1988 Jeep Laredo problems

General information about Jeep-Laredo
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a range of mid-size SUVs produced by the American manufacturer Jeep. At its introduction, while most SUVs were still manufactured with body-on-frame construction, the Grand Cherokee has used a unibody chassis from the start.

Development

The Grand Cherokee's origins date back to 1983 when American Motors Corporation (AMC) was designing a successor to the Jeep Cherokee. Three outside (non-AMC) designers—Larry Shinoda, Alain Clenet, and Giorgetto Giugiaro—were also under contract with AMC to create and build a clay model of the Cherokee XJ replacement, then known as the "XJC" project. However, the basic design for the Cherokee's replacement was well under way by AMC's in-house designers and the 1989 Jeep Concept 1 show car foretold the basic design.

As AMC began the development of the next Jeep in 1985, management created a business process that is now known as product lifecycle management (PLM). According to François Castaing, Vice President for Product Engineering and Development, the smallest U.S. automaker was looking for a way to speed up its product development process to compete better against its larger competitors. The XJC's development was aided by computer-aided design (CAD) software systems making the engineers more productive. Meanwhile, new communication systems allowed potential conflicts to be resolved faster, thus reducing costly engineering changes, because all drawings and documents were in a central database. The system was so effective that after Chrysler purchased AMC in 1987, it expanded the system throughout its enterprise, thus connecting everyone involved in designing and building products.

The Grand Cherokee thus became the first Chrysler-badged Jeep product. Development work for the new Jeep model continued and Chrysler's employees (after the 1987 buyout of AMC) were eager for a late-1980s release date; however, CEO Lee Iacocca was pushing for redesigned Chrysler minivans, thus delaying the Grand Cherokee's release until late 1992 as an Explorer competitor. Unlike the Explorer, the Grand Cherokee utilized monocoque (unibody) construction, whereas the Explorer was a derivative of the Ranger pickup with a separate body-on-frame. A Dodge-branded version was designed as a precaution should Jeep dealers struggle to handle so many Grand Cherokee units.

The Grand Cherokee debuted in grand fashion at the 1992 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The vehicle that was driven was a Poppy Red Clear Coat 1993 Grand Cherokee ZJ Laredo with a quartz cloth interior and high-back bucket seats. Then Chrysler president Robert Lutz drove Detroit mayor, Coleman Young, from the Jefferson North Assembly Plant on North Jefferson Avenue via a police escort to Cobo Hall, up the steps of Cobo Hall and through a plate glass window to show off the new vehicle. Sales of the 1993 model year Grand Cherokee began in April 1992.

Production of the Grand Cherokee started shortly afterward in the purpose-built Jefferson North Assembly in Detroit, Michigan. European Grand Cherokees are manufactured in Austria by Magna Steyr. The Grand Cherokee "played a significant part in reviving Chrysler's fortunes by moving it into the then-nascent market for high-margin sports utility vehicles."

Upon its introduction, it was the first full-scale manufacture of an automobile in the US using HFC-134a refrigerant in place of HCFC-12 for the HVAC system.

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Common 1988 Jeep Laredo problems

Based on the information provided in the sources, here are some common problems with the 1988 Jeep Cherokee Laredo:

Brake Pressure: Some owners have experienced a lack of brake pressure, especially when going downhill, where the pedal needs to be pressed all the way down before the vehicle stops.

Electrical and Radio Interference: Wiring issues in the door have been reported to interfere with the radio, requiring the door to be opened for the radio to work properly. This could be a result of faulty wiring connections affecting the radio's functionality.

Back Trunk Door: Difficulty in opening the back trunk door has been mentioned by owners. This could be due to latch issues or structural problems with the rear hatch, which may require adjustments or repairs to function correctly.

These common problems with the 1988 Jeep Cherokee Laredo can impact the vehicle's performance and comfort, requiring attention and potential repairs to ensure safe and reliable operation.

What are the worst years for the Jeep Cherokee to avoid?

A: The Jeep Grand Cherokee model years most recommended to avoid are 2011 and 2014. These years have been identified as having the most mechanical issues and complaints, leading to potentially expensive maintenance and repairs.

What is the biggest problem with a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Some of the most common problems with Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs include the following:

Power Steering Failure: A vehicle's power steering system helps you maneuver your SUV, especially when turning or driving at low speeds. ...
Engine Issues. ...
Other Electrical System Problems. ...
Safety Concerns.

Is a 1988 Jeep Cherokee fuel injected?

The XJ came out of the gate with a brand-new AMC 2.5L four-cylinder as the standard engine, which made 110 hp, although that was bumped up to 117 hp by 1987 when it went fuel-injected.

What transmission is in a 1988 Jeep Cherokee?

Aisin AX15 - Used only after 1988. This transmission was used with the 4.0L I6 engine (View Here). Peugeot BA 10/5 - Used by AMC, it was used between 1987 to around 1989 in various Jeeps.

What is the main problem on a Jeep Cherokee?

Some of the common issues that plague the Jeep Cherokee include engine stalls, transmission problems, and transmission-related recalls.

Is a 1988 Jeep Cherokee fuel injected?

The XJ came out of the gate with a brand-new AMC 2.5L four-cylinder as the standard engine, which made 110 hp, although that was bumped up to 117 hp by 1987 when it went fuel-injected.

Are 2nd gen Jeep Cherokees reliable?

What's Wrong with the 2nd Generation (1984–2001) Cherokee? Cherokee owners have made 137 complaints about the 1984–2001 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 3rd out of 18 Jeep generations in overall reliability , with some electrical and engine concerns.

What is the fuel pressure on a Jeep Cherokee 88?

Fuel pressure with key on engine off should be 31psi and should hold there.

1988 Jeep Laredo car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Jeep Laredo problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Exterior lighting problems
Seat belts problems
Electrical system problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1988 Jeep Laredo vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1988 Jeep Laredo complaints

The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1988 Jeep Laredo.

2002-11-29

EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2002-11-18
VIN: 9999
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TAILLIGHT DID NOT WORK AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE OTHER DRIVER'S. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PH WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS IN ORDER TO PASS INSPECTION, IT BROUGHT ABOUT NEW VIOLATION(S). THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DAMAGED AFTER RECEIVING REPAIRS, WHICH WASN'T DAMAGED PRIOR TO. SCC

Add Complaint

1995-06-22

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1995-06-22
VIN: 1JCMR7843JT
Components: SEAT BELTS
Summary: PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS FRAYING WHEN RETRACTING INTO POSITION. TT

Add Complaint

1995-02-24

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1994-08-01
Fire: 1
VIN: 1JCCE87E1JT
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: EXPERIENCE TWO ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. TT

Add Complaint

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1988 Jeep Laredo problems:

New purchase of 1988 jeep and its problems - Jeep Cherokee Forum

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/new-purchase-1988-jeep-its-problems-219881/

Dec 3, 2015 ... I just purchased a 1988 Jeep Cherokee Laredo and looking over it, it has some problems. If any one has any ideas on what is wrong them that ...

Common YJ Problems | Jeep Wrangler Forum

https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/common-yj-problems.650681/

Apr 17, 2014 ... Common YJ Problems ... 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (Flame Red) - 5.2 liter V8 (sold) ... 1988 Jeep Wrangler (Colorado Red) - 4.2 liter I6 (sold).

What are Some common problems? - Jeep Cherokee Forum

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/what-some-common-problems-29380/

Nov 19, 2009 ... Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here - What are Some common problems? - Hi, I'm new to the site and I was ...