Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Cherokee.
The 1983 Jeep Cherokee is defined by its specific engine lubrication requirements, holding 4 quarts of oil with a filter and utilizing viscosity options of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-30 API. Because the model's documented complaint history spans from 1990 to 2026, this 1983 iteration sits entirely outside the primary era of recorded reliability data. It predates both the historic low of 3 complaints in 2023 and the staggering peak of 2,636 complaints in 2014. Consequently, researchers must evaluate this early model as fundamentally separated from the severe reliability concerns that would later plague the Cherokee lineage, placing it in a distinctly earlier, pre-scrutiny era of the vehicle's history.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
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 |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4 qt w/ filter of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 API engine oil, Front: 75W- in the differential.
| Differential Gear Oil | Front: 75W- |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.5 Pints |
| Differential Gear Oil | Front: 75W- |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 4.8 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 20W-40 · 20W-50 · API · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4 qt w/ filter |
| Engine Oil | 20W-40 · 20W-50 · API · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 5W-30 |
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 1 of 1 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 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.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 30 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.