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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

Structure complaints

29 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2001
Exterior LightingSeat BeltsStructure

DRIVERS SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE AT ANY SPEED EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE IT - A FEW TIMES EACH TIME YOU DRIVE IT, REAR CENTER MOUNTED TAIL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK, TAILGATE HINGES ARE EXTRREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHUT CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO NOT BE CLOSED PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, FRONT TURN SIGNAL SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS WET…

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DRIVERS SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE AT ANY SPEED EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE IT - A FEW TIMES EACH TIME YOU DRIVE IT, REAR CENTER MOUNTED TAIL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK, TAILGATE HINGES ARE EXTRREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHUT CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO NOT BE CLOSED PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, FRONT TURN SIGNAL SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS WET OUT- DEALER NOTIFIED AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE SOCKET (NOT A STOCK ITEM), THE BULBS ARE FINE IN THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749386

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2001
Structure

THE TAILGATE HINGES ARE RUSTED MAKING OPENING AND CLOSING THE TAILGATE MORE DIFFICULT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #559594

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Structure

THE SKID PLATE IS POSITIONED SO THAT THE GAS TANKAND SKID PLATE TOUCH EACH OTHER. IF THE SKID PLATE IS IMPACTED IN ANY WAY THAT FORCE IS TRANSFERRED TO THE GAS TANK. IF THIS IMPACT CAUSES EVEN A SMALL DENT IN THE SKID PLATE, THE GAS TANK CAN BE DAMAGED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836690

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 1999
Seat BeltsSteeringStructure

SEAT BELT CATCHES ON DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH 9 OUT 0F 10 TIMES. SEAT BELT IS GETTING A HOLE IN IT. LEAK HAS BEEN FIXED 15 TIMES AND IT STILL LEAKS ON PASSENGER'S FEET. DAMAGE IS OCCURRING TO INTERIOR OF JEEP AND ANYTHING LEFT ON THE FLOOR GETS WET. I WAS TOLD( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: 22SS/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #713439

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Structure

NO SUMMARY.

NHTSA ODI #712487

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1999
Seat BeltsStructure

DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT CONNECTOR IS BROKEN. *YC

NHTSA ODI #548237

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1999
Structure

WATER LEAKS TO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707174

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Latches/locks/linkagesStructureSuspension

HARD TOP SEAL IS TWISTED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609423

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1998
Structure

WATER LEAKS AT FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOOR BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND HEATER.

NHTSA ODI #781292

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Structure

WATER LEAKS ORIGINATING UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE IN THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE, UNABLE TO BE RECTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI #541868

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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