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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

What owners actually said

401 reports
110,000 miles · Feb 24, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE AND THE PART FROM IT CLOGGED UP , WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER. *JB THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T EXCEED 50-60 MPH ALONG WITH RATTLING DUE TO AN INTERNALLY BROKEN CONVERTER. THE INTERIOR DOOR HINGE WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10055908

97,000 miles · Jan 28, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

ON A MAINTAINED DIRT COUNTY ROAD THE BRAKES ON MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER FAILED TO STOP MY CAR CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR.I COULD FEEL THE PULSING OF THE ABS BRAKES BUT THE CAR REFUSED TO SLOW DOWN,IT PULLED ME INTO THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10055102

35,000 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR GREATER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10055940

74,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

I BOUGHT THIS 1997 JEEP WRANGLER FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN JUNE 2002 WITH A LIMITED WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE PASED INSPECTION AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED, THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, IT HAS A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE READING, THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANI…

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I BOUGHT THIS 1997 JEEP WRANGLER FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN JUNE 2002 WITH A LIMITED WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE PASED INSPECTION AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED, THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, IT HAS A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE READING, THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND NOW THE STEERING LINKAGE OR STABILIZER BARS ARE FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI #10070478

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 · Dec 4, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire

I HAVE A 97 JEEP WRANGLER. I HAVE A PROBLEM EVERYTIME I START MY JEEP AFTER IT SITS FOR 20 MIN. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT DOWN AND AFTER PRESSING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR IT FINALLY KICKS IN AND TAKES OFF. I LOSE POWER ALOT AND IT BACKFIRES . I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD /CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AND A BRO…

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I HAVE A 97 JEEP WRANGLER. I HAVE A PROBLEM EVERYTIME I START MY JEEP AFTER IT SITS FOR 20 MIN. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT DOWN AND AFTER PRESSING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR IT FINALLY KICKS IN AND TAKES OFF. I LOSE POWER ALOT AND IT BACKFIRES . I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD /CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AND A BROKEN STUD IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO HEAD ASSEMBLY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 YEARS AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL DIFFERNT JEEP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CAN TELL ME IS THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE FOR ME TO PAY FOR . I'M STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND NOW IT'S GETTING WORSE . WHAT CAN I DO? PLEASE HELP. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10049208

31,452 miles · Nov 24, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE WAS AN EXHAUST SMELL ENTERING THE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD. *AK THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT STATE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VE…

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THERE WAS AN EXHAUST SMELL ENTERING THE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD. *AK THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT STATE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10044271

60,000 miles · Nov 20, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

1997 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT 4.0 LITER EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK NOTED AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. MECHANIC STATED IT APPEARED TO BE WELDED, NO ONE HAD PREVIOUSLY WELDED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN THIS YEAR TENDS TO CRACK. IS THERE A RECALL BY THE JEEP DEALERSHIP? IF SO, I HAVE NOT BEEN NO…

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1997 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT 4.0 LITER EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK NOTED AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. MECHANIC STATED IT APPEARED TO BE WELDED, NO ONE HAD PREVIOUSLY WELDED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN THIS YEAR TENDS TO CRACK. IS THERE A RECALL BY THE JEEP DEALERSHIP? IF SO, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. ALSO THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR AS WELL AS O2 SENSOR EFFECTED AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE NOW HAS 81,000 MILES RUNS POORLY HAS VISUAL CRACK AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS. THE ONLY RECALL I HAVE READ ABOUT IS THE AIR BAG BUT I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM JEEP EAGLE OR THE CHRYSLER COMPANY. CAN YOU HELP ME? WHO DO I CONTACT, AND IF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS COMMONLY KNOWN TO CRACK - WITHOUT CAUSE WHY WASN'T I OR POSSIBLY OTHERS NOTIFIED? WHO CAN I CONTACT? THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ACCORDING TO OTHERS IS MORE PROMINENT THAN THE AIR BAG RECALL. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047217

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION STICKS AND GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR; DEALER CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT STILL STICKS AND GRINDS; SHIFTING INTO 3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH GEARS IT SEEMS LIKE SYNCHRONIZERS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS A USED VEHICLE WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IT SE…

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TRANSMISSION STICKS AND GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR; DEALER CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT STILL STICKS AND GRINDS; SHIFTING INTO 3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH GEARS IT SEEMS LIKE SYNCHRONIZERS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS A USED VEHICLE WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IT SEEMS LIKE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10046886

55,000 miles · Nov 7, 2003
Latches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

RIGHT FROM SHOULDER HARNESS IS LOOSE AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LATCH WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED CAUSING A HOLE TO BE TORN IN THE WEBBING OF THE HARNESS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045717

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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