Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1974 Cherokee.
The 1974 Jeep Cherokee Overview is a model year that falls before the start of the available complaint record, which covers 1990 through 2026. Within that dataset, the model line’s documented complaints reach a high of 2,636 in 2014 and a low of 3 in 2023. Consequently, the 1974 model’s position in the broader reliability narrative sits outside that measured span, leaving its specific standing uncharted by those figures.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 183.9 in |
| Overall width | 75.6 in |
| Overall height | 65.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 109.1 in |
| Curb weight | 3869 lb |
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | S 2-door 5.9L V8 | 13.80 sec | 18.36 sec | 175 hp | 4x4 |
| 1977 | Chief 4.2L I-6 | 18.40 sec | 21.20 sec | 110 hp | 4x4 |
Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith) |
| Why | Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module |
| When needed | After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement |
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool |
| Also required | The vehicle's four-digit PIN code |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE KEY OPERATED TAILGATE WINDOW WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE IF THE SPRING LOADED KEY DOES NOT RETURN TO OFF POSITION WHEN RELEASED. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD NOT LEAVE KEY IN TAILGATE OF UNATTENDED VEHICLE. REPAIR MECHANISM TO ASSURE PROPER KEY RETURN OPERATION.
Remedy:
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.