1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee

● Typical for this model
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
BUILT 2026-09-02

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 Grand Cherokee Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1997 highlighted. 1989: 5 complaints 1989 1990: 5 complaints 1991: 6 complaints 1992: 3 complaints 1993: 562 complaints 1994: 609 complaints 1994 1995: 723 complaints 1996: 893 complaints 1997: 991 complaints 1997 1998: 1028 complaints 1999: 1638 complaints 1999 2000: 1447 complaints 2001: 883 complaints 2002: 1476 complaints 2003: 762 complaints 2004: 1294 complaints 2004 2005: 2051 complaints 2006: 1280 complaints 2007: 1108 complaints 2008: 733 complaints 2009: 138 complaints 2009 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 1639 complaints 2012: 1638 complaints 2013: 802 complaints 2014: 2373 complaints 2014 2015: 1355 complaints 2016: 308 complaints 2017: 364 complaints 2018: 850 complaints 2019: 362 complaints 2019 2020: 232 complaints 2021: 401 complaints 2022: 257 complaints 2023: 380 complaints 2024: 239 complaints 2024 2025: 69 complaints 2026: 14 complaints 2026
1997: 991 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19895
19905
19916
19923
1993562
1994609
1995723
1996893
1997991
19981028
19991638
20001447
2001883
20021476
2003762
20041294
20052051
20061280
20071108
2008733
2009138
2010117
20111639
20121638
2013802
20142373
20151355
2016308
2017364
2018850
2019362
2020232
2021401
2022257
2023380
2024239
202569
202614

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

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

POWER TRAIN 27%

27% of complaints: power train — 269 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing park/neutral start interlock switch and automatic transmission.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show 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

SERVICE BRAKES 20%

20% of complaints: service brakes — 200 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 17%

17% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 164 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tank assembly and fuel pump.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show 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

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 12%

12% of complaints: fuel system, other — 122 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing fuel gauge system and tank assembly.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%

9% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 92 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show 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

R 19970715 — air bags

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

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 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

I 20010628 — PE (closed 20011101)

INADVERTENT ROLLAWAY IN REVERSE PARK

I 20011101 — EA (closed 20021218)

ROLL-AWAY IN REVERSE WHEN PARKED

I 20020517 — PE (closed 20021016)

HOOD LATCH

R 20020923 — power train

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

I 20021016 — EA (closed 20040210)

HOOD LATCH FAILURE

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 20080115 — visibility

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

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 20091106 — DP (closed 20100823)

Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires

I 20100823 — PE (closed 20120614)

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

I 20120612 — EA (closed 20141114)

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

R 20140801 — fuel system, gasoline, structure

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

▲ 2025 ▲ 2010 ▲ 2009

WORST YEARS

■ 2014 ■ 2005 ■ 1999

See all years ranked →

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.