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
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch — runs 2.1× the fleet median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
991Complaints
11Recalls
112Crashes
17Fires
89Injured
5Deaths
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 — Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch (12.8% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch complaints here are 2.1× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
All 6 of the most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch | 127 · 12.8% | Recalled | Recall 02V053000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor | 82 · 8.3% | Recalled | Recall 06E022000 · Recall 00V136000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly | 78 · 7.9% | Recalled | Recall 13V252000 · Recall 06E011000 · Recall 97V194000 |
| Fuel System, Other | 77 · 7.8% | Recalled | Recall 13V252000 · Recall 06E011000 · Recall 97V194000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 54 · 5.4% | Recalled | Recall 02V053000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 53 · 5.3% | Recalled | Recall 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
Percentages are the share of the 991 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 — 11 campaigns
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
NHTSA campaign 13V252000 · 2013 · reported 06/19/2013
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire. 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 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
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
Visibility:glass, Side/rear
NHTSA campaign 07E104000 · 2007 · reported 12/11/2007
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS. 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
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
NHTSA campaign 02V053000 · 2002 · reported 02/15/2002
INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. 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
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive
NHTSA campaign 97V080000 · 1997 · reported 05/16/1997
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY. 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
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPS. OCCURS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. AT HIGH SPEED THE VEHICLE DIES FOR A SECOND AND COMES…”NHTSA complaint 540809 — filed 09/14/1998 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch issues are the most-reported category, cited in 127 of 991 NHTSA complaints (12.8%), followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (82), fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (78), fuel system, other (77). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
991 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 112 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, and 89 reported injuries. 5 deaths were reported.
Does the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — 11 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee's reported problems?
6 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
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.
