IllustrationRECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
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 reports4-WHEEL DRIVE INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT/GAS GAUGE FAILED, SHOWS TANK 1/4-1/2 FULL WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY OUT OF GAS/PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE VERY TIGHT AND SQUEAKY/ABS BRAKES SQUEAL LOUDLY/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING AND STICKS PRIOR TO RELEASING TO NEXT GEAR, AND SEAT BELT WA…
Read full complaint
4-WHEEL DRIVE INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT/GAS GAUGE FAILED, SHOWS TANK 1/4-1/2 FULL WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY OUT OF GAS/PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE VERY TIGHT AND SQUEAKY/ABS BRAKES SQUEAL LOUDLY/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING AND STICKS PRIOR TO RELEASING TO NEXT GEAR, AND SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM BUZZER SOUNDS AT TIMES UNEVEN AND LOUD WITH A SQUEAKING NOISE. *AK
AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE, HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. *AK
FUEL GAUGE READS THAT THERE IS GAS IN TANK WHEN ITS REALLY EMPTY. HAS BEEN TO DEALER BEFORE AND SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. *AK
VEHICLE CUTS OFF, GIVING NO WARNING. JEEP HAS BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 20 TO 25 MPH THE HOOD SHAKES, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THERE ARE MISSING BUMPERS WHICH WERE NOT INSTALLED AT THE ASSEMBLY. PART # 55176741AA. *AK
WAS DRIVING APPROX. 35MPS APPROACHING A TURN, HAD SLOWED DOWN TO 10-15MPH, WHEN TURNING VEHICLE FELT A SHAKE, THE STEERING BEGAN TO FREEZE/LOCK UP AND CONSUMER THEN HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN DRIFTING OFF ROAD. WHEN DRIVER LOOKED IN REARVIEW MIRROR SHE SAW METAL PIPES LAYING ON THE ROAD. *AK
THE BOLTS THAT HOLD UP THE BODY MOUNTS AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE MISSING AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ALMOST FELL OUT. *AK
VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD SUDDEN UNWANTED ACCELERATION, THE CAR COUL NOT STOP. THE DRIVER PUT IT IN NEUTRAL THEN IT SLOWED DOWN. *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.