JeepCherokee19934.0L/jeep/cherokee/1993/4-0l/
XJ platform

1993 Jeep Cherokee — 4.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Cherokee 4.0L.

Body SUVEngine 4.0LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

Anchored on the XJ platform, the 1993 Jeep Cherokee SUV utilizes a 4.0L engine paired with an Automatic 4-spd transmission that returns EPA estimates of 14/19/16 mpg. Maintenance requirements include 6 qt w/ filter of oil with viscosities including 20W-40, 20W-50, and 10W-40 API, while ownership data shows 7 recalls and 517 total owner complaints focused primarily on Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Within the model's complaint history covering 1990-2026, this volume sits well below the 2636 complaints recorded in 2014 but remains higher than the 3 complaints logged in 2023, marking a distinct reliability profile between the model's highest and lowest recorded complaint years.

Model year2001199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy14/19/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB alt 05012968AB
Engine air filter53004383AC
Fuel filter33000076 discontinued
Spark plug68304020AA
Front wiper blades83505422
Serpentine belt53010276 alt 53010269
Thermostat83501426AD alt 53020547AC

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length165.4 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height63.4 in
Wheelbase101.6 in
Curb weight2855 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined14 / 19 / 16 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 1993 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

8.2–10.5 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
1999Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.90 sec16.90 sec190 hp4x4
1999Sport I-6 4.0L I-69.40 sec17.00 sec190 hp4x4
2001Sport I-6 4.0L I-68.40 sec16.50 sec190 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt w/ filter of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-40 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4 Pints,
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · API · 10W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity6 qt w/ filter
Power Steering FluidMS-5931

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 60,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 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.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miBands (adjust) · Brake System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (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.

The 1993 Jeep Cherokee sits at an inflection point in the XJ generation's federal record, breaking sharply from the improving trend of 1990–1992 (which saw complaints fall from 364 to 166) with a sudden jump to 517 complaints, 7 recalls, and a generation-high 15 investigations. Compared with the prior year alone, complaints more than tripled and investigations rose 50%, while recalls rebounded from 1992's low of 5 — signaling the start of a sustained upward arc that peaks in 1999 (2,113 complaints, 14 recalls). Within 1993 itself, the complaint burden is concentrated in safety-critical systems: Service Brakes (139) and Structure (96) lead, paired with 53 crash-related and 14 fire-related complaints, indicating the problems are not merely cosmetic. The 1993 model year is therefore a defensible but not strong used buy — mechanical issues appear to escalate from here, so any candidate should be vetted specifically for brake-system service history and structural corrosion, and a pre-purchase inspection is strongly advisable.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
25
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
15
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
517
Owner complaints
53 involved a crash · 14 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 517 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic139
Structure96
Power Train44
Engine & Engine Cooling33
Vehicle Speed Control33
Electrical System28
Seat Belts18
Steering14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 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 5 of 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
R2118796A2016-02-26Engine And Engine CoolingValve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
23-014-152015-04-23EquipmentChild Seat Tether Anchor Installation This bulletin describes procedures to install Child…
90028492014-09-03StructurePart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
90028492014-09-03EquipmentPart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
23026022002-06-10StructureSUBJECT REGARDING FLOOR PAN CORROSION. *SLC

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 1993 Cherokee 4.0L take?

6 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 30 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-40 API, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Cherokee have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 4.0L get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.