JeepCherokee19922.1L/jeep/cherokee/1992/2-1l/
XJ platform

1992 Jeep Cherokee — 2.1L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Cherokee 2.1L.

Body SUVEngine 2.1L

The 1992 Jeep Cherokee is an XJ-platform SUV powered by a 2.1L engine, presenting a distinct mechanical profile for researchers studying the nameplate's evolution. With 166 total owner complaints predominantly focused on the hydraulic service brakes and accompanied by five recalls, this iteration highlights the specific areas that drew the most owner scrutiny. When contextualized within the model's broader complaint history spanning 1990 to 2026, the 1992 Cherokee's 166 complaints sit far closer to the three complaints of 2023 than the 2,636-peak of 2014, marking it as a comparatively stable chapter in the vehicle's lineage.

Model year199419931992

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB alt 05012968AB
Engine air filter53004383AC
Fuel filter33000076 discontinued
Spark plug68304020AA
Front wiper blades83505422
Serpentine belt53010276 alt 53010269
Thermostat83501426AD alt 53020547AC

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 weight3082 lb

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine 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
Power Steering FluidMS-5931

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) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
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.

Federal data places the 1992 model year at a notable low point within its generation, recording only 166 complaints and 5 recalls compared to 364 and 9 in 1990 and 286 and 9 in 1991, while the years immediately after climb sharply to 517 complaints in 1993 and 585 in 1994. The leading complaint categories that year were Service Brakes, Hydraulic with 39 filings and Vehicle Speed Control with 21, though the data does not specify root causes for these complaints or the subject matter of the 10 investigations. Despite that investigative activity, both complaints and recalls hit their lowest levels in the early-run arc before escalating through 1995, while technical service bulletins rose only modestly to 23. Because its complaint and recall volumes are lower than those of surrounding years, the 1992 Cherokee sits at a comparatively favorable point in the generation’s federal timeline and is therefore a stronger purchase candidate than adjacent model years.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
23
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
10
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
166
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 7 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 166 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic39
Vehicle Speed Control21
Structure14
Power Train12
Engine & Engine Cooling12
Electrical System11
Suspension11
Exterior Lighting7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 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 23 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23-014-152015-04-23EquipmentChild Seat Tether Anchor Installation This bulletin describes procedures to install Child…
90028492014-09-03StructurePart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
90028492014-09-03EquipmentPart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
23026022002-06-10StructureSUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. *SLC
0800600REV2000-12-29Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

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

Does the 1992 Cherokee have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.