Jeep Wrangler Complaints (1997)

411 consumer complaints on file.

#10194125June 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
JEEP SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON HIGHWAYS WHILE GOING 55 MPH +., CAUSING A NEAR ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO COAST THROUGH LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE MEDIAN. AFTER 10-15 MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE JEEP AND IT RAN FINE, BUT USUALLY ABOUT 20-50 MILES, IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN.. VERY HAZARDOUS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175295December 6, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
BOTH EXTERNAL RUBBER SIDE LATCHES FAILED ON 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE HOOD FLIPPED UP AND OBSCURED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. THE HOOD WAS DESTROYED BY ITS IMPACT AGAINST THE ROOF. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN MANUFACTURED W/O THE STANDARD INTERNAL LATCH DUE TO SEVERAL PARTS CHANGES DURING THE MANUFACTURING YEAR. AN INTERNAL LATCH COULD NOT BE FITTED TO THE MIS-MATCHED HOOD AND GRILL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170491October 11, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD AND BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE PETAL WAS APPLIED TO AVERT AN ACCIDENT AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE LINES BURST CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THE NATURE OF FAILURE WAS PERMANENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO RUST ON THE BRAKE LINE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND EXPRESSED THEY HAD NO OBLIGATION TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166124August 21, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED A FAULTY READING. THE GAUGE INDICATED A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL WAS AVAILABLE HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE COMPLETELY FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161031June 29, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
MY HUSBAND WAS REAR-ENDED WHILE DRIVING THE 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. HIS SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD DURING THE IMPACT RESULTING IN HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE ROLL BAR AND AN EXAGGERATED FLEXION-EXTENSION OF HIS NECK AND BACK AS HIS THE SUPPORT (THE SEAT) BASICALLY DISAPPEARED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10151148February 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE CAUSING POOR PERFORMANCE, EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND NOXIOUS ODORS. REPLACEMENT OF CONVERTER REMEDIED ALL THE PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145622December 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE....CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON 4.0 L 6 CYL. JEEP HAS REDESIGNED PART. I FORMERLY WORKED WITH A 4X4 REPAIR SHOP, AND ALMOST EVERYONE THAT CAME IN WITH A 1997-2000 (OR SO) JEEP HAD SAME CRACKS. LEADING 4X4 MAGAZINES STATE "IT'S NOT IF IT CRACKS, IT'S WHEN". GIVEN THIS MANY COMPLAINTS, JEEP SHOULD BE PAYING TO FIX THEIR FLAW, NOT CONSUMERS. WILL REPLACE WITH AFTERMARKET COMPONENT, NOT JEEP'S. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138549October 4, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE CONSUMER ASSUMED THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER FOUND RECALL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO A SIMILAR ISSUE INVOLVING THE AIRBAG; NHTSA RECALL 98V046000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CONSUMER TALKED WITH A DEALER WHO SAID HE WOULD NEED THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED, BUT NO REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS OR INCIDENTS. *SC . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133825August 22, 2005
SEAT BELTS
THE SEATBELTS IN MY CAR DO NOT FASTEN PROPERLY. THERE IS A GAP, NEXT TO THE CLIP, THAT IT GETS STUCK IN DUE TO ITS BAD DESIGN. FOR FEAR OF FAILURE, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, I AM REPLACING ALL OF THEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133215August 17, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: CONTACT STATED THE HOOD LATCH WAS MADE FROM RUBBER, AND WHEN A STRONG WIND HIT THE HOOD, IT BLEW THE HOOD OPEN AND CAUSED THE RUBBER TO BREAK THAT KEPT THE HOOD LATCHED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED YET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132464August 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
