1993 Jeep Cherokee Sport review from North America

Mystery problem at around 165,000 miles - the car would start bucking whenever the fuel injection kicked in. Throwing new parts (oxy and TPS sensors, etc.) didn't correct the problem. The dealer said it was a problem with the #2 injector, then that the injector control computer needed to be replaced. I had my mechanic install the computer from a similar Cherokee that had been junked, which did nothing to correct the problem. Finally, the mechanic found that the wiring in the #2 injector harness was defective and replaced it in five minutes. The problem was solved. (He's since told me that other owners of '93 Cherokees have had this problem.)

Alternator replaced at 172,000 miles.

Upper radiator hose blew at 175,000 miles.

Replaced headlights at 182,000.

Starter died at 189,000.

Radiator needed patching at 192,000 miles.

Universals needed to be replaced at 195,000.

This car was bought for me as a first car for college at a time when gas was cheap. I was the fourth owner. As a kid who just learned to drive, I was hard on it (including backing into two lampposts, at least one parked car, abrupt slamming on the brakes, sudden acceleration, etc.), and probably would've broken a more fragile car. In hindsight, I'm impressed by the Cherokee's resilience in light of my driving abilities at the time.

Cherokees will nickel and dime you to death (see above), but the major parts are solid. Between repairs, a well-maintained Cherokee could drive across the country and back. The AW4 automatic transmission is one of Chrysler's best, and worked beautifully. The engine was solid, and the only problems I had were routine things for the age and mileage of the vehicle. I lived in Vermont at the time and took the car on trips as far as Virginia and it held up reliably without a whimper. (Later, I commuted from Vermont to Boston regularly without problems.) It was comfortable to drive such a long distance, too. It only failed to start three times in five years - once, because the alternator died; once, because the starter died; and a third time because I bought a crap battery. It was great in the snow, too. By the time I sold it, I was moving to a warmer climate and wanted something more economical, but it was a great first car at the time.

Cons: When something does go wrong, Mopar parts are expensive and you pay for it.

Also, the thing burns up gas like nobody's business, especially the automatic. I typically went through a tank of gas a week. If gas hadn't been so cheap in 2001, it would really have hurt my pocketbook. My gas mileage was roughly 16-18 mpg; usually a lot lower if I was just driving it around town or to class. It's better than most SUV's and pickups, but that really says more about the impracticality of other SUVs. Where fuel economy is concerned, it's not a practical daily driver.

For the record, my stepfather has owned two other Cherokees - an '87 and a '96. Both of them leaked oil, which is a common habit of Cherokees. Mine never lost so much as a drop. It's probably just luck on my part, but I wouldn't expect the same from other Cherokees, especially older ones.

If you need a strong, all-purpose utility vehicle with four wheel drive, and don't mind paying for a lot of minor repairs and iffy fuel economy, a Cherokee is a good choice.