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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.

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
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Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS CRACKED, AS WAS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ALSO THE CRANK SENSOR HARNESS AND THE TPS WERE MELTED AGAINST THE MANIFOLD. THE DASH LEAKED WATER AND THE BRAKE SHOES/LINING AND RACK AND PINION SET NEEDED REPLACING. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NEVER RETRACT AND THE DASH LEAD WATER EXTENSIVELY CAUSING THE RESST…

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THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS CRACKED, AS WAS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ALSO THE CRANK SENSOR HARNESS AND THE TPS WERE MELTED AGAINST THE MANIFOLD. THE DASH LEAKED WATER AND THE BRAKE SHOES/LINING AND RACK AND PINION SET NEEDED REPLACING. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NEVER RETRACT AND THE DASH LEAD WATER EXTENSIVELY CAUSING THE RESSTR-BLOWER TO GO OUT. THE RADIO WAS ALSO BROKEN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS

NHTSA ODI #712504

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS BOLDS ARE MADE OUT OF ALLUMINUM, WHICH AT HIGH TEMP. WILL BREAK. THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.

NHTSA ODI #712175

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY RADIATOR HAS ROTTED OUT, INCLUDING PART OF THE CORE,THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WITH ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED, I'VE LIVED AND DRIVEN IN THE SAME CONDITIONS FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.

NHTSA ODI #712126

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS & HOLES & HAD TO BE REPLACED. HAD TAKEN TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED A POSSIBLITY MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN IT CAME FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843680

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

MULTIPLE FAILURES SINCE SEPTEMBER, 1998. AFTER WARM-UP, THEN 20 MINUTE COOL -DOWN, CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE, BACKFIRES AND OFF TO NOTHING, THEN CATCHES AND GOES. HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMP, ENGINE CRANK SENSOR AND $700 TUNEUP DONE- NO LUCK

NHTSA ODI #708580

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

FOR GUAGE PROBLEM, ALL DASH GUAGES INTERMITTENTLY DROP TO ZERO AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. HITTING A BUMP OR TOP OF DASHBOARD FIXES PROBLEM. FOR #2, OIL PRESSURE DROPS TO ZERO WHEN IDLING IN TRAFFIC IN WARM WEATHER OR AFTER LONG PERIODS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #708500

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST IS THAT IT IS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AT STARTUP EVERYTIME UNTIL THE ENGINE IS GOOD AND WARM. AFTER THE ENGINE IS WARM IT WILL USUALLY STOP. THE HIGHER THE RPM'S GET THE FASTER THE SOUND IS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS WITH THE MANIFOLD. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT H…

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THE PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST IS THAT IT IS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AT STARTUP EVERYTIME UNTIL THE ENGINE IS GOOD AND WARM. AFTER THE ENGINE IS WARM IT WILL USUALLY STOP. THE HIGHER THE RPM'S GET THE FASTER THE SOUND IS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS WITH THE MANIFOLD. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT HOLD IT'S IDLE AFTER GAS IS GIVEN TO THE ENGINE. IT WIL DROP THEN COME BACK UP AND IT WILL SOMETIMES ALMOST DIE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707545

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE MANIFOLD CRACKED DURING START UP ON A COLD MORNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707130

Mileage unknown · May 3, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL FILTER DESIGN IS LOCATED IN A VERY AWKWARD PLACE, EXHAUST PIPE IS JUST BELOW FILTER AND STARTER SOLENOID WIRES VERY CLOSE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO FILTER WHEN WRENCH BECAME INTANGLED INTO STARTER SOLENOID WIRES.MJS

NHTSA ODI #545308

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

CATALYTIC CONVERTER DAMAGED ON YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #544996

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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