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1997 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Jeep Wrangler do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 265.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 71 of 401 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports5 fire reports19 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

22 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I CALLED CHRYSLER THIS A.M. AND THE GIRL HUNG UP ON ME SHE SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP ME. I HAVE HAD MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, SAHARA TO GARAGE I DONT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON ALL 4-WHEELS AND ON SLICK ROADS THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND YOU CANNOT STEER IT THEN. IN S…

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I CALLED CHRYSLER THIS A.M. AND THE GIRL HUNG UP ON ME SHE SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP ME. I HAVE HAD MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, SAHARA TO GARAGE I DONT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON ALL 4-WHEELS AND ON SLICK ROADS THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND YOU CANNOT STEER IT THEN. IN SNOW, GRAVEL, GRASS ETC. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DONT THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HANG UP ON ME AS I OWN DODGE 1999 TRUCK AND CHEROKEE LIMITED ALL BOUGHT NEW.

NHTSA ODI #704024

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE E-MAILED YOU SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ANSWER. FRONT BRAKES ON MY JEEP LOCK UP ON SLICK ROAD AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL, ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES. ANTI LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON FRONT. VEHICLE HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. I CANNOT GET ANY SATISFACTION FROM COMPANY. SERVIOCE MANAGER DROVE IT AND ALMOST WRECKED. A…

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I HAVE E-MAILED YOU SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ANSWER. FRONT BRAKES ON MY JEEP LOCK UP ON SLICK ROAD AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL, ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES. ANTI LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON FRONT. VEHICLE HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. I CANNOT GET ANY SATISFACTION FROM COMPANY. SERVIOCE MANAGER DROVE IT AND ALMOST WRECKED. ANOTHER MECHANIC DROVE IT AND SAID THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU COULD STOP IT ON SLICK ROAD WAS 4-WHEEL. I PAID $23,900.00 FOR IT AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT ON SLLICK ROADS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #703568

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP ON SLICK ROAD-SNOW-MUD. I HAVE HAD IT TO GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES. VERY DANGEROUS, ONE MECHANIC WAS ABOUT TO WRECK TRYING IT OUT. OTHER MECHANIC SAID THAT YOU COULD NOT STOP IT ON SLICK ROAD EXCEPT WHEN IT WAS IN 4-WHEEL. FRONT WHEELS LOCK AND YOU CAN STEER. CHRY. FINALY SENT REP. IN THIS WEEK BUT HE DROVE IT I…

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FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP ON SLICK ROAD-SNOW-MUD. I HAVE HAD IT TO GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES. VERY DANGEROUS, ONE MECHANIC WAS ABOUT TO WRECK TRYING IT OUT. OTHER MECHANIC SAID THAT YOU COULD NOT STOP IT ON SLICK ROAD EXCEPT WHEN IT WAS IN 4-WHEEL. FRONT WHEELS LOCK AND YOU CAN STEER. CHRY. FINALY SENT REP. IN THIS WEEK BUT HE DROVE IT IN LEVEL DRY FIELD, HE SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I DONT DRIVE IT IN SNOWY WEATHER, WILL CHRYSLER REIMBURSE ME OR PAY FOR DAMAGES IF I SHOUILD WRECK?

NHTSA ODI #703249

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP ON SLICK ROADS AND THEN NO CONTROL. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK BACK THE OTHER DY AND THE SHOP FOREMAN ALMOST WENT IN A DITCH. I DONT LET MY WIFE DRIVE AS IT IS DANGEROUS. IT HAS ANTILOCK BRAKES ON FRONT. THE SHOP MAN SAID THAT I NEED TO GET SOMEONE FROM FACTORY TO LOOK AT. I CANNOT GET ANY SATI…

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FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP ON SLICK ROADS AND THEN NO CONTROL. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK BACK THE OTHER DY AND THE SHOP FOREMAN ALMOST WENT IN A DITCH. I DONT LET MY WIFE DRIVE AS IT IS DANGEROUS. IT HAS ANTILOCK BRAKES ON FRONT. THE SHOP MAN SAID THAT I NEED TO GET SOMEONE FROM FACTORY TO LOOK AT. I CANNOT GET ANY SATISFACTION FROM COMPANY. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THIS JEEP ON A SLICK ROAD. I WOULD LIKE FOR SOME FACTPRY PERSON TO LOOK AT IT. AS IT IS VERY DANGERPUS. I DO NOT DRIVE IT ON SNOWY ROADS AS YOU CANT STOP IT IN 2-WHEEL DRIVE. I WOULAPPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #701931

