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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

15 reports
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140,000 miles · Jan 28, 2018
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS JEEP COVERING EVERY SPECK OF RUST AS SOON AS I SEEN IT AND TODAY WHILE CLEANING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE JEEP I FOUND A RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME. FROM THE OUTSIDE IT LOOKS BRAND NEW. AFTER EXAMINATION I FOUND THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT FORM THE INSIDE OUT AND WAS FULL OF CHUNKS OF METAL. I BELIEVE THIS T…

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I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS JEEP COVERING EVERY SPECK OF RUST AS SOON AS I SEEN IT AND TODAY WHILE CLEANING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE JEEP I FOUND A RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME. FROM THE OUTSIDE IT LOOKS BRAND NEW. AFTER EXAMINATION I FOUND THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT FORM THE INSIDE OUT AND WAS FULL OF CHUNKS OF METAL. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MASSIVE SAFETY HAZARD THAT JEEP DESIGNED A FRAME THAT HOLDS WATER AND SALT AND WILL RUST OUT WITHOUT THE OWNER EVEN KNOWING HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11065553

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2016
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

MY FRAME IS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE REAR TRAILING ARM MOUNTS ARE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND THE FRAME ROTTED THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS THE REQUIRED SAFTEY INSPECTION. I STARTED LOOKING FOR A WAY TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE FRAME AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL EXCEED …

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MY FRAME IS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE REAR TRAILING ARM MOUNTS ARE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND THE FRAME ROTTED THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS THE REQUIRED SAFTEY INSPECTION. I STARTED LOOKING FOR A WAY TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE FRAME AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DATE I HAVE ENTERED IS THE DATE THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND.

NHTSA ODI #10917836

230,000 miles · Apr 13, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THE FRAME IS RUSTING AROUND THE REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNTS , I HAVE SEEN OTHERS RUST IN THE SAME PLACE IN PERSON AND ON THE INTERNET. THERE ARE EVEN COMPANIES THAT MAKE REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM LIKE SAFE-T-CAP. THE RUST ON MINE IS BAD ENOUGH THAT IT WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #10855305

135,000 miles · Aug 29, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

WHEN COLD, JEEP STARTS AND RUNS FINE. AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP, OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND JEEP WOULD ALMOST DIE. IF I SHUT IT OFF AND TRY TO RESTART WHILE STILL WARM, JEEP WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME STARTING AND IF IT DID START, IT WOULD IDLE EXTREMELY ROUGH AND BARELY ACCELERATE. ONCE I GOT SPEED UP, IT RAN FINE UNTIL I STOPPED AT A…

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WHEN COLD, JEEP STARTS AND RUNS FINE. AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP, OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND JEEP WOULD ALMOST DIE. IF I SHUT IT OFF AND TRY TO RESTART WHILE STILL WARM, JEEP WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME STARTING AND IF IT DID START, IT WOULD IDLE EXTREMELY ROUGH AND BARELY ACCELERATE. ONCE I GOT SPEED UP, IT RAN FINE UNTIL I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WOULD BOTTOM OUT. DEALER PUT MANUAL GAUGES ON IT AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE OIL SENDING UNIT. OIL PRESSURE NOW HOLDS AT 20 WHEN AT IDLE. THE ISSUE WITH THE ROUGH IDLE AND LOSS OF POWER STILL PERSISTS AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP. AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. REALLY DON'T WANT TO WASTE MONEY TRYING TO GUESS AT WHAT IS THE ISSUE. AS MANY PEOPLE THAT THERE ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES, JEEP SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND ISSUE A RECALL. VERY DISAPPOINTED.

NHTSA ODI #10760112

95,440 miles · May 12, 2015
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

NOTICED WOBBLE UNDERNEATH WHILE DRIVING. INSPECTED UNDERNEATH AND NOTICED LIGHT SHOWING BETWEEN TRANSFER CASE SKID PLATE AND FRAME (SHOULD BE TIGHT) AND BOLT HANGING DOWN. TOOK INTO SHOP AND LOWER MID FRAME ON BOTH SIDES IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING SKID PLATE BOLTS TO FALL OUT WITH NUTS STILL ATTACHED. SKID PLATE AL…

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NOTICED WOBBLE UNDERNEATH WHILE DRIVING. INSPECTED UNDERNEATH AND NOTICED LIGHT SHOWING BETWEEN TRANSFER CASE SKID PLATE AND FRAME (SHOULD BE TIGHT) AND BOLT HANGING DOWN. TOOK INTO SHOP AND LOWER MID FRAME ON BOTH SIDES IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING SKID PLATE BOLTS TO FALL OUT WITH NUTS STILL ATTACHED. SKID PLATE ALSO SERVES AS TRANSFER CASE MOUNT AND WHEN IT DROPS THE DRIVESHAFT WOBBLES. ULTIMATELY IF IT HAD COMPLETELY LET GO ON THE HIGHWAY THE REAR DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND LOCKED THE REAR WHEELS CAUSING UNCONTROLLED SKID, OR THE DRIVESHAFT WOULD BREAK CAUSING DANGER TO THE PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI #10716094

