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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2023
Tires
There have been 2 instances of the stem leaking air seemingly out of nowhere on 2 of the 5 tires within a year of installation. Both leaks were noticed after I had finished a drive. The service center we purchased the tires from has repaired 1 of them a few months ago and is currently repairing the second one. They told me that …
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There have been 2 instances of the stem leaking air seemingly out of nowhere on 2 of the 5 tires within a year of installation. Both leaks were noticed after I had finished a drive. The service center we purchased the tires from has repaired 1 of them a few months ago and is currently repairing the second one. They told me that this is a somewhat common problem with this new tire design. 4wheelparts in Waipahu Hawaii can confirm that these repairs were necessary.
NHTSA ODI #11532165
180,000 miles · Mar 5, 2021
Fuel/propulsion System
FUEL GUACHE GOVEA INACCURATE READING AND DROPS TO EMPTY WHEN THE TANK IS HALF FULL. CONTACTED THE LOCAL JEEP DEALER TWICE ON HAVING THIS PART REPLACED AND EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THEY WILL CALL ME BACK BUT THEY HAVE NOT.
NHTSA ODI #11399440
190,000 miles · Nov 17, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemCrash
I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH FOOT ON BREAK. THROTTLE WENT VERY HIGH AND PROPELLED CAR FORWARDED EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE BREAKS PENAL DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD. THERE IS NO WAY I PUSHED DOWN ON THE WRONG PEDAL. THE BREAKS COULD NOT HOLD THE CAR STOPPED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!
NHTSA ODI #11375015
98,900 miles · Aug 28, 2020
Suspension
AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE STEERING SEEMS LIKE IT WOBBLES ENTIRE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11351889
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE JEEP I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I CALLED THE OWNER HE SAID ITS A BUY AS IS, NO WARRANTY, HE DIDN'T OFFER TO HELP WITH ANYTHING AND BEING DISABLED I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO GET ENGINE FIXED, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, NO AC, NO HEAT OR DEFROST EITHER ALL THESE THINGS I FI…
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RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE JEEP I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I CALLED THE OWNER HE SAID ITS A BUY AS IS, NO WARRANTY, HE DIDN'T OFFER TO HELP WITH ANYTHING AND BEING DISABLED I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO GET ENGINE FIXED, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, NO AC, NO HEAT OR DEFROST EITHER ALL THESE THINGS I FIXED BUT NOW AGAIN IN 2020 I STILL HAVE NO HEAT, NO DEFROST, JEEP IS IN YARD NOT RUNNING AND I STILL OWE RIGHT AT 900 ON THE JEEP, THE OWNER HAS BEEN VERY RUDE, MADE THREATS, AND NOW NOT TAKING MY FINAL 3 PYMTS ON JEEP, NEVER BEEN LATE, EVER!!!! HE RUNS A SHADY BUY HERE PAY HERE LOT AND I HAVE A TOP MECHANIC THAT LEFT HIS BUSINESS TO VOUCH FOR THE ODOMETER TAMPERING AS WELL AS HAVING THE MECHANIC TO FIX ALL THE LIGHTS ON PANEL THAT SHOWED ENGINE RUNNING HOT, HE TOLD THE MECHANIC TO FIX IT OR HE WAS NOT GETTING HIS PAY CHECK, I HAVE THE MECHANICS STATEMENT AND HE WILL TESTIFY IN PERSON. I HAVE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE SINCE QUITE TO VOUCH HE SOLD LEMONS, AND SALVAGED CARS. HE LOST HIS DMV LICENSE BUT STILL CONTINUES TO FRAUD PEOPLE.
NHTSA ODI #11301864
196,000 miles · Nov 21, 2019
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V080000 (AIR BAGS). THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GANLEY VILLAGE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (2115 M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V080000 (AIR BAGS). THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GANLEY VILLAGE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (2115 MENTOR AVE, PAINESVILLE, OH 44077, (440) 354-4358) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 196,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ODI #11281599
63,000 miles · May 11, 2018
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WELL WAS VISIBLY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MANAHAWKIN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (500 NEW JERSEY 72 WEST, MANAHAWKIN, NJ 08050) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WELL WAS VISIBLY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MANAHAWKIN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (500 NEW JERSEY 72 WEST, MANAHAWKIN, NJ 08050) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
NHTSA ODI #11093330
85,000 miles · Apr 13, 2018
Structure
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR APPROX. 20 OF ITS 21YRS. THE REAR FRAME WHERE THE TRAILING ARMS ARE ATTACHED TO THE BRACKETS RUSTED OUT. THE DRIVER SIDE TRAILING ARMS WERE ALMOST READY TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME DUE TO THE FRAME RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I HAD TO CUT OUT THE SECTI…
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I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR APPROX. 20 OF ITS 21YRS. THE REAR FRAME WHERE THE TRAILING ARMS ARE ATTACHED TO THE BRACKETS RUSTED OUT. THE DRIVER SIDE TRAILING ARMS WERE ALMOST READY TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME DUE TO THE FRAME RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I HAD TO CUT OUT THE SECTION AND REPLACE IT WITH A SAFE T CAP PATCH. CUTTING OPEN THE FRAME SHOWED EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. I CHECKED MY PASSENGER SIDE LUCKILY NOT AS BAD AS THE DRIVER SIDE BUT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE SIGNS OF RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE JEEP TJ'S. JEEP CUT SEVERAL HOLES IN THE SIDES OF THE FRAME THAT ALLOWED WATER AND DEBRIS ACCESS TO THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME RAIL BUT DID NOT PUT ANT DRAIN HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME TO ALLOW THE WATER/DEBRIS TO ESCAPE.
NHTSA ODI #11084993
130,000 miles · Mar 6, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System
THE FUEL TANK SKID PLATE IS ROTTED OUT AND THE TANK IS IN DANGER OF FALLING.
NHTSA ODI #11076468
140,000 miles · Jan 28, 2018
Unknown Or Other
I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS JEEP COVERING EVERY SPECK OF RUST AS SOON AS I SEEN IT AND TODAY WHILE CLEANING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE JEEP I FOUND A RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME. FROM THE OUTSIDE IT LOOKS BRAND NEW. AFTER EXAMINATION I FOUND THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT FORM THE INSIDE OUT AND WAS FULL OF CHUNKS OF METAL. I BELIEVE THIS T…
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I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS JEEP COVERING EVERY SPECK OF RUST AS SOON AS I SEEN IT AND TODAY WHILE CLEANING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE JEEP I FOUND A RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME. FROM THE OUTSIDE IT LOOKS BRAND NEW. AFTER EXAMINATION I FOUND THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT FORM THE INSIDE OUT AND WAS FULL OF CHUNKS OF METAL. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MASSIVE SAFETY HAZARD THAT JEEP DESIGNED A FRAME THAT HOLDS WATER AND SALT AND WILL RUST OUT WITHOUT THE OWNER EVEN KNOWING HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.
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.