Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Jeep Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Pe01021; vehicle was turned off while consumer hooked a boat to the back of vehicle. Boat weighed less than a 1,000 lbs. Vehicle rolled back, hitting side of the trailer and into lake houston under 12ft of water. Vehicle was totaled. Consumer had not made any contacts to manufacturer and dealer at this time consumer states while loading boat onto the trailer, all 4 wheels of the Jeep were not in the water, the emergency brake was pulled and the vehicle was in park, consumer leaned in vehicle to turn key off when it began to move backward, both the trailer and the Jeep went completely underwater, when the vehicle was pulled out, the emergency brake was still on and the tires were rolling.
Vehicle has manual transmission and with vehicle parked in reverse with emergency brake engaged the passenger reached over and started the vehicle without driver in the car. The vehicle started up and took off in reverse. Driver was returning to the vehicle and was almost hit. Their should be a safety switch on the clutch to prevent the vehicle from starting without the clutch fully depressed. Upon a investegation by Chrysler they stated that their was no problem. They stated that this vehicle did not come with a safety switch on the clutch. I find this very disturbing and also very dangerous.
On 2 different occasions with vehicle running and shifting gear into park positon, vehicle shifted into reverese on its own from park, rolling backwards. Insurance has covered some cost of damage, but did not determine cause. Consumer has made six trips to the auto shop to have vehicle repaired, but problem continues, on the first occaison, consumer was almost pinned between the wall and vehicle, the second incident, the vehicle ran into the house causing damages while kids were in the back seat, luckily no one was injured.
The description of the problem as per the news on 07/04/2001 fits the incident. At the time of the incident, a teenage friend was driving alone. He backed out of the driveway and noticed the dog was out of the yard. He said he put it in park and got out to get the dog. The Jeep inadvertently rolled in reverse into a neighbors fence causing minor damage to the rear bumper and exhaust system. I had to pay the neighbor for the damage to his fence. Incident was not reported as I deemed it his error and damage was minimal.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was taken to a private repair shop for repair of the catalytic converter due to back pressure and rattling in the engine. On August 25, 2006 the contact received a recall notice for a catalytic converter problem. The recall was not in the NHTSA database. The contact sent the billing information to the manufacturer, who denied reimbursement because the work was done after the recall. On May 4, 2006 the work was completed before the recall notice was received. Updated 01/10/07.
Transmission has been slipping while driving. The compression fittings melted and the transmission caught on fire. The motor mounts were replaced and the computer to the transmission was also replaced. Owner has had vehicle into the dealer for repair on eight occasions. Since time of repair, 1 of the compression fittings snapped off, hose was held in place by a screw clamp. Power steering pump failed and was replaced. Consumer is requesting a replacement vehicle.
When starting the Jeep this morning, vehicle was in first gear and emergency brake fully engaged, and clutch was not employed. The car started and went in reverse and down the yard, dragging the driver caught in the door. The vehicle hit the house and broke the back wall of porch and crushed drivers side door. Has there been any other reports of this happening. It is totally unexplainable. Thank you.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Jeep Cherokee. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle shook uncontrollably. In addition, the power steering seized and then became loose. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a new power steering gauge and a front end alignment were needed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.
Vehicle was in park and running. Vehicle slipped from park into reverse gear and ran into the side of another parked vehicle. I was almost caught between the two vehicles, but moved away from the collision at the last moment. I took the vehicle to the Jeep dealer for inspection on 8/29/00 following the accident. The dealer stated that the transmission checked out fine.
Vehicle was left in park with the engine running, consumer turned around to pick up something off the floor and vehicle started to roll backward. Consumer slammed into another vehicle. Consumer felt that car was in park and it had to have jumped out of gear.
Transmission complaints in other Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1996 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA has 60 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1996 Jeep Cherokee, 13% of the model year's 447 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Jeep Cherokee transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1996 Jeep Cherokee, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Jeep Cherokee transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 113,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 2 fires and 4 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.