IllustrationCRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON 97 TO 2000 JEEP TJ WRANGLERS. MISSING EXHAUST "ACCORDING" MISSING RESULTING IN CRACKED MANIFOLD. RESULTING IN CAR FAILING US EPA SMOG GUIDELINES. IN SEARCH OF TJ OWNERS SHOWED MANY OWNERS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *JB
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 reportsCONSUMER NOTICEDE A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK *TC
JEEP SKIDDED ON WET SURFACE. ON REMOVING REAR DRUM I FOUND THE BRAKE ADJUSTMENT CABLE BROKEN. BRAKE SHOES WERE OK. IN MY OPINION THE BRAKE ADJUSTMENT CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 93 IN BOSTON, MA ON A RAINY DAY AT 6 AM. I BRAKED AND SWERVED TO AVOID A CAR AND THE BACK BRAKES ON 97 JEEP WRANGLER LOCKED AND THE BACK END CAME AROUND AND I IT THE ZIPPER LANE BARRIER. I ENDED UP FACING TRAFFICE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE. *AK
THE VEHICLE USED AS PERSONAL AUTO, NON RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, IN MORMAL CITY DRIVEING CONDITIONS. SPEED 50 TO 55 MPH, I PASSED OVER A SEAM IN THE PAVEMENT, AN UNDAMPED OSCELATION WAS INITATED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLABLE AT ALL SPEEDS. I WAS ALBLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE AND …
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THE VEHICLE USED AS PERSONAL AUTO, NON RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, IN MORMAL CITY DRIVEING CONDITIONS. SPEED 50 TO 55 MPH, I PASSED OVER A SEAM IN THE PAVEMENT, AN UNDAMPED OSCELATION WAS INITATED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLABLE AT ALL SPEEDS. I WAS ALBLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE AND STOP WITHOUT FURTHER INCEDNET. INVESTITAGION OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS IDENTIFED EXCEVE WEAR ON FRONT END TIE RODS AND STEARING DAMPER. THE CAR IS A 97 JEEP TJ WITH 35000 MILES . *AK
WHEN DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK
THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING AN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE GAUGE WOULD READ 1/4 OR 1/2 WHEN THE TANK WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY. A RECALL (94V106000) WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN (SAFETY RECALL 755 - FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT). *AK *NM …
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THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING AN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE GAUGE WOULD READ 1/4 OR 1/2 WHEN THE TANK WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY. A RECALL (94V106000) WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN (SAFETY RECALL 755 - FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT). *AK *NM
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, VIN 1J4FY19S2VP52606. RECENTLY, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY IN ONE DIRECTION (I DON'T RECALL IF IT WAS CLOCKWISE OR COUNTERCLOCKWISE), AND HEARD A SNAP SOMEWHERE IN THE STEERING WHEEL OR STEERING COLUMN. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE), AND THE …
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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, VIN 1J4FY19S2VP52606. RECENTLY, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY IN ONE DIRECTION (I DON'T RECALL IF IT WAS CLOCKWISE OR COUNTERCLOCKWISE), AND HEARD A SNAP SOMEWHERE IN THE STEERING WHEEL OR STEERING COLUMN. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE), AND THE HORN NO LONGER WORKS. *AK I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE AIRBAG RECALLS FOR THE '97 WRANGLER. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS A BIT OF A COINCIDENCE THAT THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED FOR THE '97 WRANGLER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V046000 - "DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WIRING HARNESS CAN BREAK WHEN TURNED TO THE FULL LOCK TURN POSITION" *** RECALL NOTICE - "A BROKEN CLOCKSPRING WILL ALSO CAUSE THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL STAY ON IF THE CLOCKSPRING BREAKS." THE PARTS ARE CURRENTLY STILL AVAILABLE, BUT I HESITATE WAITING VERY LONG BEFORE HAVING THIS BROKEN PART REPLACED. *AK
MY VEHICLE HAS RUN ROUGH, IDLING ROUGH, "BUCKING", LOSING COOLANT AND DRIPPING FROM THE TAILPIPE ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. I HAVE HAD MAJOR VALVE TRAIN PROBLEMS AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAMSHAFT REPLACED ALONG WITH THE GASKET, CYLINDER HEAD, CORE RETURN, RADIATOR AND NOW THE LATEST IS OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SENDIN…
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MY VEHICLE HAS RUN ROUGH, IDLING ROUGH, "BUCKING", LOSING COOLANT AND DRIPPING FROM THE TAILPIPE ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. I HAVE HAD MAJOR VALVE TRAIN PROBLEMS AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAMSHAFT REPLACED ALONG WITH THE GASKET, CYLINDER HEAD, CORE RETURN, RADIATOR AND NOW THE LATEST IS OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SENDING UNIT. OIL PRESSURE STILL SHOWING ZERO EVEN AFTER REPLACING SENDING UNIT! *AK
THE CLUTCH PEDAL QUIT WORKING AND THE THROW OUT BEARING WAS BROKEN. *PH *JB
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.