MYRModel Year Report

1997 Jeep Cherokee

● Typical for this model
1997 Jeep Cherokee
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
390
Recalls
10

Campaigns on file for 1997

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Fuel system, gasoline

23% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 0 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 17 complaints 1985 1986: 21 complaints 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 98 complaints 1989: 191 complaints 1990: 275 complaints 1990 1991: 234 complaints 1992: 114 complaints 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 522 complaints 1995: 610 complaints 1996: 447 complaints 1997: 390 complaints 1997 390 1998: 399 complaints 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2001: 229 complaints 2006: 17 complaints 2014: 2,648 complaints 2015: 1,787 complaints 2016: 1,408 complaints 2016 2017: 1,334 complaints 2018: 685 complaints 2019: 1,642 complaints 2020: 307 complaints 2021: 166 complaints 2021 2022: 49 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2026: 7 complaints
1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 0 complaints 1983 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 17 complaints 1986: 21 complaints 1986 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 98 complaints 1989: 191 complaints 1989 1990: 275 complaints 1991: 234 complaints 1992: 114 complaints 1992 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 522 complaints 1995: 610 complaints 1995 1996: 447 complaints 1997: 390 complaints 1997 390 1998: 399 complaints 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2001: 229 complaints 2001 2006: 17 complaints 2014: 2,648 complaints 2015: 1,787 complaints 2015 2016: 1,408 complaints 2017: 1,334 complaints 2018: 685 complaints 2018 2019: 1,642 complaints 2020: 307 complaints 2021: 166 complaints 2021 2022: 49 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2026: 7 complaints 2026
1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 1 complaint 1982: 0 complaints 1982 1983: 0 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1984 1985: 17 complaints 1986: 21 complaints 1986 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 98 complaints 1988 1989: 191 complaints 1990: 275 complaints 1990 1991: 234 complaints 1992: 114 complaints 1992 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 522 complaints 1994 1995: 610 complaints 1996: 447 complaints 1997: 390 complaints 1997 390 1998: 399 complaints 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2000 2001: 229 complaints 2006: 17 complaints 2006 2014: 2,648 complaints 2015: 1,787 complaints 2015 2016: 1,408 complaints 2017: 1,334 complaints 2017 2018: 685 complaints 2019: 1,642 complaints 2019 2020: 307 complaints 2021: 166 complaints 2021 2022: 49 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2023 2026: 7 complaints

1997: 390 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19801
19811
19820
19830
19847
198517
198621
198757
198898
1989191
1990275
1991234
1992114
1993418
1994522
1995610
1996447
1997390
1998399
1999366
2000369
2001229
200617
20142,648
20151,787
20161,408
20171,334
2018685
20191,642
2020307
2021166
202249
20233
20267

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Fuel system, gasoline

23% · 89 reports

Most commonly citing tank assembly and fuel pump.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Service brakes

19% · 74 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. Upon depressing the brake pedal, it traveled to the floorboard. The contact stated that there was a complete loss of brake power.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-05-04

Fuel system, other

14% · 53 reports

Most commonly citing fuel gauge system and tank assembly.

CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Driving vehicle 60MPH when it ran out of gas; gas gauge indcates still had over 1/4 tank; no warning light appeared or anything to indicate low on gas; called dealer & informed knew what problem was. Dealer said will repair gas gauge problem.

NHTSA ODI report, 1997-07-15

Power train

13% · 49 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

12% · 48 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

While driving, consumer stated that the vehicle began to bog down so he pulled over, consumer then noticed vehicle was on fire, Ohio traffic crash report.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-17

Went out to go somewhere and it had a hard time starting. As I began to drive down the road my Jeep started to backfire, all of a sudden it cut off and the steering wheel locked up and the lights went out it was dark so I could of been injured.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-09-05

Also filed under Fuel/propulsion system

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. I
    1997-07-10Defect petitionClosed 1997-11-13 Faulty gas gauge indicators
  2. R
    1998-06-16Fuel system, gasoline97V194000 Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The fuel tank mounted fuel level sending unit accuracy can degrade over time, indicating significantly more fuel in reserve than is actually…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel level sending unit.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2000-05-15Air bags00V105000 Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Water and/or road salt in the proximity of the air bag control module could lead to corrosion.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag control module and locate the new module on the top of the transmission tunnel.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2000-06-05Service brakes, hydraulic00V136000 Vehicle description: passenger and multi-purpose vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, new…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2005-01-25Fuel system, gasoline06E011000 Certain aftermarket airtex electric fuel pumps installed for use as replacement equipment for certain 1997-2004 Jeep wrangler; 1997-2001 Jeep Cherokee; 1997-2004 Jeep grand Cherokee; and 2000-2003…

    Remedy: Airtex will notify its customers and will replace the affected fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2006. Owners may contact airtex customer service department at…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2006-03-20Service brakes, hydraulic06E022000 Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain Ford, daimlerchrysler, and Jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the…

    Remedy: Affinia (Brake parts, inc.) will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2006-07-31Exterior lighting06E065000 Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on July 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2008-03-12Electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility08V056000 U.S. Drive right is recalling 107 my 1994-1998 right hand drive, 4-wheel drive Jeep Cherokee vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 101, 'controls and displays;'…

    Remedy: U.S. Drive right will make all the required modifications. A representative will travel to the customer's location and make the modifications on site. The recall will be performed on a regional…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. I
    2012-06-12Engineering analysisClosed 2014-11-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

Buy-smart checklist

1997 Jeep Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Fuel system, gasoline: 89 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 74 reports on file for this year.
  • Fuel system, other: 53 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 97V194000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 00V105000 · Air bags
  • Recall 00V136000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06E011000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E065000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08V056000 · Electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1997 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Jeep Cherokee is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Jeep Cherokee?
The most-reported component is fuel system, gasoline, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Jeep Cherokee have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.