Problems · by component
1997 Jeep Wrangler power train problems
51 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Jeep Wrangler cite power train, 12% of all 411 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
51
12% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“NOTICED WOBBLE UNDERNEATH WHILE DRIVING. INSPECTED UNDERNEATH AND NOTICED LIGHT SHOWING BETWEEN TRANSFER CASE SKID PLATE AND FRAME (SHOULD BE TIGHT) AND BOLT HANGING DOWN. TOOK INTO SHOP AND LOWER MID FRAME ON BOTH SIDES IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING SKID PLATE BOLTS TO FALL OUT WITH NUTS STILL ATTACHED. SKID PLATE ALSO SERVES AS TRANSFER CASE MOUNT AND WHEN IT DROPS THE DRIVESHAFT WOBBLES. ULTIMATELY IF IT HAD COMPLETELY LET GO ON THE HIGHWAY THE REAR DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND LOCKED THE REAR WHEELS CAUSING UNCONTROLLED SKID, OR THE DRIVESHAFT WOULD BREAK CAUSING DANGER TO THE PASSENGERS.”
“MY VEHICLE HAS RUN ROUGH, IDLING ROUGH, "BUCKING", LOSING COOLANT AND DRIPPING FROM THE TAILPIPE ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. I HAVE HAD MAJOR VALVE TRAIN PROBLEMS AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAMSHAFT REPLACED ALONG WITH THE GASKET, CYLINDER HEAD, CORE RETURN, RADIATOR AND NOW THE LATEST IS OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SENDING UNIT. OIL PRESSURE STILL SHOWING ZERO EVEN AFTER REPLACING SENDING UNIT! *AK”
“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.”
“TRANSMISSION STICKS AND GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR; DEALER CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT STILL STICKS AND GRINDS; SHIFTING INTO 3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH GEARS IT SEEMS LIKE SYNCHRONIZERS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS A USED VEHICLE WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IT SEEMS LIKE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *LA”
“WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK THE GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED (GAS READ EMPTY), THE VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. DIFFERENT MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED (THERE WAS PINK FLUID IN THE BATTERY AREA), THE BELT PULLEY HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THE BATTERY FAILED. *SCC *JB”
“I BOUGHT MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER IN JUNE, 2002 FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN BALTIMORE, MD WITH AN AS-IS WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD PASSED INSPECTION AND WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. IT HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT AND APPEARED TO BE GOOD. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS JEEP. FIRST THE WIRING HARNESS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION, NOW A DIAGNOSIS TO REPLACE THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD, REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND HAS A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE, AND POSSIBLY THE STABILIZER BAR OR STEERING COMPONENTS. THIS JEEP IS COSTING ME MORE IN REPAIRS THAN THE ACTUAL VALUE OF IT. I FEAR THAT IT IS UNSAFE AND THAT I M FACING MORE EXPENSES IF I KEEP IT, BUT I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AS FAR AS LEMON LAW PROTECTION, RECALLS, HELP!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. *JB”
Showing 6 of 51 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.