1991 Jeep Cherokee: fire, smoke or burning smell

6 of the 233 complaints about the 1991 Jeep Cherokee describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 3%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 3 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2021
5
2020
9
2019
20
2018
5
2017
10
2016
16
2015
35
2014
23
2001
8
2000
21
1999
14
1998
3
1997
6
1996
13
1995
6
1994
12
1993
8
1992
3
1991
6
1990
7

What owners say

Filed Feb 27, 2003 · Visibility · CA · fire

The heating system failed, and the vehicle caught on fire.

Filed Apr 9, 2002 · Electrical · WA · fire

I was driving in freeway traffic on my way to work at 6:45am and was on the road for approx. 10 mins. I smelled a strong burning smell, then noticed dark black smoke coming out of the dashboard by the front window on the driver's side. By the time I was able to pull over to a safety zone, a fire had started and flames and melted plastic started dripping to the floorboard. Within 20-30 seconds, the flames had engulfed the entire driver side and was shooting up from the ceiling of the car. I was able to get out and run up the embankment on the freeway. In this very short period of time,the jeep was completely engulfed in flames and the entire car burnt to the frame. Total time of visable smoke to fire in the dash was less than a minute.

Filed Apr 1, 2002 · Electrical · MI · fire

While driving, the dash lights went out. I turned the dimmer control and the dash lights would only be on full brightness or off, there was no dimmer control. Approximately 60 seconds later we could smell something hot. Approximately 2 minutes later we noticed a glow coming from under the left side of the dash board. We were close to our home and turned into the driveway, at which time I was forced to open the driver's side window due to black smoke coming from the left air conditioning vent. I pulled up to the garage,shut off the ignition, pulled the hood release and exited the car. My wife got out of the passengers side and immediatly headed for the house to get water. I hurried into the garage to retrive a pair of pliers to pull the battery ground cable. As I exited the garage flames were visable above the dash inside the jeep. I popped the hood and pulled the ground cable off, by this time the flames were reaching the top of the windshield. I moved around to the drivers door and opened it as my wife arrived with a bucket of water and we were successful; in extinguishing the flames. The reostat for the dash lights had shorted out and did not blow the fuse. The light switch became hot enough to ignite the plastic surrounding the main wiring harness above it, melting the air conditioner vent, the left side of the dash and burning the headliner and sun visor. Had we not been close to home I believe the vehicle would have burned completely as we would have had no means of putting out the fire. A fellow employee told me he had a similar experiance with a 1989 jeep cherokee. I have removed the dash and was able to determine the cause and would have it available if anyone would be interested in looking at the vehicle. Have there been any other complaints of a similar nature?

Filed Oct 22, 1998 · Engine · NY · fire

Consumer was driving and then parked vehicle. Driver got out of the vehicle and went into her work place, and someone told her that the vehicle was smoking and on fire. The fire burned the inside of the vehicle/dash board and the roof. The consumer lost her vehicle due to the fire, and they don't know what caused the fire.

Filed Aug 21, 1998 · Brakes · OH

Due to the severe corrosion of the front brake rotors, when traveling at 45, consumer noticed smoke coming from front end and the brakes locked up. Also noticed a recall out for the same problem 98v005000, manufacturer recall 747 manufacturer states vehicle is not under recall. Please provide any further details.

Filed Apr 30, 1996 · Electrical · NJ · fire

Fuses block caught on fire, while driving vehicle.