1996 Jeep Cherokee: check engine light

5 of the 446 complaints about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee describe check engine light.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 1%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 11 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Check engine light by model year

2026
2
2022
4
2021
15
2020
23
2019
113
2018
27
2017
75
2016
125
2015
203
2014
306
2006
1
2001
13
2000
8
1999
7
1998
4
1997
6
1996
5

What owners say

Filed Apr 1, 2012 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 125,005 miles · CA

Car stalls while driving with no warning. Stalls on freeway or in city driving. This is an infamous manufacturing defect on 96 jeeps. Very hazardous because engine cuts out completely while in motion. Requires pulling over with engine not running to restart engine. Jeep then will repeatedly die after re-starting. Since engine dies while in motion, cars behind are in real danger of colliding with my vehicle. This issue is almost impossible to fix with normal mechanical problem-solving. Engine light does not come on. This issue is well documented in online blogs for jeeps with this problem. This problem with stalling while in motion poses a great threat to public safety. Jeep/chrysler is aware and does not acknowledge the problem.

Filed Mar 10, 2009 · Electrical · GA

My mother-n-law purchased a 1996 cherokee, and the check engine light was on . So she took it to the emission place to get it checked and it failed the test, so she took the emission papers and the vehicle to the auto shop , and the mechanic stated that the car should have never been sold to her , so what should she do at this point.

Filed Sep 9, 2006 · Engine · 171,150 miles · NY · fire

One day my jeep was getting no back pressure, turned around my check in engine light came on on my way home from work it started to smoke and then eventually caught on fire luckily I got out. Fire dept had to put fire out.

Filed Sep 9, 2006 · Engine · 171,150 miles · NY · fire

I one day was on my way home from work one day and the check engine light came on and my car suddenly lost all back pressure I could not climb hills and started to smoke but before I could make it home my car began to smoke and eventually caught on fire leaving stranded with no vehicle in site I then called the police dept they had to put out. They said I was lucky to get out.

Filed Feb 22, 1999 · Brakes, Engine · LA

The water pump went out on way out of town. White smoke poured out from behind the jeep. We immediately pulled over and used our phone to call for help. We were told from a mechanic that it sounded as if the water pump went out. We waited for the jeep to cool off, then added water to the radiator. We were able to drive at 35 MPH until we found a service station to pull over at. At that time the technician told us that it was indeed the water pump and there was no more that could be done that day (saturday-5:00p.m.). We got our vehicle towed back home to lafayette, la. The next morning and at that time the towing/service technician also said it looked as if the engine head gasket was blown. Is that common for this vehicle with this milage? Also, the brakes went out and we had them fixed a month ago at lafayette motors inc. Could they have known about the water pump or is that impossible? Also, was there supposed to be any warning as a check engine light? We got no warning, but the smoke pouring out. *ak( dot number: )