Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1982 Cherokee.
The 1982 Jeep Cherokee represents the inaugural year of a nameplate that would later produce complaint records spanning 1990 to 2026, a period in which the model’s annual complaints surged to a peak of 2,636 in 2014 before receding to a mere three in 2023. Situated at the beginning of this longitudinal record, the 1982 Cherokee serves as the baseline from which the subsequent reliability trends can be measured, illustrating a trajectory that moved from early uncertainty to a pronounced improvement in later years. This early model therefore anchors a historical dataset that documents the brand’s evolution toward markedly lower complaint volumes.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 186.6 in |
| Overall width | 75.6 in |
| Overall height | 66.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.7 in |
| Curb weight | 5988 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Cherokee of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Chief 4.2L I-6 | 18.40 sec | 21.20 sec | 110 hp | 4x4 |
| 1975 | S 2-door 5.9L V8 | 13.80 sec | 18.36 sec | 175 hp | 4x4 |
Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith) |
| Why | Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module |
| When needed | After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement |
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool |
| Also required | The vehicle's four-digit PIN code |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE KEY OPERATED TAILGATE WINDOW WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE IF THE SPRING LOADED KEY DOES NOT RETURN TO OFF POSITION WHEN RELEASED. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD NOT LEAVE KEY IN TAILGATE OF UNATTENDED VEHICLE. REPAIR MECHANISM TO ASSURE PROPER KEY RETURN OPERATION.
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION TRANSMISSION LUBRICANT USED IN THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LUBRICATION TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION"S FIRST GEAR. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION LUBRICANT AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.