JeepCherokee1991Overview/jeep/cherokee/1991/base/

1991 Jeep Cherokee

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Cherokee.

Body SUV

The 1991 Jeep Cherokee is an SUV featuring an engine that requires 4 quarts of oil with a filter and a viscosity of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-40 API. This model year is marked by 9 recalls and 286 total owner complaints, with the most frequent issues occurring in the hydraulic brake service area. In the context of the model's overall history from 1990 to 2026, the 1991 version maintains a significantly lower complaint volume than the 2014 peak of 2,636, though it remains higher than the 2023 low of 3.

Model year202620232022202120201991199019891988

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40 APIOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length165.4 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height63.4 in
Wheelbase101.6 in
Curb weight2837 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

8.2–12.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.20 sec — 1997 Sport I-6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990Laredo I-6 4.0L I-610.50 sec17.70 sec177 hp4x4
1996Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.30 sec16.40 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.20 sec16.30 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-69.10 sec16.90 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-610.20 sec17.60 sec190 hp4x4
1998SE 2.5L I-412.00 sec18.60 sec125 hp4x4
1999Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.90 sec16.90 sec190 hp4x4
1999Sport I-6 4.0L I-69.40 sec17.00 sec190 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt w/ filter of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4 Pints,
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · API · 10W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · API · 10W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity6 qt w/ filter

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBands (adjust) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Battery (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 82,500 miOxygen Sensor (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Jeep Cherokee sits at a transitional point in the XJ generation's complaint history: complaints dropped from 364 in 1990 to 286 in 1991, then fell further to 166 in 1992, suggesting the 1991 model year was relatively stable compared to both its predecessor and successor. However, investigations actually increased from 6 to 7 between 1990 and 1991, and this modest improvement was short-lived—by 1993 complaints surged to 517 and continued climbing through 1995, indicating that the underlying issues were merely deferred rather than resolved. The dominant complaint area for 1991 was Service Brakes, Hydraulic with 155 instances, far exceeding any other category, accompanied by 16 crash-related complaints and 12 fire complaints. Recalls remained constant at 9 for both 1990 and 1991, then dropped to 5 in 1992 before rising again. The 1991 model year represents a relative lull before the significant escalation in complaints that defined the mid-1990s Cherokee, making it a marginally better prospect within this generation, though the brake system warrants particularly thorough pre-purchase inspection given its outsized complaint volume.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
17
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
7
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
286
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 12 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 286 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic155
Engine & Engine Cooling21
Seat Belts16
Power Train12
Service Brakes11
Vehicle Speed Control11
Electrical System10
Service Brakes, Air6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 17 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23-014-152015-04-23EquipmentChild Seat Tether Anchor Installation This bulletin describes procedures to install Child…
23026022002-06-10StructureSUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. *SLC
0800600REV2000-12-29Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB
2300800B2000-11-24SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT
2308002000-03-03SeatsSUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cherokee. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Cherokee take?

4 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 30 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-40 API, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Cherokee have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.