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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

Electrical System complaints

14 reports
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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

129,295 miles · Aug 9, 2011
Air BagsElectrical System

HORN DOESN'T WORK AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. SHOWING THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE INOPERABLE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418187

73,629 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK THE GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED (GAS READ EMPTY), THE VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. DIFFERENT MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED (THERE WAS PINK FLUID IN THE BATTERY AREA), THE BELT PULLEY HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE …

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WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK THE GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED (GAS READ EMPTY), THE VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. DIFFERENT MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED (THERE WAS PINK FLUID IN THE BATTERY AREA), THE BELT PULLEY HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THE BATTERY FAILED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10024874

74,000 miles · Jun 27, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

I BOUGHT MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER IN JUNE, 2002 FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN BALTIMORE, MD WITH AN AS-IS WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD PASSED INSPECTION AND WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. IT HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT AND APPEARED TO BE GOOD. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS JEEP. FIRST THE WIRING HARNESS, THEN THE …

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I BOUGHT MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER IN JUNE, 2002 FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN BALTIMORE, MD WITH AN AS-IS WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD PASSED INSPECTION AND WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. IT HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT AND APPEARED TO BE GOOD. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS JEEP. FIRST THE WIRING HARNESS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION, NOW A DIAGNOSIS TO REPLACE THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD, REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND HAS A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE, AND POSSIBLY THE STABILIZER BAR OR STEERING COMPONENTS. THIS JEEP IS COSTING ME MORE IN REPAIRS THAN THE ACTUAL VALUE OF IT. I FEAR THAT IT IS UNSAFE AND THAT I M FACING MORE EXPENSES IF I KEEP IT, BUT I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AS FAR AS LEMON LAW PROTECTION, RECALLS, HELP!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10023888

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Electrical System

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE LOST POWER. WILL JERK REALLY HARD, AND PRESSING ON ACCELERATER HAS NO AFFECT. DEALER REPLACED FUEL RAIL, AND A WEEK LATER PROBLEM REOCCURED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8006033

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2001
Air BagsElectrical System

WHILE DRIVING VEHICL CLOCK SPRIING BROKE, AND HORN MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8000735

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
Electrical System

PROBABLE FAULTY CONNECTION AT IGNITION SWITCH - PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #727893

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2000
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

CHRYSLER STATES THAT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER IN MY JEEP WHICH IS THE PROBLEM. DANGEROUS DRIVING INTO TRAFFIC AND I DON'T GET ANY GAS, JUST SPUTTERS. ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED COUNTLESS TIMES IN THE PAST 13 MONTHS. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ODI #719523

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1999
Electrical System

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE SOMETIMES THE STARTER ENGAGES. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND STIFFING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. DRIVER HAS TO PULL THE RELAY SWITCH BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. TH KEY WILL TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER IS STILL ENGAGING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND A HALF. THE VEHIC…

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WHEN STARTING VEHICLE SOMETIMES THE STARTER ENGAGES. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND STIFFING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. DRIVER HAS TO PULL THE RELAY SWITCH BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. TH KEY WILL TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER IS STILL ENGAGING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND A HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 19, 1999 FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853582

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1999
Electrical System

ENGINE HARNESS BAD IN VEHICLE.VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR LOTS OF PROBLEMS SINCE NEW.THE LATEST IS THE HARNESS PROBLEM.THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES, AND IS AT PRESENT TIME IS STILL AT DEALER.THEY HAVE HAD IT GOING ON THREE WEEKS NOW.NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROPER PARTS OR A CORRECT WAY OF FIXING IT.I HAVE CONTACTED…

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ENGINE HARNESS BAD IN VEHICLE.VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR LOTS OF PROBLEMS SINCE NEW.THE LATEST IS THE HARNESS PROBLEM.THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES, AND IS AT PRESENT TIME IS STILL AT DEALER.THEY HAVE HAD IT GOING ON THREE WEEKS NOW.NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROPER PARTS OR A CORRECT WAY OF FIXING IT.I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER MORE TIMES THEN I CARE TO RECALL,BUT STILL THE SAME ANSWER THAT THEY ARE TRYING EVERYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.THIS LAST TIME 2 WIRES IN ENGINE HARNESS MELTED,I FEEL THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE.IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANYWAY I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT,THANK YOU JAMES HAVEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708085

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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