1997 Jeep Cherokee
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.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1983 | 0 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1985 | 17 |
| 1986 | 21 |
| 1987 | 57 |
| 1988 | 97 |
| 1989 | 191 |
| 1990 | 270 |
| 1991 | 233 |
| 1992 | 113 |
| 1993 | 418 |
| 1994 | 519 |
| 1995 | 608 |
| 1996 | 447 |
| 1997 | 390 |
| 1998 | 399 |
| 1999 | 366 |
| 2000 | 369 |
| 2001 | 229 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2014 | 2636 |
| 2015 | 1776 |
| 2016 | 1398 |
| 2017 | 1323 |
| 2018 | 678 |
| 2019 | 1582 |
| 2020 | 258 |
| 2021 | 136 |
| 2022 | 44 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
13% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 51 distinct reports on file.
FIRE11% of complaints: fuel system, other — 41 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIREShow 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
7% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 29 distinct reports on file.
5% of complaints: power train — 18 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY5% of complaints: air bags — 18 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY DEATHShow 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
FAULTY GAS GAUGE INDICATORS
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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.