Plus the CD player quit working after 3 years, then worked for a few months, then quit again. I guess all vehicles have their little quirks. Do all Jeeps wear out their tires quickly? We have to replace our tires after about 40,000 miles on 80,000 tires.

20th Oct 2003, 11:22

I bought a 1988 Jeep Cherokee in 2000 and I agree with the person that says it has too many body leaks. My floor in the back had maggots crawling in the carpet from the mildew because of the rain. I have had to replace the steering column, tires, brakes, and the water pump since I've had it. Although I do have a couple of leaking hoses, a power steering leak, and an oil leak. Otherwise, no major costly problems.

20th Jun 2005, 15:21

Our son's grandfather purchased a 1988 white Jeep Cherokee at a car auction. It needs some work, but when it is finished we will be giving it to our son for his 17th birthday. Considering it's age the Jeep looks pretty good. The windshield has been replaced. The broken tail light has been replaced and the broken head light has been replaced. Grandpa says the Jeep has a sweet engine. Due to a problem with the oil pressure we have ordered the parts so Grandpa can replace the problem parts. We found out about there were a few recalls on this Jeep. We emailed Chrysler and got a nice response back. They sent me an email to copy. I can take the email to our local Jeep dealer to have the recall items repaired at no cost to us. Hopefully this will be a fun, safe first car for our son. The 1988 Jeep Cherokee sure has a nice look to it. Once all the *stuff* has been repaired it should be a good rig. I am pretty positive after reading feedback on this Jeep. If you take care of it you should be able to enjoy it for a long time. I am thankful for having a good mechanic in the family. Parts are reasonable... labor isn't. :) I need to find floor mats for this Jeep.

1st Dec 2006, 11:59

Jeep's with the straight 6 are known for oil leaks, usually rear main sometimes front main seal, new gasket will fix!

4th Dec 2006, 09:05

I bought my 90 Cherokee with 147,000 miles, the test drive went OK it had its minor flaws. Sagging ceiling, broken wing window, gas tank spring.

After getting it home and driving it for a few days I noticed a oil leak, Seems to me that it was the rear main seal since it was dripping from the bellhousing. But after extensive research and hours in the garage its comes down to these common leaks.

1. Rear Main Seal

2. Valve Cover Gasket

3. Oil Filter Adapter O-rings (My problem)

Generally if you have a lot of oil dripping it most likely would be the oil filter adapter due to pressure pumping the oil once the o-rings wear out it pushes oil past them.

Also the CCV valve in you're valve cover can clogged and can cause pressure to build up in the crank case. Also you will find oil in the air filter box.

4th Dec 2006, 13:10

Yet another reviewer that expected an old vehicle with high miles, to be like new.

11th Dec 2006, 16:35

I have a 2000 Grand Cherokee Limited. It currently has 112K miles and it only has a few problems.

1. Sometimes I have to turn the key on twice to prime the fuel system. I understand there is a pressure regulator located above the fuel tank which I would have to remove. I just assume turn the key twice!

2. I seem to go through a set of front brake discs every 15K miles. At $50 bucks a pop and a couple of hours of labor once a year, it is not that big of a deal.

Overall it is a great ride. The car is on it's third set of tires and the Jeep tracks straighter then any thing I have ever owned. The leather and interior is like brand new.

I saw the previous comment of leaks around the windows. I had the same problem, but fixed it with a $5 dollar tube of weatherstrip adhesive. He could have fixed the problem in as much time as it took for him to get on this thread and cry about it.

Get real people, these Jeeps are one of the best rides Detroit ever made!

18th Oct 2007, 15:30

I was driving along with a friend of mine when I saw an '88 Cherokee parked off, dusty and dirty beside the road. My friend knew the owner, and after being asked how much he wanted for it, he told me that if I could get it running I could have it.

Well, an oil change, a battery and a few electrical connections later, the Jeep was running smoothly.

Since then, I have replaced front suspension bushings, a rear differential seal, a few odds and ends, and am using the Jeep daily as well as off-road. I really bang it around and abuse it, but it never seems to say no. It just keeps on going. Everything works on this old bucket, and after 320 000 miles, that is just amazing. This car was used for hunting, with a hole cut into the roof to provide standing space, and was really a piece of scrap metal before I resusitated it back to life.

I now love this Jeep, treasure it because of it's willingness to keep on going.