DT: WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED. WHEN THE BRAKES LOCK THE WHEELS SKIDDED EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, BUT MORE OFTEN TO THE RIGHT. HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE BECAUSE DEALER DETERMINED NOTHING WAS WRONG. CALLED CHRYSLER, AND TRIED TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER AND THEY DID NOT WISH TO TALK TO CONSUMER. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN SEVERAL CRASHES. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131677August 5, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT: ON THE HEADLIGHT PLUG A GREASE WAS USED AND IT DISSOLVED THE INSULATION AROUND THE WIRING AT THE PLUG ,AND BLEW THE FUSE. THIS WAS ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR TSBS ON THIS, AND CALLER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM, FILE #13888043.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131459August 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST ONE FAILED AT APPROX 55K MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY) AND CHRYSLER JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE DENIED EXISTENCE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, IN SPITE OF NUMEROUS REPORTS OF MANIFOLD FAILURE ON MANY INTERNET AUTOMOTIVE SITES. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS SUPPOSEDLY REDESIGNED TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS NOW FAILED (MILEAGE IS NOW 110K, SO THESE ARE 55K PARTS!) AND MUST ALSO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS JUST CRACK IN A "NEW SPOT". CHRYSLER JEEP HAS BEEN TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE TO WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY AN ENGINEERING FLAW IN THEIR PRODUCT, AND STICKING THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH THE BILL AND ANY RESULTING SAFETY ISSUES! NOT A GREAT WAY TO BUILD YOUR CUSTOMER BASE! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120700May 11, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
DT: WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND, A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS WESTBOUND, THE TURBULENCE BEHIND TRACTOR TRAILER CAUSED THE EXTERNAL HOOD LATCHES TO FAIL. THE SAFETY HOOK IN THE CENTER OF THE HOOD ALSO FAILED TO KEEP THE HOOD DOWN. THE HOOD FLEW UP STRIKING WINDSHIELD AND FOLDED OVER SHATTERING WINDSHIELD. LOST VISIBILITY HOWEVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112941February 23, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS RECALL#98V046000 REGARDING THE CLOCKSPRING; THE HORN FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110218February 9, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
HARD BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR AXLE BURST WITH A LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE LINE, AS IT PASSED OVER THE FRAME NEAR THE FRONT WHEEL WELL WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CRUMBLING. WHEN REMOVING THE LINE FOR REPLACEMENT THE LINE ALSO BROKE IN HALF AT ONE OF THE CLIPS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108041January 27, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1. IMMEDIATE LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES 2. REPLACED RUSTED BRAKE LINES; 3. I SAVED OLD PARTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104823December 31, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY
WATER LEAKS ONTO FLOOR OF PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I HAVE HEARD THIS ONE SEVERAL TIMES, YET HAVEN'T SEEN JEEP DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK TO CAUSE THIS, IT RAINS AND MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR GETS SOAKED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101905December 22, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LINK ON THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE CONNECTING LINK IS NOT STURDY ENOUGH AND IS WEAK DUE TO IT'S SIZE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098685November 11, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND SOLE DRIVER OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 34,000 MILES. I NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WASN'T WORKING WHEN I DROVE HOME IN A SNOW STORM LAST WEEK. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVE WAS A SHORT DISTANCE. *JB I EASILY DETERMINED THAT A PLASTIC BELL CRANK BROKE OFF ITS SHAFT THAT GOES INTO THE HEATER HOUSING. I ACTIVATED THE DEFROSTER CONTROL TO CONFIRM THAT THIS PART IS THE DEFROSTER BELL CRANK. NOTHING HAS FALLEN DOWN THE DEFROSTER DUCT TO JAM THE DOOR AND CAUSE THE BREAK. THE DOOR MOVES FREELY WHEN TURNING THE SHAFT BY HAND. I BELIEVE THE BREAK HAPPENED WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTUATED DURING MAX HEATER FAN, CAUSING MAX AIR PRESSURE ON THE DEFROSTER DOOR WITH MAX TORQUE ON ITS SHAFT. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM MY LOCAL DEALER IS $855. I HAVE A STRONG SUSPICION THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND DOUBT IF MANY PEOPLE GO TO THIS EXPENSE TO FIX IT. I DONT WANT TO SPEND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A DEFECT THAT MAY BREAK AGAIN. SINCE DRIVING WITH FROSTED WINDSHIELDS CREATES A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY HAZARD, I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED TO MAKE THIS SYSTEM MORE ROBUST. A WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 34,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Jeep Wrangler