1997 Jeep Grand 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 |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1992 | 3 |
| 1993 | 562 |
| 1994 | 609 |
| 1995 | 723 |
| 1996 | 893 |
| 1997 | 991 |
| 1998 | 1028 |
| 1999 | 1638 |
| 2000 | 1447 |
| 2001 | 883 |
| 2002 | 1476 |
| 2003 | 762 |
| 2004 | 1294 |
| 2005 | 2051 |
| 2006 | 1280 |
| 2007 | 1108 |
| 2008 | 733 |
| 2009 | 138 |
| 2010 | 117 |
| 2011 | 1639 |
| 2012 | 1638 |
| 2013 | 802 |
| 2014 | 2373 |
| 2015 | 1355 |
| 2016 | 308 |
| 2017 | 364 |
| 2018 | 850 |
| 2019 | 362 |
| 2020 | 232 |
| 2021 | 401 |
| 2022 | 257 |
| 2023 | 380 |
| 2024 | 239 |
| 2025 | 69 |
| 2026 | 14 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.
27% of complaints: power train — 269 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing park/neutral start interlock switch and automatic transmission.
CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
The contact owns a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power, prompting her to attempt to stop the vehicle.
NHTSA ODI report, 20240806
20% of complaints: service brakes — 200 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic and air.
CRASH FIRE INJURY17% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 164 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tank assembly and fuel pump.
CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20130606
12% of complaints: fuel system, other — 122 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing fuel gauge system and tank assembly.
9% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 92 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing gasoline and engine.
CRASH FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
AFTER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 15 MINUTES AND PARKED THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 1,500 MILES.THE REASON IS UNKNOWN AS OF NOW. *AK
NHTSA ODI report, 19961108
SAFETY TIMELINE
THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.
Campaign 97V080000 — check if this car was fixed
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: 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
INADVERTENT ROLLAWAY IN REVERSE PARK
ROLL-AWAY IN REVERSE WHEN PARKED
HOOD LATCH
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER HAS NOT PLACED THE SHIFTER LEVER FULLY INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AFTER SEEMING
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEP
Campaign 02V053000 — check if this car was fixed
HOOD LATCH FAILURE
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 CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN
Remedy: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIM
Campaign 07E104000 — 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
Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Chrysler 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
Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install
Campaign 13V252000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for power train issues (269 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for service brakes issues (200 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for fuel system, gasoline issues (164 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 97V080000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 97V194000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 00V136000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 02V053000 (power train) 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 07E104000 (visibility) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 13V252000 (fuel system, gasoline, structure) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 27% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.