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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.

About this comparison →
401Owner complaints

Model-year median: 265

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
151
1994202
19952
1996401
1997265
1998213
1999251
2000
Compare all Wrangler years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
109Power Train
53Air Bags
46Fuel System, Gasoline
39Seat Belts
35
All reported categories
Steering
31Structure
29Suspension
27Service Brakes, Hydraulic
22Visibility
21Fuel System, Other
17Unknown Or Other
15Electrical System
14Latches/locks/linkages
9Vehicle Speed Control
9Tires
6Exterior Lighting
5Seats
5Equipment
4Fuel/propulsion System
4Wheels
4Engine
2Service Brakes
2Service Brakes, Air
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Parking Brake
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Steering complaints

31 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 1999
Air BagsSteeringCrash

RON FORD REPORTS THAT THE STEERING MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE GOES STRAIGHT AHEAD WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND NO ATTEMPTS MADE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, HIT A BOULDER, AT 35-40 MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NO RE…

Read full complaint

RON FORD REPORTS THAT THE STEERING MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE GOES STRAIGHT AHEAD WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND NO ATTEMPTS MADE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, HIT A BOULDER, AT 35-40 MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. PROVIDED FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835052

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainSteering

TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609982

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1999
Air BagsSteering

DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.

NHTSA ODI #543386

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Power TrainSteering

POWER STEERING PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED (LOOSE AND LEAKING).

NHTSA ODI #542421

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering

FAULTY STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ODI #540927

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1998
Steering

VEHICLE STEERING DAMPENER FAILED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN HE HIT A BUMP.

NHTSA ODI #539661

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1998
Steering

CONSUMER WAS TURNING ON TO A SIDE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY5 MPH WHEN STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824803

Mileage unknown · May 29, 1997
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT, CONSUMER THEN PROCEEDED TO GET OFF INTERSTATE, THEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER REPLACED STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812572

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1997
Steering

STEERING WHEEL: DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, HAD TO WORK BACK AND FORTH IN ORDER TO GET STEERING WHEEL BACK IN USE, TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED ABOUT SIX TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810196

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 1996
Steering

FLYWHEEL GRINDS A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR, ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK OUT, ADDITION TO SPRAYING POWER STEERING FLUID ALL OVER ENGINE WHEN FLUID LEAKS ONTO THE FAN BLADE, REPLACE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR, NEW UNIT WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE AFTER TWO WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI #511566

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.

Go deeper into Jeep Wrangler problems

Jeep Wrangler transmission problems →Jeep Wrangler electrical problems →