1997 Jeep Wrangler Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 1997 Jeep Wrangler, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 73,815 miles. The words owners use most often: “transfer case” (11% of reports).
- 53power train complaints
- 73,815median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 39%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transfer case: mentioned in 6 of 53 complaints (11%)
- Gear shift: mentioned in 5 of 53 complaints (9%)
- Off road: mentioned in 5 of 53 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 6 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 53 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Jeep Wrangler power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Wrangler | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2025 Wrangler | 12 | 17% | — |
| 2024 Wrangler | 177 | 24% | 12,500 |
| 2023 Wrangler | 51 | 14% | 21,000 |
| 2022 Wrangler | 65 | 16% | 17,000 |
| 2021 Wrangler | 146 | 15% | 15,000 |
| 2020 Wrangler | 47 | 8% | 3,750 |
| 2019 Wrangler | 79 | 11% | 37,250 |
| 2018 Wrangler | 177 | 10% | 27,294 |
| 2017 Wrangler | 50 | 16% | 19,000 |
| 2016 Wrangler | 74 | 16% | 31,000 |
| 2015 Wrangler | 51 | 11% | 33,000 |
| 2014 Wrangler | 88 | 13% | 44,000 |
| 2013 Wrangler | 230 | 35% | 23,161 |
| 2012 Wrangler | 282 | 34% | 18,250 |
| 2011 Wrangler | 40 | 8% | 35,000 |
| 2010 Wrangler | 68 | 10% | 25,250 |
| 2009 Wrangler | 34 | 9% | 41,750 |
| 2008 Wrangler | 67 | 8% | 59,500 |
| 2007 Wrangler | 46 | 8% | 64,000 |
| 2006 Wrangler | 57 | 8% | 24,000 |
| 2005 Wrangler | 41 | 6% | 58,000 |
| 2004 Wrangler | 26 | 14% | 32,500 |
| 2003 Wrangler | 22 | 22% | 17,000 |
| 2002 Wrangler | 14 | 13% | 20,000 |
| 2001 Wrangler | 23 | 14% | 90,000 |
| 2000 Wrangler | 70 | 28% | 35,400 |
| 1999 Wrangler | 20 | 9% | 52,000 |
| 1998 Wrangler | 33 | 12% | 95,000 |
| 1997 Wrangler | 53 | 13% | 73,815 |
| 1995 Wrangler | 32 | 16% | 74,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 1997 Jeep Wrangler. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Noticed wobble underneath while driving. Inspected underneath and noticed light showing between transfer case skid plate and frame (should be tight) and bolt hanging down. Took into shop and lower mid frame on both sides is completely rusted through allowing skid plate bolts to fall out with nuts…
My vehicle has run rough, idling rough, "bucking", losing coolant and dripping from the tailpipe about a week after the extended warranty expired. I have had major valve train problems and had to have the camshaft replaced along with the gasket, cylinder head, core return, radiator and now the…
The clutch pedal quit working and the throw out bearing was broken. *ph *jb
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Jeep Wranglers have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 53 owner complaints about power train for the 1997 Jeep Wrangler (13% of the 401 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Jeep Wrangler power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 73,815 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 1997 Jeep Wrangler?
The most frequent phrase is “transfer case”, in 6 of 53 complaints, followed by “gear shift” (5).
Other 1997 Jeep Wrangler problems
See all 1997 Jeep Wrangler problems or power train problems across all Wrangler years.