RecallRepo

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,254,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,433 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STRUCTURE 13V252000 2013-06-19 1,560,000 affected
Defect

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy

Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support proper installation.…

POWER TRAIN 02V053000 2002-02-15 1,620,000 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER HAS NOT PLACED THE SHIFTER LEVER FULLY INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AFTER SEEMING TO BE STABLE.

Consequence

INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 00V136000 2000-05-10 589,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, OR WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. …

Consequence

THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 97V194000 1997-11-07 360,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL TANK MOUNTED FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT ACCURACY CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME, INDICATING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUEL IN RESERVE THAN IS ACTUALLY PRESENT.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT.

AIR BAGS 97V080000 1997-05-16 125,000 affected
Defect

THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.

Consequence

UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
127
46crashes2fires36injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
82
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
78
1crashes2fires3injuries1deaths
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
77
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
54
7crashes1fires4injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
53
7crashes3injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
46
1crashes1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
44
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
38
3crashes3fires6injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
34
Total complaints1,433

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power, prompting her to attempt to stop the vehicle. After which, with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2024-08-02

“Vehicle will stall at time when just driving along on city streets”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2019-01-10

“The horn on my 1997 jeep grand cherokee stopped working a year ago, affecting my ability to warn others of safety issues. Mechanics tell me the horn "button" is embedded in the safety airbag in the steering wheel and can only be fixed by replacing the entire, costly airbag. That can be hundreds of…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2018-05-08

“The horn on my 1997 jeep grand cherokee stopped working a year ago, affecting my ability to warn others of safety issues. Mechanics tell me the horn "button" is embedded in the safety airbag in the steering wheel and can only be fixed by replacing the entire, costly airbag. That can be hundreds of…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2018-05-08

“Wiring harness lost connection to ground for the pcm. Ground would not allow fuel pump to work properly without major work to the wiring harness.”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD · reported 2018-02-07

“Wiring harness lost connection to ground for the pcm. Ground would not allow fuel pump to work properly without major work to the wiring harness.”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2018-02-07

“Vehicle stalls randomly while driving . Car can be going 70 and stall or just fail to move while still running then stall. This will happen randomly and sometimes will result in a check engine light which then goes out again and the car will run fine for days then happen again.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2017-11-25

“The coolant sensor bad is constantly on. Changed that . Went out on and off. Then about a month later my radiator blew apart at the seam side without any indication. No warning light .no change in coolant temp. And the coolant level was checked right before I left that day! Had to replace radiator…”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2017-08-19

Defect investigations

Investigation DP09005 Opened 2009-11-06 · closed 2010-08-23

Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires

In a letter dated October 2, 2009, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned NHTSA to open a defect investigation and recall model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees.CAS alleged that the subject vehicles have defective fuel tank storage systems that present a fire hazard in crashes. CAS alleged that the plastic…

Investigation DP09005 Opened 2009-11-06 · closed 2010-08-23

Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires

In a letter dated October 2, 2009, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned NHTSA to open a defect investigation and recall model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees.CAS alleged that the subject vehicles have defective fuel tank storage systems that present a fire hazard in crashes. CAS alleged that the plastic…

Investigation DP09005 Opened 2009-11-06 · closed 2010-08-23

Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires

In a letter dated October 2, 2009, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned NHTSA to open a defect investigation and recall model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees.CAS alleged that the subject vehicles have defective fuel tank storage systems that present a fire hazard in crashes. CAS alleged that the plastic…

Investigation DP09005 Opened 2009-11-06 · closed 2010-08-23

Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires

In a letter dated October 2, 2009, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned NHTSA to open a defect investigation and recall model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees.CAS alleged that the subject vehicles have defective fuel tank storage systems that present a fire hazard in crashes. CAS alleged that the plastic…

Investigation EA01017 Opened 2001-11-01 · closed 2002-12-18

ROLL-AWAY IN REVERSE WHEN PARKED

DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS RECALLED THE ZJ MODELS TO INCORPORATE A SECONDARY DETENT SPRING INTO THE SHIFTER.EVEN THOUGH THE WJ 6 CYL. VEHICLES USE THE SAME MANUAL DETENT LEVER THAT AS THE VEHICLES IN THE RECALL POPULATION, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE WJ REDESIGNED SHIFTER, WHICH IMPROVES FLOOR SHIFTER FUNCTIONALITY AND…

Investigation EA02029 Opened 2002-10-16 · closed 2004-02-10

HOOD LATCH FAILURE

ODI OPENED EA02-029 TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND EXISTED IN THE MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES.DURING EA02-029, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC FAILURE MECHANISM IDENTIFIED THAT COULD DIFFERENTIATE THE MY 1997 VEHICLES FROM OTHER VEHICLES CONTAINING THIS SAME HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY OR…

Investigation EA02029 Opened 2002-10-16 · closed 2004-02-10

HOOD LATCH FAILURE

ODI OPENED EA02-029 TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND EXISTED IN THE MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES.DURING EA02-029, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC FAILURE MECHANISM IDENTIFIED THAT COULD DIFFERENTIATE THE MY 1997 VEHICLES FROM OTHER VEHICLES CONTAINING THIS SAME HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY OR…

Investigation EA02029 Opened 2002-10-16 · closed 2004-02-10

HOOD LATCH FAILURE

ODI OPENED EA02-029 TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND EXISTED IN THE MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES.DURING EA02-029, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC FAILURE MECHANISM IDENTIFIED THAT COULD DIFFERENTIATE THE MY 1997 VEHICLES FROM OTHER VEHICLES CONTAINING THIS SAME HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY OR…

Investigation EA12005 Opened 2012-06-12 · closed 2014-11-14

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58…

Investigation EA12005 Opened 2012-06-12 · closed 2014-11-14

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58…

Investigation EA12005 Opened 2012-06-12 · closed 2014-11-14

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58…

Investigation EA12005 Opened 2012-06-12 · closed 2014-11-14

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58…

Investigation PE01021 Opened 2001-06-28 · closed 2001-11-01

INADVERTENT ROLLAWAY IN REVERSE PARK

Investigation PE02045 Opened 2002-05-17 · closed 2002-10-16

HOOD LATCH

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE10031 Opened 2010-08-23 · closed 2012-06-14

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

NHTSA has conducted extensive analysis of the data regarding fuel tank integrity for the model year (MY) 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). As a result of that work, the agency has decided to upgrade its safety defect investigation to an Engineering Analysis and to expand the scope of vehicles included in the…

Investigation PE10031 Opened 2010-08-23 · closed 2012-06-14

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

NHTSA has conducted extensive analysis of the data regarding fuel tank integrity for the model year (MY) 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). As a result of that work, the agency has decided to upgrade its safety defect investigation to an Engineering Analysis and to expand the scope of vehicles included in the…

Investigation PE10031 Opened 2010-08-23 · closed 2012-06-14

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

NHTSA has conducted extensive analysis of the data regarding fuel tank integrity for the model year (MY) 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). As a result of that work, the agency has decided to upgrade its safety defect investigation to an Engineering Analysis and to expand the scope of vehicles included in the…

Investigation PE10031 Opened 2010-08-23 · closed 2012-06-14

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

NHTSA has conducted extensive analysis of the data regarding fuel tank integrity for the model year (MY) 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). As a result of that work, the agency has decided to upgrade its safety defect investigation to an Engineering Analysis and to expand the scope of vehicles included in the…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.