Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1980 Cherokee.
The 1980 Jeep Cherokee, a compact SUV that laid the groundwork for the series, entered service with a modest but dependable engineering package, and its debut year saw only a single owner complaint—centered on tires—among three recalls issued for that model. In the broader reliability sweep covering 1990‑2026, the Cherokee line has fluctuated from a peak of 2,636 complaints in 2014 to a remarkably low three complaints in 2023, underscoring the model’s long‑standing resilience and the relatively mild issues associated with the 1980 version.
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 provided federal year-by-year record commences in 1990, leaving the 1980 model year without data for direct comparison to preceding or subsequent years within the documented 1990–2026 trend arc that shows rising complaints through the late 1990s and gradual decline post-2014. For 1980 specifically, the dataset records exactly one tire-related complaint, zero crash complaints, and zero fire complaints, indicating minimal documented safety concerns but also statistically insignificant reporting volume. Because the year-by-year array contains no recall, investigation, or TSB figures for 1980, the root cause of the isolated tire complaint and the model's overall defect trajectory remain unspecified by the data. Absent the comparative metrics available for later model years, 1980 cannot be situated within the generation's documented escalation pattern, making its reliability profile effectively uncharted. Given the near-total lack of federal record visibility and inability to verify where it falls within the vehicle's historical defect arc, 1980 represents an unquantified acquisition risk with insufficient data to recommend as a sound purchase.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
INCORRECT HEADLAMPS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR EXPORT ONLY AND DO NOT MEET U.S. REQUIREMENTS. Remedy: THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLAMPS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.
THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY. A DAMAGED BEARING COULD RESULT IN AXLE AND WHEEL DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ALONG WITH SEALS, RETAINER RINGS AND PLATES AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
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.