1997 Jeep Laredo Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Jeep Laredo, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system1220.7%
- Engine915.5%
- Brakes712.1%
- Body & structure610.3%
- Electrical610.3%
- Interior & seats35.2%
- Powertrain (other)35.2%
- Visibility23.4%
- Driver assistance23.4%
- Tires & wheels23.4%
- Transmission23.4%
- Suspension11.7%
- Airbags11.7%
- Other / unspecified11.7%
- Steering11.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 1997 JEEP LAREDO & RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE) NO DEALERSHIP SO I DROVE 120 MILES TO NEAREST JEEP SERVICE DEPT. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 4 HOURS THEN STATED THE PARTS THAT WERE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND I NEVER HEARD BACK. SINCE THEN I APPLIED FOR THE $100 GIFT CARD AND THEY SAID I AM INELIGIBLE SINCE THE ITEM WAS ALREADY REPAIRED. THIS JEEP HAS SO MANY ISSUES. ELECTRICAL SHORT THROUGHOUT ENTIRE VEHICLE THAT CUTS OUT STEREO, BLINKERS, RUNNING LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS. ITS NOT THE FUSES EITHER. THE DRIVERS DOOR HINGES ARE ROTTING. THE CAR NOW STALLS DAILY EVEN WHEN GOING FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOTOR HAS SEIZED AND NO LONGER ADJUSTS. ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT NOW WON'T PASS SMOG TESTS. THE FRONT CAR SHAKES AND NEEDS TIE RODS. I AM EXPERIENCING A COMPLETE LOSS. MY ONLY OPTION IS TO SCRAP THE VEHICLE SINCE REPAIRS WOULD COST MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH.
MY 97 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO, IS HAVING STALLING ISSUES,I'VE CHANGED NUMEROUS SENSORS, FUEL PUMP, DISTRIBUTOR, THE VEHICLE WILL DRIVE FIND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN OUT OF THE BLUE IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING,HAVE NO PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT OF IT STARTING BACK UP,BUT THIS IS GETTING FRUSTRATING WITH ALL THE MONEY AND TIME I'VE SPENT TRYING TO FIGURE THIS PROBLEM OUT, AND TO FIND OUT THAT OTHER ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.PLEASE IF ANY WAY POSSIBLE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP MYSELF AND THE OTHER FIND A SOLUTION TO THESE ISSUES. *TR
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP LAREDO. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
STALLING OUT ISSUE. WENT FROM INTERMITTENT TO FREQUENT. STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE COMING TO A STOP OR LEAVING A STOP. HAVE REPLACED 3 PCM'S, 1/2 WIRING HARNESS, TOO MANY SENSORS TO COUNT, FUEL PUMP, ETC. HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS & THE MECHANIC CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT. NO CODES EITHER. TEMPERATURE & SPEED DO NOT MATTER IT JUST CONSTANTLY STALLS. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART OTHER TIMES IT WILL NOT. THERE IS NO LIGHTS, SOUNDS, NOTHING WHEN IT STALLS. IT JUST CUTS OUT. NO STEERING EITHER! ALSO THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH I HAVE REPLACED ONCE AND NEED TO AGAIN, AND THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE HAS ISSUES, AND THE DIFFERENTIAL I HAVE REPLACED TOO. MY MECHANIC HAS SPENT 6 YEARS TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HE EVEN HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER TO NO AVAIL. CHRYSLER WILL NOT EVEN ADDRESS THE ISSUE. HE EVEN SENT MY TRUCK TO ANOTHER GARAGE FOR EVALUATION. IT STALLED ON THEM TOO HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE EITHER. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AND I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP AND INVESTIGATE. THEY'RE TOO MANY OF US WITH THIS PROBLEM. *KB
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION IT ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME DISENGAGED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
AS I TRY TO BRAKE I GET THIS AIR LOSE FEELING ON MY BRAKES AS IF I AM NOT ABLE TO BRAKE ON TIME. AND SOON AS THAT HAPPENS MY ABS LIGHT GOES ON. I'VE TAKEN IN THE CAR IN AND NOBODY SEEMS TO FIND A PROBLEM LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THAT PROBLEM THE MECHANIC HAD 3 OTHER CAR SAME AS MINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID TO BE ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED DUE TO NOT KNOWING IF I WILL BE ABLE TO BRAKE ON TIME. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE JEEP WAS SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLE AT 45 MPH. THE CHASE CONNECTED TO THE TRACK BAR MOUNT BROKE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED.. AFTER TALKING WITH A BODY SHOP 3/8'' STEEL PLATE WELDED TO THE CHASE WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WARNING IT COMES FROM METAL FATIGUE!!!! THE MAIN PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE THE TRACK BAR MOUNT AND CHASE. *NM
THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HINGE BROKE FROM THE DOOR. *AK *TS *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 1997 JEEP LAREDO & RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE) NO DEALERSHIP SO I DROVE 120 MILES TO NEAREST JEEP SERVICE DEPT. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 4 HOURS THEN STATED THE PARTS THAT WERE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND I NEVER HEARD BACK. SINCE THEN I APPLIED FOR THE $100 GIFT CARD AND THEY SAID I AM INELIGIBLE SINCE THE ITEM WAS ALREADY REPAIRED. THIS JEEP HAS SO MANY ISSUES. ELECTRICAL SHORT THROUGHOUT ENTIRE VEHICLE THAT CUTS OUT STEREO, BLINKERS, RUNNING LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS. ITS NOT THE FUSES EITHER. THE DRIVERS DOOR HINGES ARE ROTTING. THE CAR NOW STALLS DAILY EVEN WHEN GOING FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOTOR HAS SEIZED AND NO LONGER ADJUSTS. ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT NOW WON'T PASS SMOG TESTS. THE FRONT CAR SHAKES AND NEEDS TIE RODS. I AM EXPERIENCING A COMPLETE LOSS. MY ONLY OPTION IS TO SCRAP THE VEHICLE SINCE REPAIRS WOULD COST MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH.
