Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly — runs 4.3× the fleet median for that category across the 1401 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 1401 model-years tracked on this site.
5 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 1 rests on owner reports alone.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
29 · 7.4%
Recalled
Recall 06E022000 · Recall 00V136000
Air Bags:frontal
18 · 4.6%
Recalled
Recall 00V105000
Power Train:automatic Transmission
18 · 4.6%
No official action
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
18 · 4.6%
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 itPark 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
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 07/14/2026. 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?
5 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 07/14/2026.
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