IllustrationMANIFOLD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES! I HAVE NEVER EVEN TAKEN IT 4-WHEELING. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
401 reportsVEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE FROM MUFFLER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED, CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKAGE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK OVERTIME, EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED INTO THREE PIECES CAUSING HOT EXHAUST FUMES IN ENGINE COMPATMENTS AS WELL AS DRIVERS AREA. *YH
PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING, CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT RECALL WHEN ON YAHOO, AFTER CALLING CHRYSLER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *YH CONSUMER HAS RAN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS. CHRYSLER RESPONDED SAYING THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE VEHI…
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FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING, CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT RECALL WHEN ON YAHOO, AFTER CALLING CHRYSLER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *YH CONSUMER HAS RAN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS. CHRYSLER RESPONDED SAYING THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE VEHICLES VIN WAS MADE. *JG *NM
FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. GAUGE INDICATES MORE FUEL THEN THERE IS IN THE TANK. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *SLC
MY FUEL GAUGE SHOWS 1/4 TANK WHEN EMPTY- THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN '98 (NHTSA # 97V194003 & TSB # 755) FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR VEHICLE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ALSO THE MANUFACTURER, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE- IF IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/Y…
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MY FUEL GAUGE SHOWS 1/4 TANK WHEN EMPTY- THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN '98 (NHTSA # 97V194003 & TSB # 755) FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR VEHICLE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ALSO THE MANUFACTURER, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE- IF IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, AND I HAVE THE PROBLEM (OBVIOUSLY), THENI DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL- THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO REPORT THIS. *AK
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 35 MPH VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. MECHANIC DETERMINED RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT, ALSO UPPER LEFT CONTROL ARM. PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT. *JG
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DEVELOPE 3 CRACKS ALONG THE REDUCER JOINT WHICH REQUIRED REMOVAL AND REWELDED. THE CRACKS STARTED BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT UNTIL I NOTICED AN INCREASE IN ENGINE NOISE AND EXHAUST FUMES IN THE VEHICLE AT WHICH POINT THE WARRENTY JUST RAN OUT DUE TO MILEAGE. THIS COMP…
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THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DEVELOPE 3 CRACKS ALONG THE REDUCER JOINT WHICH REQUIRED REMOVAL AND REWELDED. THE CRACKS STARTED BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT UNTIL I NOTICED AN INCREASE IN ENGINE NOISE AND EXHAUST FUMES IN THE VEHICLE AT WHICH POINT THE WARRENTY JUST RAN OUT DUE TO MILEAGE. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD NOT FAIL THIS FAST.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC STATED CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ADVISED CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL98V046000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Official recalls
398V046000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.