IllustrationTHE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS BOLDS ARE MADE OUT OF ALLUMINUM, WHICH AT HIGH TEMP. WILL BREAK. THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.
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 reportsMY RADIATOR HAS ROTTED OUT, INCLUDING PART OF THE CORE,THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WITH ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED, I'VE LIVED AND DRIVEN IN THE SAME CONDITIONS FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH, FRONT END OF DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT. LUCKILY IT DID NOT FLIP VEHICLE. BENT THE DRIVE SHAFT IN HALF.
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT SWAY BAR BROKE, AND THE FRONT WHEELS FELT LIKE THEY WERE FALLING OFF. *AK
VEHICLE WAS MAKING A REALLY LOUD NOISE WHEN STEERING WAS BEING TURNED .CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN ARBITRATION FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT CONNECTOR IS BROKEN. *YC
THE SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT THEREFORE THE BELT GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LATCH. THE BELT BECOMES FRAYED AS A RESULT OF THE DAMAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE. AFTER 4 VISITS TO THE DEALER, THE PART WAS REPLACED ON 9/9/1998 AT 46,889 MI.
IN A 16 MONTH PERIOD, I HAVE EXPERIENCED 3 FUEL PUMP FAILURES. #1 3/3/98 AT 34,622 MI. #2 7/9/98 AT 43,705 MI. #3 7/3/99 AT 67864 MI. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE FUEL PUMP. DEAL…
Read full complaint
IN A 16 MONTH PERIOD, I HAVE EXPERIENCED 3 FUEL PUMP FAILURES. #1 3/3/98 AT 34,622 MI. #2 7/9/98 AT 43,705 MI. #3 7/3/99 AT 67864 MI. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE FUEL PUMP. DEALER CLAIMS OTHERWISE. I FEEL VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE.
VEHICLE EXHIBITS UNDAMPED SHIMMY OF FRONT SUSPENSION AFTER HITTING PAVEMENT IRREGULARITIES AT ~40-45 MPH. SHIMMY CONTINUES UNTIL SPPED IS REDUCED BELOW THAT RANGE. CONDITION APPEARS TO BE WORSENING. MILEAGE AT 37,000 NOW. DEALER REPLACED STERRING DAMPER AND PITMAN ARM SHAFT SEAL WHICH HAD LITTLE AFFECT.
WHILE DRIVING UP HILLS VEHICLE ONLY TRAVELS UP TO 45 MPH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *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.