IllustrationTHE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND BROKE OFF.*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 reportsGEAR SHIFT FROZE IN FIFTH GEAR PULLED GEAR SHIFT FROM TRANSMISSION AND COULDN'T SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEAR. THE FIFTH GEAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY CLOSET. NEW PART HAS BEEN INSTALLED, NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO FAULTY 4TH CYLINDER EJECTER. DEALER SAID ALL MY VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1400.00 GAVE HIM THE FINGE…
Read full complaint
GEAR SHIFT FROZE IN FIFTH GEAR PULLED GEAR SHIFT FROM TRANSMISSION AND COULDN'T SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEAR. THE FIFTH GEAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY CLOSET. NEW PART HAS BEEN INSTALLED, NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO FAULTY 4TH CYLINDER EJECTER. DEALER SAID ALL MY VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1400.00 GAVE HIM THE FINGER AND SAID NICE TRY! *AK
THE FAULTY TRANSFER CASE CAUSES SEVERE SHAKING OF THE ENTIRE TRANSFER CASE AND FRONT DRIVESHAFT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE DRIVESHAFT AND CRUSHED TRANSFER CASE MOUNT WERE REPLACED BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NLM
WELD ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED DUE TO NORMAL HEATING AND COOLING.*AK
UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD, NO AIR FROM VENTS DUE TO BREAKAGE OF INTERNAL LEVER IN HEATER HOUSING. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN COLD WEATHER.*AK
THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN TAKEN OFF AND THEY GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR, THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL NOT HOLD IN AN ACCIDENT FAILED. NLM
EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED IN 4 PLACES. DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP, BUT DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED. I HAVE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH TO KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TOO FREQUENTLY. WHY WON'T THEY ISSUE A RECALL???*AK
THE TAILGATE HINGES ARE RUSTED MAKING OPENING AND CLOSING THE TAILGATE MORE DIFFICULT. NLM
VEHICLE WOULD LOSE PRESSURE AND WOULD HESITATE. EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THIS CAUSED A LEAKAGE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND INFORMED CONSUMER HE COULD HEAR/ SEE CRACK. HAD THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACED. CONTACTED DISTRICT MANAGER, MARK HIGHLAND, AND WAS INFORMED THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WOULD BE REPLACED IF OWNER PAYED FOR MAINTENANCE…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WOULD LOSE PRESSURE AND WOULD HESITATE. EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THIS CAUSED A LEAKAGE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND INFORMED CONSUMER HE COULD HEAR/ SEE CRACK. HAD THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACED. CONTACTED DISTRICT MANAGER, MARK HIGHLAND, AND WAS INFORMED THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WOULD BE REPLACED IF OWNER PAYED FOR MAINTENANCE. IT WAS AN ALTERNATIVE. *AK
EXHAUST HEADER DEVELOPED A CRACK EXTENDING MORE THAN 80% OF THE DIAMETER OF THE PIPE. CRACK OCCURRED ADJACENT TO THE WELD WHICH HOLDS THE CONNECTION FLANGE TO THE EXHAUST HEADER. THIS PIECE HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. BECAUSE THE MILES ON THE CAR (A LITTLE OVER 42,000) EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY (BY 6,000), IT IS…
Read full complaint
EXHAUST HEADER DEVELOPED A CRACK EXTENDING MORE THAN 80% OF THE DIAMETER OF THE PIPE. CRACK OCCURRED ADJACENT TO THE WELD WHICH HOLDS THE CONNECTION FLANGE TO THE EXHAUST HEADER. THIS PIECE HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. BECAUSE THE MILES ON THE CAR (A LITTLE OVER 42,000) EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY (BY 6,000), IT IS MY RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE COSTS OF PARTS AND LABOR. IF JEEP HAS REDESIGNED THE PART TO KEEP THE PIPE FROM BREAKING SHOULDN'T THEY RE-IMBURSE OR FIX THOSE THAT HAD THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FLAW?*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.