1997 Jeep Wrangler complaints

A/C EVAPORATOR LEAK, REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK

DEATH SHIMMY AT 40MPH. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM SISDE TO SIDE. TAKEN TO DEALER, TIRE SHOPS ECT. NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. REPLACED TRAKING ARM, WHEELS AND TIRES. FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED TIRES.*AK

TERRIBLE RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SOUNDS LIKE PART OR PARTS HAVE SHAKEN LOOSE. NO PERFORMANCE LOSS NOTICED YET, BUT VERY ANNOYING.*AK

WHILE STARTING. ENGINE STARTS ACCELERATES AND DIES.

CLUTCH PEDAL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHMENT TO CLUTCH CYLINDER HAS A PLASTIC GROMMET WHICH BROKE AND CAUSED CLUTCH PEDAL TO FALL OFF. *AK NEITHER DEALER NOR JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD ASSIST IN PROCURRING REPLACEMENT GROMMET, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE OLD STYLE HAS A PIN CONNECTION INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *SCC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SPARE TIRE, THAT NEVER HAS BEEN USED AND WAS LOCATED IN REAR ON OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE, BLEW OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE# P22575R15, DOT# MKKHNMWR286.*AK

ENGINE MANIFOLD HAS GONE OUT TWICE WHILE CONSUMER HAS BEEN DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE PART, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD COME ACROSS SOME INFORMATION RELATING TO A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *JB *SCC

ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED JUST BEFORE WHERE WELD IS LOCATED CRACK IS OVER HALF THE DIAMETAR OF THE PIPE AFTER READING OVER 30 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME OR SIMULAR PROBLEM I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A CALL BACK ON THIS PROBLEM THERE IS NO DOUGHT THAT IT CAN CAUSE IF NOT FOUND IN TIME A SEVER HARM TO THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLEY TO ALL IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

GEN 3 SEAT BELT RELEASED SEAT BELT WHEN I LEANED OVER AND HIT IT WITH MY ELBOW. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME THAT IT HAPPENED.*AK

MANIFOLD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES! I HAVE NEVER EVEN TAKEN IT 4-WHEELING. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE FROM MUFFLER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED, CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKAGE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK OVERTIME, EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED INTO THREE PIECES CAUSING HOT EXHAUST FUMES IN ENGINE COMPATMENTS AS WELL AS DRIVERS AREA. *YH

PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING, CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT RECALL WHEN ON YAHOO, AFTER CALLING CHRYSLER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *YH CONSUMER HAS RAN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS. CHRYSLER RESPONDED SAYING THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE VEHICLES VIN WAS MADE. *JG *NM

FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. GAUGE INDICATES MORE FUEL THEN THERE IS IN THE TANK. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *SLC

MY FUEL GAUGE SHOWS 1/4 TANK WHEN EMPTY- THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN '98 (NHTSA # 97V194003 & TSB # 755) FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR VEHICLE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ALSO THE MANUFACTURER, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE- IF IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, AND I HAVE THE PROBLEM (OBVIOUSLY), THENI DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL- THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO REPORT THIS. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 35 MPH VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. MECHANIC DETERMINED RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT, ALSO UPPER LEFT CONTROL ARM. PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT. *JG

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DEVELOPE 3 CRACKS ALONG THE REDUCER JOINT WHICH REQUIRED REMOVAL AND REWELDED. THE CRACKS STARTED BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT UNTIL I NOTICED AN INCREASE IN ENGINE NOISE AND EXHAUST FUMES IN THE VEHICLE AT WHICH POINT THE WARRENTY JUST RAN OUT DUE TO MILEAGE. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD NOT FAIL THIS FAST.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC STATED CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ADVISED CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL98V046000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED REALLY HARD AND TOSSED CONSUMER AROUND A LITTLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE LOST POWER. WILL JERK REALLY HARD, AND PRESSING ON ACCELERATER HAS NO AFFECT. DEALER REPLACED FUEL RAIL, AND A WEEK LATER PROBLEM REOCCURED. *AK

UPON FILLING GAS TANK A GUSH OF GAS COMES FROM TOP CENTER OF TANK, CAUSING GAS TO RUN OVER THE SIDE OF VEHICLE AND THE GROUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE IS EQUIPED WITH THE GEN-3 SEATBELTS WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO COME UNLATCHED TO EASILY.*AK

THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT A PIECE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FLOATING AROUND, AND COULD BLOCK THE EXHAUST. DRIVER STATED VEHICLE STALLED AT 65 AS A RESULT. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FREEZE PLUG CRACKED ON PERFECT DAY OF 70 DEGREES. ENGINE COOLANT LOST. THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT - 02 MPH IN REVERSE. :) IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, PERMENENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO OVERHEATING AND LEADING TO SEIZING.

