Most common 1999 Jeep Cherokee problems
Share of the 366 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Cherokee complaints by model year
Best Cherokee years: 2022, 2021, 2020. Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, 2019, 2017, 2016. Compare all years →
1999 Jeep Cherokee recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
Vehicle description: passenger and multi-purpose vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, or wisconsin, and the district of columbia.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Water and/or road salt in the proximity of the air bag control module could lead to corrosion.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag control module and locate the new module on the top of the transmission tunnel.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Jeep Cherokee:
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58 injuries) involving the SVs.Based on this analysis, ODI issued a Recall Request Letter (RRL) on June 3, 2013…
What 1999 Jeep Cherokee owners say
Brakes all 102 →
I was at a stop sign, proceeded to accelerate, arriving at a stop-light when vehicle would not stop, brake pedal was pushed all the way to floor, pedal seemed to have no leverage to it. I coasted to a safe place to pull over, had to use emergency brake to stop. Checked all fluids and pads, those components seemed to be fine. And had to get vehicle towed it was unsafe to drive.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. While the vehicle was stationary, the brake lines became severely rusted and corroded. The dealer (cueter Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in ypsilanti, michigan) was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 223,827.
Transmission & drivetrain all 53 →
While backing out of the driveway, the driver placed the vehicle in park and got out. After getting out, the vehicle had gone into reverse, struck the driver and crashed into a neighbor's garage. The dealer was not able to determine the cause of the problem without tearing apart the automatic transmission. There were recalls for the 1993-1998 models.
Since there is no catagory for this issue I had to put visibility/wiper in order to even submit this form. There is no catagory for the heating system which there are a lot of problems!!! The accuator doors regulating the heat to the inside of the vehicle are broken. I thought by replacing the motor which controls them it would fix it. No such luck the doors are broken and not only are they almost impossible to reach without pulling the entire dashboard and console, the cost for it will be around $1500 and that is absurd for a part which is less than $100. The labor will be about $1300 to get to it. What is wrong with these people can't they design a vehicle that can be worked on without taking it apart to a level which makes me want to junk the car!! They should have put something other than plastic to control the heat in the vehicle. …
Air bags all 38 →
The contact owns a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated, and the instrument gauges failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Tl* the contact's daughter owned a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. While the contact's daughter was driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The passenger side air bag deployed, but the driver's side air bag failed to deploy. As a result, the contact's daughter sustained injuries to the left eye, laceration of the nose, a broken jaw, the front teeth shifted, and black eyes. Medical attention was required. The driver of the other vehicle passed away as a result of the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound and destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
1999 Jeep Cherokee engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 20 / 17 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 18 / 17 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Jeep Cherokee a good car?
Based on 366 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Cherokee rates average: 20% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Cherokee at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Jeep Cherokee?
The brakes — 102 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › rotor. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (53) and air bags (38).
How many recalls does the 1999 Jeep Cherokee have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 Jeep Cherokee, the most recent from May 10, 2000 (rotor). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Cherokee?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2021 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2015, 2019, 2017 and 2016. See the full Jeep Cherokee years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Jeep Cherokee problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 77,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.