JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE · model year

1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

1433 NHTSA complaints, 143 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE carries 1433 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 143 crashes, 28 fires, 112 injuries, and 9 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 GRAND CHEROKEE is power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch with 127 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (82) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (78). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 6 investigation files overlapping the 1997 GRAND CHEROKEE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1433
Complaints
143
Crashes
28
Fires
112
Injuries
9
Deaths

Total Complaints

1433 filings

Crashes Reported

143 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH127
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR82
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY78
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER77
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION54
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP53
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM46
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM44
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE38
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP34
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM33
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL32
UNKNOWN OR OTHER30
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT27
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING24

Recent Complaints

20240806CrashPOWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power, prompting her to attempt to stop the vehicle. After which, with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to stop, only coming to a complete stop after going off the road into a drainage ditch and rolling over on its roof. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed from the scene but not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was not filed. No injuries were reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 250,000.

Mileage: 250,000

20201012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING EXCESSIVELY SO I CHECK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE . WHEN ENTERING VEHICLES VIN # IT STATES 0 OPENED RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE, NOT SURE IF IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. ELECTRICAL ISSUES WERE WITH REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CONSTANTLY GOWS DOWN ON ITS ON EVERY TIME I STARTED THE IGNITION. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU

Mileage: 188,000

20201012FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING EXCESSIVELY SO I CHECK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE . WHEN ENTERING VEHICLES VIN # IT STATES 0 OPENED RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE, NOT SURE IF IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. ELECTRICAL ISSUES WERE WITH REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CONSTANTLY GOWS DOWN ON ITS ON EVERY TIME I STARTED THE IGNITION. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU

Mileage: 188,000

20191118AIR BAGS

THE HORN ON MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE STOPPED WORKING A YEAR AGO, AFFECTING MY ABILITY TO WARN OTHERS OF SAFETY ISSUES. MECHANICS TELL ME THE HORN "BUTTON" IS EMBEDDED IN THE SAFETY AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE, COSTLY AIRBAG. THAT CAN BE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THAT HORN SWITCH REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH , WHICH REQUIRED REPLACING THE AIR BAG. OR, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADD A SUPPLEMENTAL SWITCH ON THE DASH TO CONTROL THE HORN.

Mileage: 120,000

20191118UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE HORN ON MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE STOPPED WORKING A YEAR AGO, AFFECTING MY ABILITY TO WARN OTHERS OF SAFETY ISSUES. MECHANICS TELL ME THE HORN "BUTTON" IS EMBEDDED IN THE SAFETY AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE, COSTLY AIRBAG. THAT CAN BE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THAT HORN SWITCH REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH , WHICH REQUIRED REPLACING THE AIR BAG. OR, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADD A SUPPLEMENTAL SWITCH ON THE DASH TO CONTROL THE HORN.

Mileage: 120,000

20190812SERVICE BRAKES

ECM HAS A FAULT CIRCUIT BOARD PER DEALER AND NEEDS REPLACING . CAUSES COMPLETER POWER FAILURE AND ENGINE WILL QUIT RUNNING , ALL ELECTRICAL GOES OUT -- NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT OR EMERGENCY FLASHERS -- AND POWER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK . THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME , STOPPED OR ON THE ROAD .

Mileage: 120,000

20190812ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ECM HAS A FAULT CIRCUIT BOARD PER DEALER AND NEEDS REPLACING . CAUSES COMPLETER POWER FAILURE AND ENGINE WILL QUIT RUNNING , ALL ELECTRICAL GOES OUT -- NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT OR EMERGENCY FLASHERS -- AND POWER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK . THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME , STOPPED OR ON THE ROAD .

Mileage: 120,000

20190812ENGINE

ECM HAS A FAULT CIRCUIT BOARD PER DEALER AND NEEDS REPLACING . CAUSES COMPLETER POWER FAILURE AND ENGINE WILL QUIT RUNNING , ALL ELECTRICAL GOES OUT -- NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT OR EMERGENCY FLASHERS -- AND POWER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK . THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME , STOPPED OR ON THE ROAD .

Mileage: 120,000

20190322FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE WILL STALL AT TIME WHEN JUST DRIVING ALONG ON CITY STREETS

Mileage: 120,000

20180207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING HARNESS LOST CONNECTION TO GROUND FOR THE PCM. GROUND WOULD NOT ALLOW FUEL PUMP TO WORK PROPERLY WITHOUT MAJOR WORK TO THE WIRING HARNESS.

Mileage: 260,000

20180207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIRING HARNESS LOST CONNECTION TO GROUND FOR THE PCM. GROUND WOULD NOT ALLOW FUEL PUMP TO WORK PROPERLY WITHOUT MAJOR WORK TO THE WIRING HARNESS.

Mileage: 260,000

20171128UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING . CAR CAN BE GOING 70 AND STALL OR JUST FAIL TO MOVE WHILE STILL RUNNING THEN STALL. THIS WILL HAPPEN RANDOMLY AND SOMETIMES WILL RESULT IN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH THEN GOES OUT AGAIN AND THE CAR WILL RUN FINE FOR DAYS THEN HAPPEN AGAIN.

Mileage: 189,900

20170923ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE COOLANT SENSOR BAD IS CONSTANTLY ON. CHANGED THAT . WENT OUT ON AND OFF. THEN ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY RADIATOR BLEW APART AT THE SEAM SIDE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. NO WARNING LIGHT .NO CHANGE IN COOLANT TEMP. AND THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS CHECKED RIGHT BEFORE I LEFT THAT DAY! HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR AT THIS POINT

Mileage: 218,600

20170920FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OEM TRAILER HITCH WAS NOT INSTALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE). THE DEALER (LUCAS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM, 1624 NJ-3838 LUMBERTON, NJ 08048, 609-288-7663) REFUSED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT INSTALLED AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER HITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/01/17*LJ UPDATED 11/3/2017*JS

20170920TRAILER HITCHES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OEM TRAILER HITCH WAS NOT INSTALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE). THE DEALER (LUCAS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM, 1624 NJ-3838 LUMBERTON, NJ 08048, 609-288-7663) REFUSED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT INSTALLED AN AFTERMARKET TRAILER HITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/01/17*LJ UPDATED 11/3/2017*JS

20170629ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

Mileage: 172,000

20170628ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS FAILING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GALANTA CHRYSLER DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO NO PARTS BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,893. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Mileage: 165,893

20170628FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS FAILING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GALANTA CHRYSLER DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO NO PARTS BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,893. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Mileage: 165,893

20170628POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 02V053000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS FAILING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GALANTA CHRYSLER DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO NO PARTS BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,893. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Mileage: 165,893

20170421UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR SOMETIMES DOES NOT STARTS. I JUST GET A CRANKING , IS BEING LIKED THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. SPEND MONEY TRYING TO FIX IT. BUT THEY CAN NOT FIND WHAT IT IS. ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I GET TO WHAT EVER I HAVE TO GO,, I PARKED LEAVE AND THEN I COMEBACK A FEW HOURS LATER. AND IT JUST CRANKS AND DOES NOT START. I LEAVE IT THERE. COMEBACK THE NEXT DAY AND THEN IS STARTS. LEFT IT W MY MECHANIC FOR A WEEK AND HE TOLD , THEY CAN NOT FIND WHAT IT IS !!!!

Compare 1997JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE have?
The 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE has 1433 NHTSA complaints, 143 crashes, 28 fires, 112 injuries, and 9 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE?
The most-complained component for the 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH with 127 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.