ENGINE WAS VERY LOUD, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I ASKED IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WRANGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS. CONTACTED A FEW JEEP CLUBS VIA THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CRACKING OF EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ON WRANGLERS IS VERY COMMON, TO THE POINT THAT YOU'RE LUCKY IF YOUR'S DOESN'T CRACK, AND THAT THE MANIFOLD HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED. I CONTACTED THE CRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND IF IN FACT THE MANIFOLD WAS REDESIGNED AS I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WASN'T JUST INSTALLING ANOTHER DEFECTIVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THERE ARE AFTERMARKET EXHAUST MANIFOLDS THAT CARRY AN UNLIMITED WARRANTY AND ARE IN FACT LESS EXPENSIVE, UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS A HEAVY DEMAND FOR THEM WITH A LONG WAIT. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION, JUST BOILER PLATE RESPONSES THANKING ME FOR CONTACTING THEM. I ORDERED A NEW REPLACEMENT EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE DEALER, AND WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP, BOTH THE SERVICE AND PARTS MANAGERS INDICATED THAT THEY NEW OF NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WRANGLER EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKING. WHEN I ASKED IF THE MANIFOLD WAS REDESIGNED, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW. WHEN I GOT HOME AND OPENED THE BOX CONTAINING THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS INDEED REDESIGNED! THEY ADDED BELLOWS THERMAL EXPANSION JOINTS IN THE FIRST AND SIXTH EXHAUST PIPES. APPARENTLY THE LENGTH OF THE

FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT INDICATES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUEL IN RESERVE THAN ACTUALLY PRESENT. RECALL 97 V 194 000 HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THIS JEEP. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEER. IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF ROAD. ITS MY DAUGHTERS CAR. SHE USES IT TO GO TO COLLEGE AND BACK HOME.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT FRONT BRAKES ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WORK PROPERTY TO STOP VEHICLE, CONSUMER FEELS THAT BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE AND REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE RECALL, DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TT

CAR WAS PARKED AND IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE AND HIT AIR PUMP AT THE GAS STATION. *AK

WINDSHIELD IS DELAMINATING, CAUSING BUBBLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ESPECIALLY IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. *AK

WINDSHIELD IS ,CAUSING BUBBLES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ESPECIALLY IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. *AK

NOTICED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WITH 27K MILES ON IT. THEY HEARD NOTHING. IN MAY 2000 MY MECHANIC MENTIONED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING. OCT. OF 2001 WITH 58K THE NOISE WAS UNBEARABLE AND THREE CRACKS VISABLE. DEALER SAID TOO BAD OUT OF WARRANTY. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHY CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE? BY THE WAY I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER JEEP AGAIN.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICL CLOCK SPRIING BROKE, AND HORN MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FUEL SENDING UNIT FOR RESERVE FUEL TANK IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. FUEL UNIT DOES NOT SHOW PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL 97V194003. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

LEVER TO PUSH SEAT FORWARD/BACKWARDS HAS A BLACK CAP THAT CAME OFF. METAL PIECE HAD IMPALED OWNER'S LEG WHILE BACKING OUT OF VEHICLE. POINT OF LEVER IS SHAPED LIKE AN ARROW AND IS 1 1/2 INCHES TALL. THIS IS SECOND TIME PROBLEM LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED.*AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED/STUDS FAILED/PARTS,LABOR NOT COVERED/3RD PARTY REPAIRED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN DIRECTLY INTO A SMALL CONCRETE POST. BUMBER WAS FORCED BACK CAUSING ENGINE AND FRAME DAMAGE. DRIVER HEAD STRUCK WINDSHIELD OF VEHICLE. DRIVER (COMPLAINANT) WAS OPERATING VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD NOT PLACED SEAT BELT ON AT TIME OF CRASH. FACE WENT INTO WINDSHIELD BREAKING WINDSHIELD AND COMPL. NOSE. IT WAS OPINION OF POLICE, DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL, AND OTHERS THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH SUCH A SEVERE FRONT END CRASH. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WAS WRITTEN TO AND A SUBJECT MET COMP AT DEALERSHIP AND TOOK COMPUTER READINGS OF VEHICLE. NO ANALYSIS WAS GIVEN TO COMPL EXCEPT FOR WRITTEN CORRESPONDANCE FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER (A.L. GILBERT -SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR) THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE THE APPROPRIATE "CRUSH" AND "CRUNCH" ZONES TO OPERATE AIRBAG. WE CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A FRONT END IMPACT INTO A POLE WITH 8000 DAMAGE AND THE DRIVERS FACE HITTING AND BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT ENOUGH OF AN IMPACT TO CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. WE HAVE WRITTEN DAIMLERCHRYSLER TWICE ASKING FOR THE READINGS FROM THE COMPUTER AND NO ONE WILL RESPOND. WE ALSO STILL DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS WITH THE FRONT END. WE WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AS TO HOPE AND REMEDY A POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING ON JEEP PRODUCTS. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEAK. MECHANIC REPLACED PLASTIC FUEL TANK, IT HAD CRACKED.*AK

