Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Cherokee.
The 1981 Jeep Cherokee enters the record with a single owner complaint centered on seats and two recalls, a sparse footprint that contrasts sharply with the model's later complaint trajectory tracked from 1990 through 2026. Across those decades the nameplate peaked at 2,636 complaints in 2014 before dropping to just three in 2023, framing the 1981 edition as a pre-history outlier whose minimal reported issues sit well outside the volatility that would define subsequent generations. That early quietude suggests either genuinely fewer systemic faults or simply a reporting era that had not yet matured into the data density seen in later years.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 186.6 in |
| Overall width | 75.6 in |
| Overall height | 66.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.7 in |
| Curb weight | 5988 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.
For the 1981 Jeep Cherokee, the federal record shows only one complaint related to the seats, with zero reported crash or fire complaints. Because the provided year-by-year record begins in 1990, there is no available data to compare 1981 against immediately preceding or succeeding years. Across the broader generation provided, complaints and technical service bulletins trend significantly upward, peaking in later years such as 2014 with 2,636 complaints and 563 TSBs. The 1981 model year exists outside this upward arc, showing negligible reported issues compared to the high volumes seen from 1990 through 2026. The data does not specify the root cause of the single seat-related complaint. Based on the minimal volume of reported federal complaints, this is a good year to buy.
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 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 TRANSMISSION THROTTLE CONTROL ROD SPRING MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THIS MAY CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO CLOSE MORE SLOWLY THAN NORMAL. VEHICLES MAY RETURN TO IDLE SLOWLY. Remedy: EACH END OF THE SPRING WILL BE INSPECTED AND RELOCATED, IF NECESSARY, TO ENSURE CORRECT POSITIONING.
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.