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1978 Jeep Cherokee
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1978 Jeep Cherokee, covering visibility and vehicle speed control, and 1 consumer complaint received since 1999.
The component named most often is service brakes, hydraulic: 1,000 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 93.6 per 1,000 across all 1978 model-year vehicles and against 122.5 per 1,000 for the Jeep Cherokee line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 195.6 complaints per model year across the 41 Jeep Cherokee model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 1999 (1); the most recent in the file is dated 6 Oct 1999.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: The key operated tailgate window will continue to close if the spring loaded key does not return to off position when released.
Consequence: Window could close on a child or others resulting inpersonal injury.
Remedy: Owners should not leave key in tailgate of unattended vehicle. Repair mechanism to assure proper key return operation.
Filed by CHRYSLER CORPORATION.
Defect, as filed: The throttle linkage control spring may not close rapidly when the accelerator pedal is released. If the throttle does not close as rapidly as expected, the vehicle will not decelerate properly. This fails to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no.124, "accelerator control systems".
Remedy: Dealer will install an additional throttle return spring without charge to owner.
Filed by CHRYSLER CORPORATION.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1978 Jeep Cherokee (black) against all 1978 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1978 | Cherokee line | All 1978 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1,000 | 122.5 | 93.6 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1978 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1,000 | 122.5 | 93.6 |
1 unique complaints, 1 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Jeep Cherokee model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1974 | 3 | 0 | 202,647 |
| 1975 | 5 | 0 | 294,195 |
| 1976 | 4 | 0 | 284,388 |
| 1977 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 180,000 |
| 1978 | 2 | 1 | 181,995 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 | 190,891 |
| 1980 | 3 | 1 | 191,036 |
| 1981 | 2 | 1 | 181,724 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 | 193,532 |
| 1983 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 180,000 |
| 1984 | 3 | 7 | 51,814 |
| 1985 | 3 | 17 | 4,083 |
| 1986 | 4 | 21 | 28,129 |
| 1987 | 5 | 57 | 33,628 |
| 1988 | 0 | 97 | — |
| 1989 | 3 | 191 | 250,000 |
| 1990 | 5 | 268 | 560,369 |
| 1991 | 5 | 232 | 362,954 |
| 1992 | 1 | 112 | 334,047 |
| 1993 | 3 | 418 | 339,947 |
| 1994 | 5 | 519 | 349,780 |
| 1995 | 6 | 608 | 542,780 |
| 1996 | 6 | 445 | 701,733 |
| 1997 | 4 | 389 | 1,344,107 |
| 1998 | 5 | 396 | 995,434 |
| 1999 | 2 | 362 | 984,000 |
| 2000 | 1 | 368 | 1,115,322 |
| 2001 | 2 | 227 | 2,327,078 |
| 2006 NHTSA | 0 | 17 | — |
| 2014 | 13 | 1,482 | 7,421,524 |
| 2015 | 11 | 959 | 7,263,134 |
| 2016 | 9 | 374 | 5,138,471 |
| 2017 | 6 | 191 | 4,994,349 |
| 2018 | 7 | 71 | 4,963,861 |
| 2019 | 11 | 189 | 424,795 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | 386,615 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 81,222 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 73,945 |
| 2023 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 61,711 |
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | 1,502,530 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Jeep Cherokee model years · Jeep: 35 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1978 Jeep Cherokee have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 87V178000, was reported to NHTSA on 23 Nov 1987 and concerns visibility:glass, side/rear. Across all model years the Jeep Cherokee line has 93 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1978 Jeep Cherokee?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 1978 Jeep Cherokee complain about most?
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1 of 1 component mentions (1,000 per 1,000). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.