Problems · by component

1997 Jeep Cherokee equipment problems

36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Jeep Cherokee cite equipment, 3% of all 1,380 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
36
3% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the equipment

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BECAME WET FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT REMEMBER WHAT WAS DONE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE IN 1997. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN SUMMER 2009 AS THERE WAS WATER BUILD UP ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS IN USE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2010EquipmentODI 10360434
“1. CAME OUT OF GEAR WHEN IN PARK AND CRASHED SUSTAINING 5000.00 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DAIMLER-CHRYSLER IN 2002,HOWEVER IT WAS NOT DATED STATING THE CAR COULD DO THIS. NO RECALLS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME. THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEM WHEN CAR CRASHED. CALLED AN ATTORNEY WHO WAS A RELATIVE THAT TOLD WITHOUT A DOUBT (100%) THE CAR WOULD DO THIS. HE THEN CALLED ME BACK AND STATED HE COULD NOT REPRESENT ME BECAUSE HE REPRESENTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER. HE WAS HIRED BY CHRYSLER AFTER HE BOUGHT A VIPER FROM THEM THAT WAS A LEMON AND HE SHOVED IT YOU KNOW WHERE AND WON. THEY REALIZED WHAT AN OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY HE WAS THEN HIRED HIM. TALK ABOUT FAMILY ETHICS. THEY FINALLY INSTALLED THE SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM IN 12/2008. I WAS TOLD IT WAS REPAIRED. 2 THE CAR IS STALLING AT HIGH SPEEDS,DURING U TURNS, WHILE AT STOP SIGNS. IT TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. JEEP KEEPS TELLING ME THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING ON DIAGNOSTICS. I WAS OUT OF TOWN 250 MILES FROM HOME AND THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BACK TO THE. THEY HAVE BEEN RUDE,EVASIVE AND BLAMING ME. AFTER 500.00 THERE DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED NOTHING. IT HAS BEEN TO 5 OTHER MECHANICS AND KNOW ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Vehicle speed control, Interior lighting, Equipment, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 10255217
“MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO HAS HAD A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THE PRICE FOR ONE OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP. DUST OR WATER CAN GET IN THERE AND CREATE ENGINE FAILURE, IT CAN ALSO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO GET TO HOT AND CAUSE A FIRE. CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKS INTO THE CABIN WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE UP AND THE HEATER IS ON. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2006Engine and engine cooling, EquipmentODI 10160614
“I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FROM LANSDALE CHRYSLER JEEP IN OCTOBER OF 2002. WITHIN 1 WEEK, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE ABS UNIT HAD FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. I SUBMITTED A HAND WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO THEM THAT THE CAR WAS "CERTIFIED" AND NOTHING SHOULD FAIL WITHIN A WEEK. THE ABS WAS REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE TO ME. THREE YEARS LATER THE ABS UNIT HAS FAILED AGAIN! ESTIMATE CHARGE FOR REPAIR IS $1,200 DOLLARS. MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FROM 1993-1998 GRAND CHEROKEE'S. THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: AUTOS.MSN.COM CITES THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE ABS UNIT TO FAIL. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE ABS UNIT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW DOES A $1,000 PART FAIL TWICE?!? *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, EquipmentODI 10145190
“THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN THROTTLING WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK WHEN TURNING THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER IT MAKES THE ENGINE THROTTLE UP AND STAY AT ACCELERATED SPEED. WHEN THE CONSUMER TAKES HIS FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN UNTIL YOU TURN ON THE HEAT OR AIR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN YOU START FROM A STOPPED POSITION WITH THE FAN ON, AFTER YOU ATTAINED THE SPEED YOU WANT AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATORTHE SPEED AND RPM WILL STAY THE SAME AND WILL NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD TO TURN THE FAN OFF AT A COMPLETE STOP IN NEUTRAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. UNDER HEAVY BRAKING THE BRAKES HAD A BAD PULSATION WHICH CAUSED THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON. RADIO AND SPEAKERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, EquipmentODI 10107092
“BLOWER MOTOR FAILED AT 78K MILES EXCESSIVE LIQUID DRAINING WHEN RUNNING AC WAS TOLD THAT MOTOR HAD BEEN "REDESIGNED" AND THAT PARTS ALONE WOULD COST OVER 300.00 BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO REDESIGNING THE MOTOR, A NEW WIRING HARNESS HAS TO BE INSTALLED!!! REMEMBER THE 300.00 IS FOR THE HARD PART AND WIRING ONLY, NOT THE LABOR TO INSTALL...THIS IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS WHEN A MOTOR FOR THE SAME MODEL MANUFACTURED A YEAR EARLIER IS ONLY 20.00!!!!! AS FAR AS THE EXCESSIVE LIQUIDS RUNNING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE THE AC IS RUNNING, THIS SITE WAS THE FIRST INDICATOR AS TO WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT...(I SIMPLY THOUGH IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW) ALSO THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN EDITED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT "RUNNING BOARDS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS...IT SEEMS ONE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS FLAWLESSLY OR BEGIN AGAIN COMPLETELY!!! *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2004Electrical system, Visibility, EquipmentODI 10093790

Showing 6 of 36 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.