RoadVitals

1997 Jeep Cherokee Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jun 2, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 390 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Jeep Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 2, 2016

VEHICLE HAS HARD STARTS AND FREQUENT HESITATION AND STALLING, AT ALL SPEEDS CITY STREET DRIVING AS WELL AS HIGHWAY DRIVING. I HAVE HAD A NEW DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR, PLUGS, WIRES, COIL, INSTALLED, YET SYMPTOMS PERSIST. SUDDEN DECELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. MY RESEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP CHEROKEE XJ. I NARROWLY ESCAPED A CRASH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THIS MORNING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. JEEP OUGHT TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REMEDY FOR OWNERS. I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. POSSIBLE REMEDIES (FROM MY RESEARCH) INCLUDE MULTIPLE PARTS AND MANY HOURS OF LABOR: O2 SENSOR, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, PLUGS, WIRES, CAP, ROTOR, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, ALTERNATOR, NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, BALLAST RESISTOR, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, TORQUE CONVERTOR, POWER CONTROL MODULE, TRANSMISSION CONTROL SOLENOID, ETC. WHAT IS CAUSING ALL OF THESE VEHICLES TO STALL DANGEROUSLY?

NHTSA ID
10872145
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Mileage
195,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 26, 2014

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HE DROVE 65 MPH IN THE RAIN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000. RK

NHTSA ID
10565948
Incident
Nov 1, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 21, 2001

VEHICLE NEVER OFF ROAD. REPAIR DEALER REPLACED AXLE PART #2011001 FOR A COST OF $1265.00. REPAIR DEALER IS NAPA CHRYSLER, 333 SOSCOL AVE., NAPA, CA 94559, 707-224-3166.

NHTSA ID
755927
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Sep 26, 2001

REAR BEARING FAILED, SEALED TRANSMISSION HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AS A UNIT.*AK

NHTSA ID
752607
Incident
Sep 24, 2001
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Aug 17, 2001

GRINDING TICKING SOUND AND GAS LEAKS. DEALER SAID THE TANK WARPED AND THE NOISE CAME FROM READ DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS. WATER LEAKS FROM WINDSHIELD

NHTSA ID
9003708
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 1, 2000

CONSUMER HEARD GRINDING NOISE. DEALER INFORMED HIM THERE WAS A TSB OUT TO HELP CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. BEARINGS IN REAR AXLE HAD WORN OUT, ENTIRE REAR AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED . CHRYSLER PAID FOR CLOSE TO HALF OF COST OF REPAIR. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
875823
Incident
Oct 15, 2000
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2000

WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE PRESENT IN THE REAR. THIS IS ALSO CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR AXLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
866144
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 19, 2000

2ND FAILURE OCCURRED ON 01-20-1999 @ APPROX. 53,000 MILES. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
724228
Incident
Nov 26, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 3, 2000

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO SETS OF WHEEL BEARINGS. WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE MAKES KNOCKING NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID
861379
Incident
May 3, 2000
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Mar 21, 1999

NONE

NHTSA ID
704708
Incident
Mar 20, 1999
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 1, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE GEAR. YH

NHTSA ID
606360
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 28, 1998

INCIDENTS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING IN ABOUT 2-4 INCHES OF SNOW ON CITY STREETS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN A CORNER AT INTERSECTIONS THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND PLOWED THROUGH THE SNOW. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED, AND I HAD TO COME TO A STOP TO AVOID CRASHING INTO CURB. THIS OCCURED VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME I ATTEMPTED RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS IN THE SNOW.

NHTSA ID
700960
Incident
Jan 15, 1998
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 27, 1998

SEVERE DRIVELINE VIBRATION DURING ACCELERATION AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID
529761

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .