Complaints
1,433
Crashes
143
Fires
28
Injuries
112
Fatalities
9
Recalls
1
Worst 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1127 complaints
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Crash-related:46
Fires:2
#282 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Avg mileage:71,667 mi
#378 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Avg mileage:62,192 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 127 | 46 | 2 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 82 | — | — | 71,667 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 78 | 1 | 2 | 62,192 mi | |
| Fuel System, Other | 77 | — | — | 176,260 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 54 | 7 | 1 | 113,167 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 53 | 7 | — | 86,667 mi | |
| Fuel System | 46 | 1 | 1 | 155,815 mi | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 44 | — | — | 82,875 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 38 | 3 | 3 | 123,281 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 34 | — | — | 93,170 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 33 | 2 | — | 152,579 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 32 | 12 | — | 120,751 mi | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 27 | — | 3 | 8,000 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 24 | — | — | 131,791 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 23 | 3 | 1 | 166,677 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 22 | 19 | 2 | 121,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 22 | — | 1 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 22 | 2 | — | 127,077 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 21 | — | — | 90,278 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 20 | 2 | — | 96,500 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 18 | — | — | 112,800 mi | |
| Body Structure | 18 | 1 | — | 136,104 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 17 | — | — | 117,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 16 | — | — | 26,000 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 15 | — | — | 148,886 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 12 | — | 1 | 117,614 mi | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 12 | — | — | 96,000 mi |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
127
complaints
Crashes
46
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
82
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,667
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
78
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
62,192
Fuel System, Other
77
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
176,260
Automatic Transmission
54
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Avg Miles
113,167
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
53
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
86,667
Fuel System
46
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
155,815
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
44
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
82,875
Gasoline Fuel System
38
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Avg Miles
123,281
Fuel Pump
34
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,170
Electrical Faults
33
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
152,579
Unintended Acceleration
32
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,751
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
8,000
Engine & Cooling
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
131,791
Steering Defects
23
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
166,677
Air Bags:Frontal
22
complaints
Crashes
19
Fires
2
Avg Miles
121,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
22
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
127,077
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
90,278
Suspension Failures
20
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,500
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
112,800
Body Structure
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
136,104
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
117,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
26,000
Engine Problems
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
148,886
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
117,614
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,000
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,560,000 vehicles.
13V252000Structure · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
~1,560,000 affectedChrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Other Jeep Grand Cherokee Years
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 1,433 NHTSA complaints, 143 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch with 127 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Top reported problems: Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch (127 complaints); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor (82 complaints, avg 71,667 mi); Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly (78 complaints, avg 62,192 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 108,291 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee include 143 crash-related reports, 28 fire reports, 112 injuries, and 9 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,560,000 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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