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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

39 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING, CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT RECALL WHEN ON YAHOO, AFTER CALLING CHRYSLER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *YH CONSUMER HAS RAN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS. CHRYSLER RESPONDED SAYING THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE VEHI…

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FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING, CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT RECALL WHEN ON YAHOO, AFTER CALLING CHRYSLER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *YH CONSUMER HAS RAN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS. CHRYSLER RESPONDED SAYING THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE VEHICLES VIN WAS MADE. *JG *NM

NHTSA ODI #565965

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. GAUGE INDICATES MORE FUEL THEN THERE IS IN THE TANK. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8009895

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

UPON FILLING GAS TANK A GUSH OF GAS COMES FROM TOP CENTER OF TANK, CAUSING GAS TO RUN OVER THE SIDE OF VEHICLE AND THE GROUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8005515

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

NOTICED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WITH 27K MILES ON IT. THEY HEARD NOTHING. IN MAY 2000 MY MECHANIC MENTIONED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING. OCT. OF 2001 WITH 58K THE NOISE WAS UNBEARABLE AND THR…

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NOTICED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WITH 27K MILES ON IT. THEY HEARD NOTHING. IN MAY 2000 MY MECHANIC MENTIONED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING. OCT. OF 2001 WITH 58K THE NOISE WAS UNBEARABLE AND THREE CRACKS VISABLE. DEALER SAID TOO BAD OUT OF WARRANTY. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHY CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE? BY THE WAY I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER JEEP AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #755833

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEAK. MECHANIC REPLACED PLASTIC FUEL TANK, IT HAD CRACKED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #893682

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD; DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888652

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineSteering

AFTER TOLERATING BOTH PROBLEMS FOR SOME TIME (POOR STARTING AND LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID), I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR ESTIMATES. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE AND, THAT IN HIS OPINION, NEITHER SHOULD BE HAPPENING AT THE LOW MILES I HAVE ON THE VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO PUT MORE THAN A MINI…

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AFTER TOLERATING BOTH PROBLEMS FOR SOME TIME (POOR STARTING AND LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID), I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR ESTIMATES. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE AND, THAT IN HIS OPINION, NEITHER SHOULD BE HAPPENING AT THE LOW MILES I HAVE ON THE VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO PUT MORE THAN A MINIMAL PORTION INTO THE REPAIRS.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745411

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP HAS MALFUNCTIONED FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASION AND HAS BEEN REPLACED. INOPERABLE FUEL PUMP HAS CAUSED ENGINE TO DIE COMPLETELY OUT, WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING WHICH RESULT IN LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. ALSO, PART AVAILABILITY IS VERY LIMITED AND HARD TO FIND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873121

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 · Jan 26, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL SENDING UNIT LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED 03/1998, THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED 5/98 THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED 8/98 FUEL LEAKED AFTER RECALL WORK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. EVER SINCE THE FUEL GUAGE READS 1/4 LESS FUEL THAN IS ACTUALLY IN THE FUEL TANK

NHTSA ODI #717932

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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