Five problems related to fuel delivery have been reported for the 1996 Jeep Cherokee. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Put 4 fuel pumps in vehicle, told it needed new gas tank, plastic tank lining is separating and clogging fuel pump. Dt.
Fuel pump failed and was replaced on 9/5/02. Picked up Jeep and it broke down on the way home. Was towed back to shop. Replaced fuel pump 5 more times in the past 2 months and have been noticing a strong petrol smell. Last time the mechanics told me to pick up the Jeep it wouldn't even start and the petrol smell continued. Now told by manager at the Chrysler shop that an internal memo was issued in 1997 stating that 1996 Cherokees had already started having problems with the fuel system, including faulty fuel pump systems and corroded fuel tanks. They said that they don't know what else to do other than replace the fuel tank at my cost. Chrysler is holding true to character and insists that a Jeep with so many miles (it's a '96 with only 58k miles) will have lots of problems. They do not seem to think it is strange that such a memo was issued detailing corrosion in the tanks of a high percentage of '96 Jeeps only one year after manufacturing date. Am worried about the smell of fuel in the car and safety in the event of a side impact accident. Dt.
Three failures in 99 days. Factory new part each time. Deadly. No safety defect mentioned.
This particular model was suppose to come from the manufacturer with a plastic fuel tank. For some reason mine came with a metal fuel tank that corroded very quickly, beyond what would normally be expected for year and mileage. This corrosion led to the failure of the original fuel pump assembly and the failure of the replacement fuel pump assembly. The aaa person who towed my vehicle mentioned that he has towed a number of Jeep Cherokees with the same problem.
Hearsay is that there were two other Jeep Cherokees being fixed for the same problem at the same time. No safety defect mentione din summary.