10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
14 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 2
Average Mileage:
20,691 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Jeep Wrangler seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1997 Jeep Wrangler Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Aug 282012

Wrangler 4WD 4-cyl

  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1997 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the driver side air bag clock spring wiring harness could break when turned to the 'full lock' turn position. The air bag warning light illuminate and cause the horn to become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed him that the vehicle was dangerous to drive and the air bag would not deploy in case of a crash. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 98V046000 (air bags: Frontal). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 68,000. Updated 9/25/12 updated 10/09/12

- Rolling Hills, CA, USA

problem #21

Aug 012010

Wrangler 6-cyl

  • 129,295 miles
Horn doesn't work and airbag light is on. Showing that the airbags were inoperable as well.

- Malakoff, TX, USA

problem #20

Jun 152008

Wrangler 4-cyl

  • 99,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel. Weeks later, he noticed that the horn was inoperative. The dealer stated that his vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign id number 98V046000 (air bags:frontal) in 1999; therefore, the contact had to assume financial responsibility for the repair. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 99,000. Updated 10/03/08 the vehicle was repaired at no chaarge. Updated 10/06/08.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #19

Aug 252004

Wrangler

  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The consumer was having the same problems as recall#98V046000 regarding the clockspring; the horn failed. The dealership would not repair free of charge, because the VIN was not included in the recall.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #18

Apr 172004

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,900 miles
I am the original owner of a 1997 Jeep Wrangler, VIN 1J4fy19S2vp52606. Recently, I turned the steering wheel fully in one direction (I don't recall if it was clockwise or counterclockwise), and heard a snap somewhere in the steering wheel or steering column. The airbag warning light came on (and has been on ever since), and the horn no longer works. I contacted Chrysler, and was told that my particular vehicle is not involved in any of the airbag recalls for the '97 Wrangler. However, it seems a bit of a coincidence that the symptoms described above match those described for the '97 Wrangler NHTSA campaign id number 98V046000 - "driver's side air bag clock spring wiring harness can break when turned to the full lock turn position" *** recall notice - "a broken clockspring will also cause the horn to become inoperative. The airbag warning light will stay on if the clockspring breaks." The parts are currently still available, but I hesitate waiting very long before having this broken part replaced.

- Schererville, IN, USA

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problem #17

Oct 172000

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles
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.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #16

Oct 141998

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

No deployment of air bags during vehicle collision, vehicle was traveling 35mph on impact, motorcycle crossed the center line into oncoming traffic and struck the Jeep head-on, the front end of the vehicle was destroyed, injury to consumers.

- Burlington, WI, USA

problem #15

Dec 241999

Wrangler

  • miles
Vehicle slid on ice/ lost control, and hit a boulder head-on. Then rolled over. Dual airbags did not deploy which could have caused injuries.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #14

Dec 041999

Wrangler

  • miles
While driving about 56 mph he ther was a frontal crash and vehicle went in into a wall, and neither air bag deployed.

- San Jose, 00, USA

problem #13

Aug 171999

(reported on)

Wrangler

  • miles
While driving at 35 mph on the highway this vehicle swerved and lost control, went into a ditch front first and flipped over. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle has been declared totaled. Dealer has not been contacted.

- Franklin, VA, USA

problem #12

Jun 131999

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Whike driving at 65mph on interstate transfer case came apart and front driveshaft fell out. When this happened the airbags deployed, windshield wipers came on, washer squirted, dash lights came on. The passenger air bag busted the windshield, and the face of the passenger. Her jaw is broken in three places and her four upper teeth were removed from their sockets. She required extensive reconstructive surgery, and is still in the hospital. Noothers objects or vehicles were involved. The driver beat the airbag down and safely parked the car in the median. Why did airbags deploy and with such force?

- Lafayette, GA, USA

problem #11

Apr 231999

(reported on)

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles
Contacted Chrysler concerning my problems, and they stated that they cannot do anything for me. When I called about my airbags the first time, I was told I would be sent arbitration paperwork and never was. When I called back, I was told that an inspector should have gone out to look at my car before it was repaired and that it was "too late now" to do anything. I was never told that an inspector or anyone else could be involved when I first contacted Chrysler. I am furious and frustrated and need help with this serious issue.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #10

Apr 021999

(reported on)

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles
At 9773 miles air bag light came on and all gauges including speedometer and tachometer showed zero. When vehicle hits bump while driving, gagues come back only to eventually read zero again. Ongoing problem since July 1998 and dealer cannot fix problem. Been to dealer 8 times since initial problem, and still have same problem as of April 1999. Need some assistance for this problem since dealer is no help at all. Everytime they fix problem, happens a couple of months later again.

- Bayonne, NJ, USA

problem #9

Nov 201998

Wrangler

  • miles
Ron Ford reports that the steering makes a loud noise and vehicle goes straight ahead when trying to make a turn, vehicle would not turn. Dealer contacted, and no attempts made to remedy the problem. Accident occurred while vehicle was trying to make a turn, hit a boulder, at 35-40 mph, air bag did not deploy upon impact. No repairs have been made. Problems still exist. Provided further information.

- Peoria, IL, USA

problem #8

Jan 301999

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles
Vehicle slammed into ditch nose first, rolled several times. Air bags did not deploy.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #7

Sep 181998

(reported on)

Wrangler

  • miles
Consumer was involved in an accident in which there was no deployment of driver's or passenger's side airbags. Vehicle had direct frontal damage. Also on front drivers side of vehicle. Drivers speed at time of accident was 45 mph.

- Orwigesburg, PA, USA

problem #6

Jun 261997

Wrangler 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
98V046000,97V080000,96V060000. Vehicle was involved in a front end collision and the air bag did not deploy. Recall notice was received after the accident, and there have been three recalls listed since then. Consumer states that the recalls may have played a part in this incident. The vehicle was totaled, and the problem cannot be duplicated.

- Foxlake, IL, USA

problem #5

Jun 261997

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles
No deployment of driver's/passenger's air bags during accident resulted in one fatality and injury.

- Fox Lake, IL, USA

problem #4

Nov 081996

(reported on)

Wrangler

  • miles
Driving 55mph, ran off road into an embankment during crash 10:00 on front bumper, vehicle rolled three times, dual airbags failed to deploy, driver sustained severe head and chest injuries, then died.

- Bernie, MO, USA

problem #3

Jul 121996

Wrangler

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
No deployment of air bags in accident.

- Rainsville, AL, USA

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