1997 Jeep Cherokee

● Typical for this model
1997 Jeep Cherokee
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Jeep Cherokee Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1997 highlighted. 1980: 1 complaints 1980 1981: 1 complaints 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 0 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 17 complaints 1985 1986: 21 complaints 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 97 complaints 1989: 191 complaints 1990: 270 complaints 1990 1991: 233 complaints 1992: 113 complaints 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 519 complaints 1995: 608 complaints 1995 1996: 447 complaints 1997: 390 complaints 1997 1998: 399 complaints 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2000 2001: 229 complaints 2006: 17 complaints 2014: 2636 complaints 2015: 1776 complaints 2016: 1398 complaints 2016 2017: 1323 complaints 2018: 678 complaints 2019: 1582 complaints 2020: 258 complaints 2021: 136 complaints 2021 2022: 44 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2026: 3 complaints 2026
1997: 390 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19801
19811
19820
19830
19847
198517
198621
198757
198897
1989191
1990270
1991233
1992113
1993418
1994519
1995608
1996447
1997390
1998399
1999366
2000369
2001229
200617
20142636
20151776
20161398
20171323
2018678
20191582
2020258
2021136
202244
20233
20263

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 13%

13% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 51 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 11%

11% of complaints: fuel system, other — 41 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
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, 19970715

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7%

7% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 29 distinct reports on file.

POWER TRAIN 5%

5% of complaints: power train — 18 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
AIR BAGS 5%

5% of complaints: air bags — 18 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN A FATALITY.

NHTSA ODI report, 19970821

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 60 MPH FRONT-END COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970409

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 19970710 — DP (closed 19971113)

FAULTY GAS GAUGE INDICATORS

R 19980616 — fuel system, gasoline

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 P

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT.

Campaign 97V194000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000515 — air bags

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.

Campaign 00V105000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000605 — service brakes, hydraulic

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMP

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.

Campaign 00V136000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050125 — fuel system, gasoline

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 DOD

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 1-800-880-305

Campaign 06E011000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060320 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 BRAN

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 1-800-32

Campaign 06E022000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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 S

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.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060731 — exterior lighting

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 RE

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.

Campaign 06E065000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20080312 — electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility

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;' N

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 BASI

Campaign 08V056000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20120612 — EA (closed 20141114)

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1997 Jeep Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for fuel system, gasoline issues (51 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for fuel system, other issues (41 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (29 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 97V194000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V105000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V136000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E011000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E022000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E065000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08V056000 (electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2022 ▲ 1987 ▲ 1988

WORST YEARS

■ 2014 ■ 2015 ■ 2019

See all years ranked →

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:storage:tank assembly, accounting for 13% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1997 Jeep Cherokee have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.