IllustrationA/C EVAPORATOR LEAK, REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsWHILE STARTING. ENGINE STARTS ACCELERATES AND DIES.
TERRIBLE RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SOUNDS LIKE PART OR PARTS HAVE SHAKEN LOOSE. NO PERFORMANCE LOSS NOTICED YET, BUT VERY ANNOYING.*AK
DEATH SHIMMY AT 40MPH. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM SISDE TO SIDE. TAKEN TO DEALER, TIRE SHOPS ECT. NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. REPLACED TRAKING ARM, WHEELS AND TIRES. FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED TIRES.*AK
CLUTCH PEDAL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHMENT TO CLUTCH CYLINDER HAS A PLASTIC GROMMET WHICH BROKE AND CAUSED CLUTCH PEDAL TO FALL OFF. *AK NEITHER DEALER NOR JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD ASSIST IN PROCURRING REPLACEMENT GROMMET, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE OLD STYLE HAS A PIN CONNECTION INSTEAD OF PLASTIC…
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CLUTCH PEDAL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHMENT TO CLUTCH CYLINDER HAS A PLASTIC GROMMET WHICH BROKE AND CAUSED CLUTCH PEDAL TO FALL OFF. *AK NEITHER DEALER NOR JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD ASSIST IN PROCURRING REPLACEMENT GROMMET, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE OLD STYLE HAS A PIN CONNECTION INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *SCC
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SPARE TIRE, THAT NEVER HAS BEEN USED AND WAS LOCATED IN REAR ON OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE, BLEW OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE# P22575R15, DOT# MKKHNMWR286.*AK
ENGINE MANIFOLD HAS GONE OUT TWICE WHILE CONSUMER HAS BEEN DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE PART, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK
THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD COME ACROSS SOME INFORMATION RELATING TO A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *JB *SCC
ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED JUST BEFORE WHERE WELD IS LOCATED CRACK IS OVER HALF THE DIAMETAR OF THE PIPE AFTER READING OVER 30 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME OR SIMULAR PROBLEM I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A CALL BACK ON THIS PROBLEM THERE IS NO DOUGHT THAT IT CAN CAUSE IF NOT FOUND IN TIME A SEVER HARM TO THE VEHICLE AND …
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ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED JUST BEFORE WHERE WELD IS LOCATED CRACK IS OVER HALF THE DIAMETAR OF THE PIPE AFTER READING OVER 30 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME OR SIMULAR PROBLEM I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A CALL BACK ON THIS PROBLEM THERE IS NO DOUGHT THAT IT CAN CAUSE IF NOT FOUND IN TIME A SEVER HARM TO THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLEY TO ALL IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
GEN 3 SEAT BELT RELEASED SEAT BELT WHEN I LEANED OVER AND HIT IT WITH MY ELBOW. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME THAT IT HAPPENED.*AK
Official recalls
398V046000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.