← New search

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 →

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

109 reports
Clear category filter
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…

Read full complaint

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…

Read full complaint

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…

Read full complaint

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

82,000 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED TWICE IN 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITS A PROBLEM, CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE DOES NOT. I FOUND A BOATLOAD OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME "JEEP" PROBLEM BUT NO ONE WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10038766

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 …

Read full complaint

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

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT THAT HAS 52000 MILES ON IT DEVELOPED CRACKS AND BREAKS IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WITH THESE CRACKS AND BREAKS EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST FUMES LEAK INTO THE CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY IS VERY COMMON. THERE ARE MANY PICTURES OF THE EXACT CRACKS AND BREAKS ON…

Read full complaint

MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT THAT HAS 52000 MILES ON IT DEVELOPED CRACKS AND BREAKS IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WITH THESE CRACKS AND BREAKS EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST FUMES LEAK INTO THE CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY IS VERY COMMON. THERE ARE MANY PICTURES OF THE EXACT CRACKS AND BREAKS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM MANY DIFF PEOPLE. IT WAS SUGGESTED IN ONE FORUM THAT JEEP FIXED THIS ISSUE IN THE 2000 MODEL JEEP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10037550

71,000 miles · Jul 26, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN THREE PLACES. STRONG FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE, COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO PASS OUT BEHIND THE WHEEL. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME DEFECT ON YOUR WEBSITE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029270

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 …

Read full complaint

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

54,000 miles · Feb 17, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS COMPLETELY FAILED DUE TO SEVERE CRACKING AT 54,000 MI/ ALTHOUGH THIS IS APPARENTLY A DEFECT IN '97 JEEP EXHAUST MANIFOLDS (BASED ON NUMBER OF PROBLEMS REPORTED ON INTERNET AND MANIFOLD HAS BEEN REDESIGNED) CHRYSLER WILL PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR WHICH IS OVER $900.

NHTSA ODI #10007646

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MY REQUESTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART UNDER "IMPLIED WARRANTY" OR ANYTHING ELSE, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR PROBLEM WEBSITES (AND YOURS) ARE FULL OF REPORTS OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILURE IN LATE '90'S MODEL WRANGLERS. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO RECORD OF THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGHT THE PART HAS BEEN…

Read full complaint

DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MY REQUESTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART UNDER "IMPLIED WARRANTY" OR ANYTHING ELSE, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR PROBLEM WEBSITES (AND YOURS) ARE FULL OF REPORTS OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILURE IN LATE '90'S MODEL WRANGLERS. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO RECORD OF THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGHT THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED. THE DEALER HERE HAS BEEN GREAT, BUT CAN'T DO MUCH WITHOUT MANUFACTURER SUPPORT. HERE'S HOPING THAT WITH ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THIS PART, CUSTOMERS CAN GET SOME SATISFACTION! DT

NHTSA ODI #770312

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.

Go deeper into Jeep Wrangler problems