Jeep Grand Cherokee / 1997
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Owners have filed 1,433 complaints about the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 20.4% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 14.2%.
Complaints1,433
Crashes143
Fires28
Injuries112
Deaths9
What owners report breaking
Power train 20.4% · 292
Service brakes, hydraulic 14.2% · 203
Fuel system, gasoline 11.6% · 166
Fuel system, other 8.6% · 123
Engine and engine cooling 6.6% · 95
Structure 4.6% · 66
Electrical system 4.1% · 59
Steering 3.4% · 49
Severity
Of those complaints, 143 describe a crash, 28 describe a fire, 112 report an injury and 9 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 33 model years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in this data, 1997 sits 12th by complaint volume. 2014 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 9 in the last three years against 22 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 120,000 miles.
In owners' own words
*Ak consumer states transmission does not shift the way it should, there is a delay when going into gear and it makes a noise, rear seal, pan gasket, and cooler lines leaking, humming in engine at 59-62 mph, the wiper blades failed, while using remote there is a grinding noise coming from door area, the right front rotor is worn, the deqler replaced the front brake pads, and headlights need to be adjusted. Power train
Consumer complaint regarding un-repaired recall work to a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee, that resulted in an accident. *Kb the consumer stated with the vehicle running she placed it in park, stepped out of the vehicle, when all of a sudden it lurched backwards into the neighbors landscape. The consumer stated she was never informed of any recall on the vehicle, possibly because the vehicle was purchased used. Power train
I put my Jeep in park, and ran to a mailbox. When I turned around, I saw that my Jeep was driving in reverse. Originally, I thought that maybe I somehow or other left in reverse and jumped out of the car, but I know that I didn't do that. No one would belive me then. However, I've just learned that similar incidents have happened to other people. I just want to let u know that it happened to me too. Power train
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…