VehicleVerdict

1990 Jeep Cherokee speed control problems

The 1990 Jeep Cherokee has 57 speed control complaints filed with NHTSA — 15% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

57

Speed Control complaints

15%

Share of year

7

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Speed Control complaints by year

Cherokee speed control complaints by model year185 complaints1984: 2 complaints1986: 3 complaints1987: 23 complaints1988: 25 complaints1989: 46 complaints1990: 57 complaints1991: 12 complaints1992: 23 complaints1993: 38 complaints1994: 42 complaints1995: 76 complaints1996: 15 complaints1997: 15 complaints1998: 12 complaints1999: 10 complaints2000: 10 complaints2001: 5 complaints2014: 185 complaints2015: 120 complaints2016: 76 complaints2017: 60 complaints2018: 20 complaints2019: 81 complaints2020: 8 complaints2021: 2 complaints2022: 1 complaints
Cherokee speed control complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

97I002000Speed ControlMay 2, 1997 · 1,010,400 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. DRIVERS CAN MISTAKENLY STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THEY INTEND TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence

PEDAL MISAPPLICATION BY A DRIVER CAN CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF THESE VEHICLES.

90V177000Speed ControlOctober 2, 1990 · 165,000 units

Defect

MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.

Consequence

HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN CAR IS FIRST PLACED IN GEAR COULDRESULT IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION.

Remedy

REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.

What owners report

“OWNER ATTEMPTED TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT STOP. VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 35 FEET BACKWARDS, STICKING AND KILLING OWNERS WIFE IN THE DRIVE WAY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ALTHOUGH BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · July 26, 1997 · crash

Common questions

How many speed control complaints does the 1990 Jeep Cherokee have?

NHTSA has 57 complaints about the 1990 Jeep Cherokee speed control — 15% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1990 Jeep Cherokee speed control?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the speed control: 90V177000, 97I002000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.