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION, DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND JEEP VEERED TO THE LEFT, MAKING HEAD-ON IMPACT WITH A BRIDGE. AFTER FLIPPING SEVERAL TIMES ENDED UP OVER GUARD RAIL ON RIVER BANK BESIDE A TREE. DRIVER SUSTAINED MASSIVE SEVERE INJURIES AND PERMANENT DISABILITIES. NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED …

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VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION, DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND JEEP VEERED TO THE LEFT, MAKING HEAD-ON IMPACT WITH A BRIDGE. AFTER FLIPPING SEVERAL TIMES ENDED UP OVER GUARD RAIL ON RIVER BANK BESIDE A TREE. DRIVER SUSTAINED MASSIVE SEVERE INJURIES AND PERMANENT DISABILITIES. NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED UNTIL AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND DESTROYED. AIRBAG TEAM WAS CALLED AT TIME OF INCIDENT AND STATED TO LOOK AT VEHICLE WOULD ONLY BE A WASTE OF THEIR TIME AND OUR MONEY. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THERE WERE DEFECTS IN THE SRS, I THANK GOD I WAS NOT KILLED IN THIS CRASH BECAUSE OF OBVIOUS DEFECTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #701921

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL ARE WITHIN ONE INCH OF EACH OTHER, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL PASSES THE GAS PEDAL AND CAUSES CONSUMERS FOOT TO CATCH THE SIDE OF THE GAS PEDAL WHICH OVERRIDES THE BRAKE. THIS CONDITION CAUSED A CRASH IN JULY OF 97. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH TH…

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BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL ARE WITHIN ONE INCH OF EACH OTHER, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL PASSES THE GAS PEDAL AND CAUSES CONSUMERS FOOT TO CATCH THE SIDE OF THE GAS PEDAL WHICH OVERRIDES THE BRAKE. THIS CONDITION CAUSED A CRASH IN JULY OF 97. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #825005

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicInjury

COMPUTER/FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND ENGINE OIL FILTER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #534586

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE TRUCK HAD SOME BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED FROM A SEAL LEAK AT THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE TRUCK DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820210

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 1997
Fuel System, OtherPower TrainSeat Belts

4-WHEEL DRIVE INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT/GAS GAUGE FAILED, SHOWS TANK 1/4-1/2 FULL WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY OUT OF GAS/PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE VERY TIGHT AND SQUEAKY/ABS BRAKES SQUEAL LOUDLY/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING AND STICKS PRIOR TO RELEASING TO NEXT GEAR, AND SEAT BELT WA…

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4-WHEEL DRIVE INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT/GAS GAUGE FAILED, SHOWS TANK 1/4-1/2 FULL WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY OUT OF GAS/PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE VERY TIGHT AND SQUEAKY/ABS BRAKES SQUEAL LOUDLY/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING AND STICKS PRIOR TO RELEASING TO NEXT GEAR, AND SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM BUZZER SOUNDS AT TIMES UNEVEN AND LOUD WITH A SQUEAKING NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #522675

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT.

NHTSA ODI #514152

Official recalls

3

98V046000 · Air Bags:frontal

Mar 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG 'CLOCK SPRING' WIRING HARNESS CAN BREAK WHEN TURNED TO THE 'FULL LOCK' TURN POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY INCREASING THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING IN THESE AIR BAGS.

97V080000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

May 16, 1997

THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.

96V060000 · Air Bags

Apr 8, 1996

THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM) SOFTWARE CONTAINS AN ERROR WHICH CAN DELAY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CERTAIN CRASH SITUATIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DELAYED DEPLOYMENT CAN CAUSE INCREASED INJURY TO FRONT SEAT VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IN A COLLISION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE ON THESE VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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