46,612 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

HELLO, WE HAVE A BLACK PAINT JOB. WE KNOW THIS PART IS NOT A SAFETY FEATURE , BUT BY AUG. ,SEPT. THE PAINT WILL BE PILLING OFF!!! CRACKING REALLY BAD!!! WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. HAVE HAD OLD AMC JEEPS , NEVER ANY PROBLEMS !! RUST MAYBE BECAUSE WE HAD OUR 82 JEEP FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THE CHECK…

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HELLO, WE HAVE A BLACK PAINT JOB. WE KNOW THIS PART IS NOT A SAFETY FEATURE , BUT BY AUG. ,SEPT. THE PAINT WILL BE PILLING OFF!!! CRACKING REALLY BAD!!! WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. HAVE HAD OLD AMC JEEPS , NEVER ANY PROBLEMS !! RUST MAYBE BECAUSE WE HAD OUR 82 JEEP FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE FUEL CHANGES IN PGH. PER SEASON!!! NOW THERE IS A CLUNK IN THE REAR HOUSING, WITH OUR 4-WHEEL DRIVE WE HAVE LIMITED SLIP. WE ARE THINKING OF SELLING BY OCT. ,JEEP BETTER BE WARY OF LOST SALES.

NHTSA ODI #10069691

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL ALL RELATED PARTS FAILED, WATER LEAKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, CLOCK AND RADIO BROKE DEALER CANT FIX, SEAT BELTS WONT RETRACT, SWAY BARS COME LOOSE

NHTSA ODI #749482

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ROUGH IDLE; ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON; STALLING, BUCKING AT SPEED; NOISEY/CRACKED EXHAUST

NHTSA ODI #723486

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsUnknown Or Other

I HAVE ONLY INCLUDED THE ONE DATE I CAN REMEMBER THAT JEEP WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP. BUT, TO THIS DATE, AFTER JEEP WARMS UP AND THEN IS SHUT OFF FOR APPROX 20 MINUTES, IT HESITATES ON ACCELERATION. DEALER SAID COULDNT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. OIL GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO, THEN ENGINE KNOCKED & I SHUT OFF. DEALER SAID OIL PRESSURE OK, COULD…

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I HAVE ONLY INCLUDED THE ONE DATE I CAN REMEMBER THAT JEEP WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP. BUT, TO THIS DATE, AFTER JEEP WARMS UP AND THEN IS SHUT OFF FOR APPROX 20 MINUTES, IT HESITATES ON ACCELERATION. DEALER SAID COULDNT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. OIL GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO, THEN ENGINE KNOCKED & I SHUT OFF. DEALER SAID OIL PRESSURE OK, COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROB. IT STILL DROPS BELOW 20 SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ZERO AGAIN. I HAVE HAD MANIFOLD BOLTS REPLACED TWICE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED ONCE. WATER LEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE & DRIVERS SEAT BELT GETS CAUGHT IN DOOR LATCH.

NHTSA ODI #720207

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

CAR HAS A BUCKING AND POOR PROFORMANCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS UP LONG HILLS, MAKING 60MPH IMPOSSIBLE. IT HAS BEEN A POOR HIGHWAY PERFORMER, BUT HAS BECOME "ROUGH-MISSFIRING" VERY BADLY 3 TIMES IN THE CAR LIFE. FIRST 2 SERIOUS FAILURES I GOT A ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, RESULTING IN DEALER VISITS. NOW THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS "FIXED" I…

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CAR HAS A BUCKING AND POOR PROFORMANCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS UP LONG HILLS, MAKING 60MPH IMPOSSIBLE. IT HAS BEEN A POOR HIGHWAY PERFORMER, BUT HAS BECOME "ROUGH-MISSFIRING" VERY BADLY 3 TIMES IN THE CAR LIFE. FIRST 2 SERIOUS FAILURES I GOT A ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, RESULTING IN DEALER VISITS. NOW THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS "FIXED" IT IS NOT THERE, BUT THE FAILURE MODE IS. THE CAR EXHAUST PIPE END IS QUITE BLACK, DIRTY RUNNING? THE VALVES AND INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS ARE VERY DIRTY AND HAD TO BE CLEANED OR REPLACED WHEN INSPECTED THE LAST 2 TIMES. IT HAPPENED AT 5K, 12K, AND NOW AT 37K. THE CAR IS NOW ALMOST 3 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS TOTALING AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THIS IS MORE TIMES THAN MY LAST 10 YEAR VEHICLE HAD. (NOT JEEP) AM I NOW OUT OF HELP SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTEE AT 36K? I AM GETTING WORRIED THE CAR WILL NOT PERFORM TO 100K LIKE THIS AS IT MAY BE DAMAGED! WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF MY RIGHTS NOW? THANKS,, SS

NHTSA ODI #715810

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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