Total Complaints
2 filings
JEEP WAGONEER · model year
1997 JEEP WAGONEER
2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997JEEPWAGONEER carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 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 WAGONEER is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (1). 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 29 investigation files overlapping the 1997 WAGONEER, and 3 remain open. 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.
2
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19991020CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
19970320CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OWNER STATES AFTER TAKING VEHICLE FROM CAR WASH HIS CRUISE CONTROL TOOK OVER, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL, STRIKING OTHER VEHICLES, TURNING OVER AND CONTUINED TO ROLL OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL VEHICLE CRASHED INTO PARKED CARS, IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF TO STOP WHEELS FROM SPINNING. *AK
Compare 1997JEEPWAGONEER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 3 Open
PE25014Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
PE24024Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Underhood fires
RQ24012Recall QueryOpen
Loss of Motive Power
PE22013Preliminary EvaluationClosed
False overheat leading to loss of motive power
PE22009Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 JEEP WAGONEER have?▼
The 1997 JEEP WAGONEER has 2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 JEEP WAGONEER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 JEEP WAGONEER is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1997 JEEP WAGONEER 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.