1997 JEEP WRANGLER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
548
Owner Complaints
7
Recalls
17
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER
The 1997 JEEP WRANGLER has received a total of 548 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. 17 technical service bulletins have been issued by Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe (42 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System (24 complaints), and Air Bags (23 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, potentially affecting up to 204,055 vehicles.
Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
View full details →Recall 06E022000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 7,440 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS...
Consequence: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
View full details →Recall 06E011000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 7,291 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET AIRTEX ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN 1997-2004 JEEP WRANGLER; 1997-2001 JEEP CHEROKEE; 1997-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE; AND 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL GROMMET CONNECTORS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUELS AND MAY DEGRADE CAUSING A POTENTIAL LEAK PATH FOR FUEL.
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-880-3056.
View full details →Recall 04E041000 — EQUIPMENT
| 80 vehicles affected
Defect: BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY...
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT...
View full details →Recall 98V046000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 1,600 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Recall 97V080000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
| 125,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
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.
View full details →Recall 96V060000 — AIR BAGS
| 700 vehicles affected
Defect: THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM) SOFTWARE CONTAINS AN ERROR WHICH CAN DELAY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CERTAIN CRASH SITUATIONS.
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER
548 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
There have been 2 instances of the stem leaking air seemingly out of nowhere on 2 of the 5 tires within a year of installation. Both leaks were noticed after I had finished a drive. The service center we purchased the tires from has repaired 1 of them a few months ago and is currently repairing the second one. They told me that this is a somewhat common problem with this new tire design. 4wheelparts in Waipahu Hawaii can confirm that these repairs were necessary.
FUEL GUACHE GOVEA INACCURATE READING AND DROPS TO EMPTY WHEN THE TANK IS HALF FULL. CONTACTED THE LOCAL JEEP DEALER TWICE ON HAVING THIS PART REPLACED AND EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THEY WILL CALL ME BACK BUT THEY HAVE NOT.
I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH FOOT ON BREAK. THROTTLE WENT VERY HIGH AND PROPELLED CAR FORWARDED EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE BREAKS PENAL DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD. THERE IS NO WAY I PUSHED DOWN ON THE WRONG PEDAL. THE BREAKS COULD NOT HOLD THE CAR STOPPED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!
AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE STEERING SEEMS LIKE IT WOBBLES ENTIRE VEHICLE.
RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE JEEP I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I CALLED THE OWNER HE SAID ITS A BUY AS IS, NO WARRANTY, HE DIDN'T OFFER TO HELP WITH ANYTHING AND BEING DISABLED I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO GET ENGINE FIXED, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, NO AC, NO HEAT OR DEFROST EITHER ALL THESE THINGS I FIXED BUT NOW AGAIN IN 2020 I STILL HAVE NO HEAT, NO DEFROST, JEEP IS IN YARD NOT RUNNING AND I STILL OWE RIGHT AT 900 ON THE JEEP, THE OWNER HAS BEEN VERY RUDE, MADE THREATS, AND NOW NOT TAKING MY FINAL 3 PYMTS ON JEEP, NEVER BEEN LATE, EVER!!!! HE RUNS A SHADY BUY HERE PAY HERE LOT AND I HAVE A TOP MECHANIC THAT LEFT HIS BUSINESS TO VOUCH FOR THE ODOMETER TAMPERING AS WELL AS HAVING THE MECHANIC TO FIX ALL THE LIGHTS ON PANEL THAT SHOWED ENGINE RUNNING HOT, HE TOLD THE MECHANIC TO FIX IT OR HE WAS NOT GETTING HIS PAY CHECK, I HAVE THE MECHANICS STATEMENT AND HE WILL TESTIFY IN PERSON. I HAVE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE SINCE QUITE TO VOUCH HE SOLD LEMONS, AND SALVAGED CARS. HE LOST HIS DMV LICENSE BUT STILL CONTINUES TO FRAUD PEOPLE.
View all Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) has issued 17 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
2302501 — STRUCTURE:BODY
SOFT TOP ZIPPER CLEANER AND LUBRICANT - FOR DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WINDOW ZIPPERS. *TT
021299 — SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS BULLETIN PERTAINS TO FRONT END ALIGNMENT - ADJUSTABLE / OFFSET BALL JOINTS. *TT
233698 — STRUCTURE:BODY
INFORMATION TO ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING WATER LEAK ENTRY POINTS BY HIGHLIGHTING AREAS WHERE LEAKS ARE LIKELY TO OCCUR BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VEHICLE. *YC
755 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
SUBJECT REGARDING SAFETY RECALL -- FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. *TT
190498 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
A SQUAWKING OR SCRAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH MAY BE CONFUSED WITH CLOCK SPRING OR STEERING COLUMN BEARING NOISE. *YC
236497 — STRUCTURE:BODY
A POPPING OR CREAKING NOISE MAY BE PRESENT IN THE FLOOR AREA. *YC
241697 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES WATER LEAKING FROM THE HEATER A/C HOUSING. *NLM
234997 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CONSUMER MAY COMPLAIN OF DOOR LATCH BINDING. *NLM
082497 — POWER TRAIN
CONDITIONS WITH THE ODOMETER DISPLAY MAY FLASH WHEN THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ARE ACTIVATED. *YC
082497 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONCERNS WITH ODOMETER LED'S FLASH WHEN EMERGENCY FLASHERS ARE ACTIVATED. *NLM
Showing 10 of 17 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the JEEP WRANGLER
- 1992 JEEP WRANGLER — 100 complaints
- 1993 JEEP WRANGLER — 134 complaints
- 1994 JEEP WRANGLER — 184 complaints
- 1995 JEEP WRANGLER — 259 complaints
- 1996 JEEP WRANGLER — 2 complaints
- 1997 JEEP WRANGLER (current)
- 1998 JEEP WRANGLER — 401 complaints
- 1999 JEEP WRANGLER — 262 complaints
- 2000 JEEP WRANGLER — 310 complaints
- 2001 JEEP WRANGLER — 235 complaints
- 2002 JEEP WRANGLER — 139 complaints
Other JEEP Models
- JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — 39,293 total complaints
- JEEP CHEROKEE — 20,448 total complaints
- JEEP LIBERTY — 11,694 total complaints
- JEEP COMPASS — 5,865 total complaints
- JEEP PATRIOT — 4,351 total complaints
- JEEP COMMANDER — 3,920 total complaints
- JEEP RENEGADE — 3,408 total complaints
- JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X4 — 1,812 total complaints