CarModelProblems.com

1997 Jeep Cherokee Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly — runs 4.3× the fleet median for that category across the 1400 model-years tracked on this site.
390Complaints
10Recalls
44Crashes
7Fires
27Injured
1Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly (13.1% of complaints) — is covered by 3 NHTSA recall campaigns.

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly complaints here are 4.3× the median for that category across the 1400 model-years tracked on this site.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly51 · 13.1%RecalledRecall 08V056000 · Recall 06E011000 · Recall 97V194000
Fuel System, Other41 · 10.5%RecalledRecall 08V056000 · Recall 06E011000 · Recall 97V194000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor29 · 7.4%RecalledRecall 06E022000 · Recall 00V136000
Air Bags:frontal18 · 4.6%RecalledRecall 00V105000
Power Train:automatic Transmission18 · 4.6%not available
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip18 · 4.6%RecalledRecall 06E022000 · Recall 00V136000

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL18 · 4.6%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION18 · 4.6%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP18 · 4.6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE17 · 4.4%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP16 · 4.1%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE12 · 3.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12 · 3.1%

Percentages are the share of the 390 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 10 campaigns

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

NHTSA campaign 08V056000 · 2008 · reported 02/06/2008

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIRED STANDARDS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E065000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NHTSA campaign 06E022000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

NHTSA campaign 06E011000 · 2006 · reported 02/01/2006

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

NHTSA campaign 00V136000 · 2000 · reported 05/10/2000

THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive

NHTSA campaign 00V105000 · 2000 · reported 04/11/2000

SUCH CORROSION CAN LEAD TO ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT OR COULD ALLOW INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

NHTSA campaign 97V194000 · 1997 · reported 11/07/1997

OWNERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS LOW ON FUEL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH IF THE VEHICLE STOPS DUE TO NO FUEL. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER LOSES POWER WHEN GAS TANK GETS DOWN TO A QUARTER OF A TANK OF…”NHTSA complaint 842648 — filed 07/20/1999 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
“RECALL # 97V19402, FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. CONSUMER RECEIVED FIRST NOTICE IN MARCH AND SECOND NOTICE IN JUNE . THE DEALER WILL NOT MAKE AN…”NHTSA complaint 838665 — filed 06/01/1999 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
“RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH STILL EXISTS. RECALL NUMBER 97V194002. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.”NHTSA complaint 837295 — filed 04/30/1999 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

4020031942005142008152010252012992014572016212020

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Jeep Cherokee?

Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly issues are the most-reported category, cited in 51 of 390 NHTSA complaints (13.1%), followed by fuel system, other (41), service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (29), air bags:frontal (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 1997 Jeep Cherokee have?

390 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 44 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, and 27 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.

Does the 1997 Jeep Cherokee have any recalls?

Yes — 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 08V056000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 1997 Jeep Cherokee's reported problems?

Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.