Problems · by component

1997 Jeep Wrangler fuel system, gasoline problems

36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Jeep Wrangler cite fuel system, gasoline, 9% of all 411 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
36
9% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“1997 JEEP WRANGLER TJ SAHARA - FUEL TANK OVERFLOWS WHEN TRYING TO FILL UP THE TANK. HAS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THEN I CAN COUNT. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THE ASPECT THAT GAS LEAKS ALL OVER THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, SPLASHES ON THE TIRE AND POOLS ON THE GROUND. NOT ONLY IS IT DANGEROUS BUT IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD AS WELL. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS MY RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH JEEP YEARS 97-01 AND UP. THIS SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PROVIDE A FIX AS THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT.. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10360627
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 159,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10336388
“1997 JEEP WRANGLER TJ FUEL FLOW OVER AND LEAK. I HAVE A 1997 JEEP THAT OVERFLOWS ON FILL UP AND ALSO LEAKS OUT THE NECK WHEN FULL. THIS IS A FAULT DESIGN OF THE TANK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10322263
“THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING AN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE GAUGE WOULD READ 1/4 OR 1/2 WHEN THE TANK WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY. A RECALL (94V106000) WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN (SAFETY RECALL 755 - FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT). *AK *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2004Fuel system, gasolineODI 10067335
“THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR GREATER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2004Fuel system, gasolineODI 10055940
“I BOUGHT THIS 1997 JEEP WRANGLER FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN JUNE 2002 WITH A LIMITED WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE PASED INSPECTION AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED, THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, IT HAS A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE READING, THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND NOW THE STEERING LINKAGE OR STABILIZER BARS ARE FAULTY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power trainODI 10070478

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

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

1 recall on this component

Fuel system

Free remedy

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 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL GROMMET CONNECTORS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUELS AND MAY DEGRADE CAUSING A POTENTIAL LEAK PATH FOR FUEL.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Feb 1, 2006NHTSA 06E011000
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.