1985 Jeep Cherokee
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Jeep › Cherokee › 1985
These records cover every 1985 Jeep Cherokee. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
7 recalls name the 1985 Jeep Cherokee. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. the safety recall began on july 28, 2009. owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. the safety recall began on may 11, 2009. owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Remedy
Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. the recall began on april 3, 2006. owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Pedal misapplication by a driver can cause unintended acceleration.
Remedy
Dealers will install a shift interlock on the automatic transmission of these vehicles.
Brake booster vacuum reservoir canisters may develop leaks due to bumper impact.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This would result in loss of power brake assist and anincrease in stopping distance.
Remedy
Replace brake booster vacuum cannisters with new type cannisters; also, install a restriction orifice to ensure sufficient vacuum in event cannister leakage occurs.
Risk and remedy
Remedy
The dealer will have the module properly secured if necessary, without charge.
Improperly tightened bolt on steering shaft allows the connector on the shaft to slip. Steering movements will not be transmitted to the gear box.
Risk and remedy
Remedy
The vehicle will be inspected and the upper pinch bolt will be tightened if necessary at no charge to owner.
Owner complaints
17 complaints2 involved a crash2 injuries1 deaths
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields · Tires
While driving the vehicle at normal speed rear tire blew out and tread separated, damaging the structural underbody floor panel of the vehicle. Dealer notified. *Ak
- Tires
While driving tire blew out without warning. Dealer notified. *Ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
The firewall behind the master cylinder rusted and caused the cylinder to become unstable thus affecting the operation and performance of vehicle's clutch. *nlm
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Would be making a grinding noise when brakes were applied. Was not able to turn wheel. brakes were sparking without being applied. This caused vehicle to shake. Took to dealership , and mechanic found that brake pin broke loose and got caught.*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Seat belt shoulder restraint part failure during normal use
- Structure
Vehicle rollover during accident resulting in death.(attorney for consumer).
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element
Heater controls burn wiring and fans become inoperative.
- Latches/locks/linkages › Trunk lid › Lock
Driving approximately 35mph and hit a patch of ice in the road , ran into media latch came loose and door flew open. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Driver's seat belt failed to retract prior to recall.
- Seats
Failure of the driver's side seat, the seat has become detached from the frame or the track of the vehicle, consumer has replaced the seat on two occasions. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system · Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Latches/locks/linkages › Hatchback/liftgate › Lock · Power train › Automatic transmission · Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly · Unknown or other
Water pump replaced. *Sd
- Air bags › Frontal
During frontal impact, the driver's side air bag did not deploy. please describe. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Front seat belt buckles just fall apart. please describe. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Drivers seat belt jams fully extended, right rear belt jams intermittently, front right and middle rear buckle disintegrated. Tt
- Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
Differential failed, causing wheels to lock up ,resulting in an accident/injury. *ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Both driver/passenger seat back will fail at joint resulting in seat back collapsing. Please describe details. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Both front seat belt buckles came apart/also driver's side retractor broke. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Safety belt retractor
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- Engine compartment fires
Analysis:many of the reports indicate that the plastic valve cover or the\tv gasketing material loses its structural and/or sealing integrity due tothe high engine temperatures associated with the AMC 258 engine.testingperformed by a local fleet clearly demonstrated that under normal drivingconditions, motor oil leaks…
Analysis:many of the reports indicate that the plastic valve cover or the\tv gasketing material loses its structural and/or sealing integrity due tothe high engine temperatures associated with the AMC 258 engine.testingperformed by a local fleet clearly demonstrated that under normal drivingconditions, motor oil leaks in the vicinity of the #3 or #4 cylinders (overthe exhaust manifold) can result in a fire serious enough to destroy avehicle.amc has issued numerous tsb's regarding the proper/improper method of seal-ing the valve cover-head interface.1981-84 AMC 6-cylinder engines areequipped with a plastic valve cover which has 5 guide pins and 2 fasteners.the cover used in later models was re-designed to have 5 attaching points,and this new valve cover can be used on older engines by means of amodification kit.as expected, complaints of engine fires in 1985 modelsdropped significantly, indicating that the addition of the new valve covermay have solved the problem.status: ir to the manufacturer sent 12/1/87.proposed action: open an engineering analysis.===
- Elec. Rear window
Analysis of the complaints and odi examination of vehicles suggests thatimpingement of the tailgate lock dust cover against the key may eitherinduce or continue unintended upward movement of the tailgate window.status:chrysler recalled by letter dated november 19, 1987.however,we believe that the self examination…
Analysis of the complaints and odi examination of vehicles suggests thatimpingement of the tailgate lock dust cover against the key may eitherinduce or continue unintended upward movement of the tailgate window.status:chrysler recalled by letter dated november 19, 1987.however,we believe that the self examination called for in the recall notice doesnot meet with the intent of the law.chrysler has been requested toreexamine the recall by letter dated 11/20/87.
- Fires caused by cltch lk
No safety defect trend has been detected.===
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 633948Subject regarding floor pan corrosion. *Slc
- 600604Subject on customer satisfaction notification #733--brake pedal shift interlock.
- 39539Redesigned liftgate latch.
Every Jeep Cherokee model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.