Total Complaints
19 filings
JEEP WRANGLER YJ · model year
1997 JEEP WRANGLER YJ
19 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997JEEPWRANGLER YJ carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 WRANGLER YJ is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe with 2 filings, followed by equipment:electrical (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc (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 WRANGLER YJ, 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.
19
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20021231SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NHTSA 14720-02-V-041-000 PARKING BRAKE: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE CAN RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING: CONSUMER STATES ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM ON APRIL 4, 1997. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD WHILE PARKED ON A HILL WHILE PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG. FIVE YEARS LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Mileage: 150,000
19981017EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C FAILED.
19981012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
HORN BEEPS ON ITS OWN, CAUSED BY A SHORT IN WIRING OR RELAY BOX. *AK
19980911ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
BOLT ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE OFF.
19980910ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND WELD SITE
19980427FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTIONED.
19980423AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS IN CRASH. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
19980422AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING A COLLISION. VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.534707 DUP 0F 543502; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
19980422SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
REPLACED LEFT FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINK AND BUSHING.
19980422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
REPLACED CRANKSAHFT/PULLEY.
19980422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT.
19980422EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
REPLACED HEADLAMPS.
19980422STRUCTURE:BODY
REPLACED FRONT CROSSMEMBER.
19980422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
REPLACED RADIATOR/ENGINE FAN.
19980422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
REPLACED RADIATOR/ENGINE FAN.
19980407FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GAS GAUGE FAILURE; GAS GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY WHEN THERE IS AS MUCH AS 6 GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT IN THE TANK. *AK
19971120EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE FAILING CONTINUALLY.
19971120SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
REAR BRAKE SYSTEM CRACKED/UNIT FAILED.
19971120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS MAKING RATTLING NOISE.
Compare 1997JEEPWRANGLER YJ 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 WRANGLER YJ have?▼
The 1997 JEEP WRANGLER YJ has 19 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER YJ?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER YJ is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC.
Is the 1997 JEEP WRANGLER YJ 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.