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE, BUT THE LEVER IS STILL IN PARK. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK AT TIMES THE CAR WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE LEVER IS STILL IN PARK. THE HEAD LIGHTS ALSO SHORT OUT AT TIMES. I HAVE TO MOVE THE BLINKER HANDLE TO GET THEM ON AGAIN.*YD

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. HOPW MANY DOES IT TAKE TO GET SOME ACTION. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL ALL RELATED PARTS FAILED, WATER LEAKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, CLOCK AND RADIO BROKE DEALER CANT FIX, SEAT BELTS WONT RETRACT, SWAY BARS COME LOOSE

DRIVERS SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE AT ANY SPEED EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE IT - A FEW TIMES EACH TIME YOU DRIVE IT, REAR CENTER MOUNTED TAIL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK, TAILGATE HINGES ARE EXTRREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHUT CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO NOT BE CLOSED PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, FRONT TURN SIGNAL SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS WET OUT- DEALER NOTIFIED AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE SOCKET (NOT A STOCK ITEM), THE BULBS ARE FINE IN THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL. *AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED 6/21/01, LOCAL JEEP DEALER HAD NO RECALL, NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A BETTER AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD WHEN ON 7/19/01,WHILE STOPPED W/ ENGINE RUNNING, THE PLASTIC HYDRAULIC LINE FOR THE CLUTCH MELTED FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

A PIPE THAT COMES FROM ENGINE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED. WHEN DRIVING IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

ON 09/07/99 AS MY JEEP WRANGLER WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY BANK IT PROCEEDED TO ROLL BACKWARDS OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, ACROSS A BUSY STREET, AND INTO A CANAL ( DITCH). IT LANDED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND WAS SUBMERSED. IT TOOK TWO TOW TRUCKS AND 3 HOURS TO PULL IT OUT. ONCE AT THE JEEP DEALERSHIP THEY INVESTIGATED TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS THE GEAR SHIFT ( WHICH HAD BEEN IN THE PARKED POSITION) BUT NEVER GAVE ANY SPECIFICS. MY INSURANCE AND I ENDED UP PAYING A TOTAL OF ABOUT $9,000 DOLLARS. THE REPAIRS TOOK A MONTH AND A HALF, IN WHICH MY INSURANCE PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT HAVING THE POWERTRAIN INVESTIGATED BY AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC THEY OFFERED TO "SELL" IT TO ME FOR $1000 DOLLARS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND NEVER TO THIS DAY HAVE RECEIVED A REPLY. AFTER READING THE ARTCILE IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY ABOUT THE DEFECTS IN THE GRAND CHEROKEES IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT MY JEEP AND WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THE SITUATIONS WITH OTHERS WAS EXACTLY LIKE MY EXPERIENCE EXCEPT THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE WRANGLERS YEARS 1995-1999 ALSO FOR SIMILAR ACCIDENTS. THAT JEEP WAS MY FIRST VECHICLE AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE, I HAD ALWAYS WANTED ONE. IT WAS THE FIRST AND WILL BE THE LAST JEEP I EVER OWN AFTER THAT HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. I AM JUST SO THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED.*AK

HEATER BLOWER FAILED TO BLOW ON FRONT WINDSHIELD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION .*AK

WHTILE DRIVING OVER AN OVERPASS A VEHICLE MADE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF CONSUMER CAUSING A COLLISION, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT HOLD, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC

GAS GUAGE GIVES AN INACCURATE READING OF AMOUNT OF FUEL IN VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK