JeepCherokee1988Overview/jeep/cherokee/1988/base/

1988 Jeep Cherokee

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Cherokee.

The 1988 Jeep Cherokee required 4 quarts of oil with a filter change and accepted a range of viscosities including 20W-40, 20W-50, and 10W-30 API. Owner feedback from this model year totaled 105 complaints, with the top issue area being vehicle speed control, and it was subject to four recalls. In the broader Cherokee complaint history spanning 1990 to 2026, where the 2014 model year peaked at 2,636 complaints and 2023 dropped to just 3, the 1988 edition’s 105 complaints mark it as a relatively early and modest entry, suggesting a solid start before later-year spikes.

Model year202620232022202120201991199019891988

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length165.4 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height63.4 in
Wheelbase101.6 in
Curb weight2725 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

8.2–12.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.20 sec — 1997 Sport I-6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990Laredo I-6 4.0L I-610.50 sec17.70 sec177 hp4x4
1996Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.30 sec16.40 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.20 sec16.30 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-69.10 sec16.90 sec190 hp4x4
1997Sport I-6 4.0L I-610.20 sec17.60 sec190 hp4x4
1998SE 2.5L I-412.00 sec18.60 sec125 hp4x4
1999Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.90 sec16.90 sec190 hp4x4
1999Sport I-6 4.0L I-69.40 sec17.00 sec190 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilFront: 75W-
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints
Differential Gear OilFront: 75W-
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · API · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt w/ filter

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 52,500 mi; coolant every 22,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 22,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level)
Every 22,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 30,000 miBands (adjust) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect)
Every 52,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 82,500 miOxygen Sensor (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

**Analysis of the 1988 Jeep Cherokee** The provided federal record data begins at 1990, meaning 1988 falls outside the documented timeline and cannot be directly compared to adjacent model years within this dataset. The trend from 1990 onward shows a general escalation in complaints, peaking dramatically in 1999 with 2,113 complaints and 14 recalls, before moderating through the early 2000s and rising again around 2014–2015. The 1988 model's specific complaint data reveals top issue areas in Vehicle Speed Control (20 complaints), Seat Belts (19), Electrical System (13), and Fuel System (10), with 4 crash-related complaints and 6 fire-related complaints recorded. Since 1988 predates the dataset's start year, its placement in the generation's arc cannot be determined from the available numbers—though if it reflects typical early-model-year behavior, it might be expected to have fewer complaints than the 1997–2001 peak years when the platform accumulated age and mileage. **Concrete takeaway:** The 1988 Jeep Cherokee is not present in the federal record to assess its standing relative to the generation's trend, but the late-1990s surge in complaints (including safety-critical areas like speed control, seat belts, and fire reports) suggests caution with this generation overall; any used example warrants thorough inspection of those specific systems regardless of model year.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
4
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
105
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 6 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 105 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control20
Seat Belts19
Electrical System13
Fuel System, Gasoline10
Power Train7
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Steering5
Tires5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23026022002-06-10StructureSUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. *SLC
987331997-12-01Power TrainSUBJECT ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION #733--BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK. *YC
2121941994-11-01Power TrainNEW FRONT OUTPUT SEAL AND OIL SLINGER FOR TRANSFER CASE. *TW
2316931993-03-01Latches/Locks/LinkagesREDESIGNED LIFTGATE LATCH. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cherokee. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 Cherokee take?

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.

Does the 1988 Cherokee have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.