Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Cherokee.
The 1978 Jeep Cherokee stands out in the model’s history with just a single owner complaint on file—pointing to the service brakes, hydraulic system—and only two recalls, a remarkably clean record. This level of reported reliability is especially notable when measured against the broader Cherokee complaint timeline from 1990 to 2026, where the 2014 model year peaked at 2,636 complaints. For researchers, the 1978 Cherokee represents an early, low-incident benchmark that contrasts sharply with the far higher problem rates seen in later decades.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 183.5 in |
| Overall width | 75.6 in |
| Overall height | 66.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.7 in |
| Curb weight | 3878 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Chief 4.2L I-6 | 18.40 sec | 21.20 sec | 110 hp | 4x4 |
| 1975 | S 2-door 5.9L V8 | 13.80 sec | 18.36 sec | 175 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.
The federal record provided covers model years 1990–2026, which does not include the target year of 1978. As a result, no year-by-year comparison, generational trend analysis, or contextual placement of the 1978 Cherokee within that complaint/recall arc is possible using the data provided. The only target-year data available indicates a single complaint logged under "Service Brakes, Hydraulic," with zero crash-related complaints and zero fire-related complaints recorded for 1978. Beyond this minimal entry, the dataset offers no insight into the vehicle's complaint volume, recall history, investigations, or technical service bulletins for that model year. **Takeaway:** The data provided is insufficient to assess the 1978 Jeep Cherokee within the context requested. Any evaluation of this vehicle's reliability or defect profile would require federal records specific to 1978, which are not present in this dataset.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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… Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL THROTTLE RETURN SPRING WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
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.
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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.