RecallMyCar

1997 Jeep Wrangler Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1997 Jeep Wrangler, and owners have filed 401 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
401
owner complaints to NHTSA
32 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
15–18
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1997 Jeep Wrangler

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 98V046000 Reported 1,600 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the clock spring in these air bags.

  2. Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive

    NHTSA 97V080000 Reported 125,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.

  3. Air bags

    NHTSA 96V060000 Reported 700 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    The air bag electronic control module (aecm) software contains an error which can delay the air bag deployment in certain crash situations.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module on these vehicles.

401 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Jeep Wrangler have filed 401 complaints with NHTSA; 32 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 25 injuries and 6 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 91,234 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 68 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 13, 2023 · Tires

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 5, 2021 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Jeep Wrangler (Wrangler 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–18 mpg
City / Highway13–17 / 16–19
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/4 L
TransmissionAutomatic (L3); Manual 5-spd

Compare Jeep Wrangler model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Jeep Wrangler model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1986 Jeep Wrangler01
1987 Jeep Wrangler538
1988 Jeep Wrangler350
1989 Jeep Wrangler462
1990 Jeep Wrangler479
1991 Jeep Wrangler676
1992 Jeep Wrangler477
1993 Jeep Wrangler3108
1994 Jeep Wrangler2151
1995 Jeep Wrangler1202
1996 Jeep Wrangler02
1997 Jeep Wrangler3401
1998 Jeep Wrangler2265
1999 Jeep Wrangler1213
2000 Jeep Wrangler1251
2001 Jeep Wrangler3170
2002 Jeep Wrangler2108
2003 Jeep Wrangler098
2004 Jeep Wrangler1192
2005 Jeep Wrangler1650
2006 Jeep Wrangler3730
2007 Jeep Wrangler8557
2008 Jeep Wrangler7873
2009 Jeep Wrangler6372
2010 Jeep Wrangler10686
2011 Jeep Wrangler10485
2012 Jeep Wrangler9834
2013 Jeep Wrangler6654
2014 Jeep Wrangler4654
2015 Jeep Wrangler3474
2016 Jeep Wrangler5461
2017 Jeep Wrangler5310
2018 Jeep Wrangler141,824
2019 Jeep Wrangler9742
2020 Jeep Wrangler12611
2021 Jeep Wrangler15945
2022 Jeep Wrangler15399
2023 Jeep Wrangler14366
2024 Jeep Wrangler11734
2025 Jeep Wrangler469
2026 Jeep Wrangler310

Checking a specific 1997 Jeep Wrangler

How do I know if my 1997 Jeep Wrangler has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1997 Jeep Wrangler; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Jeep dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V060000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Jeep models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.