Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Jeep Wrangler, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling109
- Power train53
- Air bags46
- Fuel system, gasoline39
- Seat belts35
- Steering31
- Structure29
- Suspension27
- Service brakes, hydraulic22
- Visibility21
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 25 injuries and 6 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 29 1997 Wrangler vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 21 people died inside them, and 15 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Jeep Wrangler failed the safety check 1.82% of the time — 14% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 150,734 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
138 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 64% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm63
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde41
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot26
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld25
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen23
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast16
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt15
- Roestschade hoofdbalk14
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
237 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 314 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 270 of these cars first registered in 1997 took their annual MOT test. 67% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1997 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 19.3% | 16.1% |
| Brakes | 10.4% | 11.8% |
| Suspension | 6.3% | 12.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.6% | 7.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.2% | 9.7% |
| Visibility | 5.2% | 6.6% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
199 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 30% arrived as used imports, 60% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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.
THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM) SOFTWARE CONTAINS AN ERROR WHICH CAN DELAY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CERTAIN CRASH SITUATIONS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Jeep told its dealers about the 1997 Jeep Wrangler: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 625588 | SOFT TOP ZIPPER CLEANER AND LUBRICANT - FOR DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WINDOW ZIPPERS. *TT |
| 625576 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE HVAC DRAIN WATER LEAKS UNDER PASSENGER SIDE CARPET. *TT |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 612190 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE WATER DRIPPING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE EVAPORATOR DRAIN TUBE AND ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING WET CARPET OR WATER ON THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOOR. *MJS |
| 612179 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPROVED DOOR WEATHER STRIP. *MJS |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 609988 | SUBJECT REGARDING MISDIAGNOSED LEAK DETECTION PUMP SYSTEMS WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1494, P0442 P0455, OR P0456. *TT |
| 6092435 | SUBJECT REGARDING SAFETY RECALL -- FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. *TT |
| 6092304 | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 6089800 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 6089311 | CONCERNS WITH A/C EVAPORATOR ODOR. *NLM |
| 6089145 | CONDITIONS ON OBD II MISFIRE MONITOR. *NLM |
| 6089136 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES WATER LEAKING FROM THE HEATER A/C HOUSING. *NLM |
| 6089130 | INFORMATION ON A/C REFRIGERANT LEAKS. *NLM |
| 6089088 | CONSUMER MAY COMPLAIN OF DOOR LATCH BINDING. *NLM |
| 6089068 | INFORMATION ON WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACKS. *NLM |
| 6089038 | INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM |
| 6088886 | CONCERNS WITH ERRONEOUS MIL ILLUMINATION. DRIVABILITY IMPROVEMENT. *NLM |
| 6088884 | INFORMATION ON POOR DRIVABILITY WITH HIGH DI (DRIVABILITY INDEX) FUEL. *NLM |
| 6088876 | INFORMATION ON FUEL PUMP DIAGNOSIS. *NLM |
| 6088871 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES FUEL GAUGE ACCURACY. *NLM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)