Problems · by component

1997 Jeep Wrangler air bags problems

44 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Jeep Wrangler cite air bags, 11% of all 411 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
44
11% of all complaints
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V080000 (AIR BAGS). THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GANLEY VILLAGE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (2115 MENTOR AVE, PAINESVILLE, OH 44077, (440) 354-4358) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 196,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2019Air bagsODI 11281599
“BOUGHT A JEEP WRANGLER AND FOUND TWO OUTSTANDING RECALLS #97V-808 AND 974-194.THE LATER ONE THEY FOUND PARTS FOR . THE AIRBAG MODULE THEY SAY THE PART IS DISCONTINUED AND THEY CAN'T ADDRESS THE RECALL DUE TO PART UNAVAILABLE. MOPAR SAYS THERE ARE PARTS AVAILABLE ??”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2018Air bagsODI 11063569
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V046000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2017Air bagsODI 11015127
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V046000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2013Air bagsODI 10534216
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WIRING HARNESS COULD BREAK WHEN TURNED TO THE 'FULL LOCK' TURN POSITION. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE AND CAUSE THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V046000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 9/25/12 *CN UPDATED 10/09/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2012Air bagsODI 10474483
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY THE STEERING COLUMN CLOCK SPRING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $385. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,194 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,077.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2009Air bagsODI 10277164

Showing 6 of 44 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG 'CLOCK SPRING' WIRING HARNESS CAN BREAK WHEN TURNED TO THE 'FULL LOCK' TURN POSITION.

Air bagsReported Mar 10, 1998NHTSA 98V046000

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.

Air bagsReported May 16, 1997NHTSA 97V080000

Air bags

Free remedy

THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM) SOFTWARE CONTAINS AN ERROR WHICH CAN DELAY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CERTAIN CRASH SITUATIONS.

Air bagsReported Apr 8, 1996NHTSA 96V060000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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