IllustrationCONSUMER NEEDS INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLE BEING IMPORTED FROM S. KOREA.
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 reportsTHE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM UP THREE OF THE FOUR TIMES.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, WENT TO CHANGE GEAR WHEN STICK SHIFT CAME OUT ONTO CONSUMER'S HAND. SHIFT PULLED RIGHT OUT OF TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER THEN HAD TO TRY TO PUT SHIFT BACK IN AND DOWNSHIFTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED SHIFT LEVER. *AK
THE TRUCK HAD SOME BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED FROM A SEAL LEAK AT THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE TRUCK DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO STOP. *AK
RIGHT FROM SHOULDER HARNESS IS LOOSE AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LATCH WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED CAUSING A HOLE TO BE TORN IN THE WEBBING OF THE HARNESS.
GAS GAUGE DID NOT REPORT ACCURATELY IN THE AMOUN TOF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS OR WHILE STOPPING AT A LIGHT. *AK
UNSPECIFIED: DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN ACCIDENT.
BRAKE ROTORS, PADS AND DRUMS FAILED.
DOORS FAILED.
AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH, WHILE IN NEUTRAL OR FIRST GEAR, THE RPMS DROP TO ALMOST ZERO AND VEHICLE STALLS, BUT CATCHES ITSELF TO NORMAL. IT HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCESSORIES SUCH HEAT/DEFROSTER, ETC. ARE ON. *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.