I DRIVE A 1997 JEEP LAREDO IT BACK FIRES AND STALLS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING. IT HAS STALLED AT A STOP LIGHTS. AND HELP UP TRAFFIC HAVE REPLACED SENSORS AND NOW GOING TO TRY CHANGING FUEL PUMP. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF HOW SAFE IS THAT CAME CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED BY A SEMI WITH MY GRAND KIDS IN VEHICLE BECAUSE OF IT CUTTING OUT AND LOOSING POWER AT 55MPH THESE JEEPS ARE DEATH TRAPS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED AND THEN ITS TO LATE WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE AND HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HOOD ON MY 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO FLEW OPEN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY ON AN OVERHEAD RAMP AND WHEN I WENT OVER THE EXPANSION SECTION THE SLIGHT BUMP WAS APPARENTLY JUST ENOUGH FOR THE HOOD TO FLIP OPEN. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THE WINDSHIELD DID NOT BREAK AND LATE ENOUGH (10 PM) THAT THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL IT OVER BEFORE I HIT ANYTHING OR DROVE OVER THE SIDE OF THE RAMP, HOWEVER, THE DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND FENDERS COST $2,300 TO REPAIR! *NM
DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR BECAME HARD TO OPEN/CLOSE ON OR AROUND 09-30-05. 10-05-05, HINGE (BOTTOM HINGE) WELD ON JEEP BODY BROKE COMPLETELY LOOSE AND NOW DOOR WONT CLOSE COMPLETELY. NOT REPAIRED YET. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION IT ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME DISENGAGED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
INTERMITTENT STALLING. ELECTRICAL WIRING/MASTER CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING DOORS AND WINDOWS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. ALSO TRANSAXLE AND FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S INTERIOR DOOR PANEL COMING OFF UPON DELIVERY, GLUED SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. MJS
WINDSHILED WIPER FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 1997 JEEP LAREDO & RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE) NO DEALERSHIP SO I DROVE 120 MILES TO NEAREST JEEP SERVICE DEPT. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 4 HOURS THEN STATED THE PARTS THAT WERE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND I NEVER HEARD BACK. SINCE THEN I APPLIED FOR THE $100 GIFT CARD AND THEY SAID I AM INELIGIBLE SINCE THE ITEM WAS ALREADY REPAIRED. THIS JEEP HAS SO MANY ISSUES. ELECTRICAL SHORT THROUGHOUT ENTIRE VEHICLE THAT CUTS OUT STEREO, BLINKERS, RUNNING LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS. ITS NOT THE FUSES EITHER. THE DRIVERS DOOR HINGES ARE ROTTING. THE CAR NOW STALLS DAILY EVEN WHEN GOING FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOTOR HAS SEIZED AND NO LONGER ADJUSTS. ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT NOW WON'T PASS SMOG TESTS. THE FRONT CAR SHAKES AND NEEDS TIE RODS. I AM EXPERIENCING A COMPLETE LOSS. MY ONLY OPTION IS TO SCRAP THE VEHICLE SINCE REPAIRS WOULD COST MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH.
DRIVER'S INTERIOR DOOR PANEL COMING OFF UPON DELIVERY, GLUED SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY MY TEENAGE SON AND DAUGHTER. IN TEACHING THEM ABOUT THE VEHICLE, I STRESSED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY IN THE EVENT OF A FLAT TIRE. JACK PLACEMENT CAN BE IMPORTANT FOR SAFELY CHANGING A TIRE AND PREVENTING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. WHEN MY DAUGHTER DID HAVE A FLAT, NEITHER SHE NOR ADULT FRIENDS WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE USING THE JACK PLACEMENT DIAGRAMS PROVIDED IN THE MANUAL AND SEWN NEXT TO THE JACK ITSELF. THE JACK WOULD ONLY LIFT THE CAR AN INCH OR SO WHEN PLACED ON THE AXLE AS SHOWN. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE DIAGRAMS WERE INCORECT AND THAT THE JACK MUST BE PLACED UNDER THE LEAF SPRINGS. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANFACTURER, THEY SAID THAT THE DEALER WAS WRONG AND THE DIAGRAMS WERE CORRECT. WHEN I SENT THEM A PICTURE OF THE JACK FULLY EXTENDED AND OF THE HEIGHT THIS WOULD LIFT THE AXLE ( WHICH WAS INSUFFICIENT TO LIFT THE TIRE OFF THE GROUND) AND REQUESTED A CORRECTED DIAGRAM TO PLACE IN THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NOT RESPOND. MY CONTENTION IS THAT CHANGING A FLAT TIRE IS SUCH A RARE OCURRANCE FOR A TEENAGER OR ANYBODY ELSE, THEY CAN NOT REMEMBER WHAT IS THE PROPER JACKING METHOD WITHOUT A PROPER DIAGRAM TO LOOK AT. IN MY DAUGHTERS ORIGINAL FLAT THEY ATTEMPTED DANGEROUS METHODS TO RAISE THE VEHICLE WHEN FOLLOWING THE DIAGRAMS DID NOT WORK. I AM JUST ASKING FOR A CORRECTED PAGE FOR THE MANUAL AND A CORRECTED DIAGRAM FOR THE JACK AREA. I TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM WITHOUT CONTACTING THE NHTSA AND RECEIVED NO ANSWER. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. DT
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES GRIND AND VIBRATE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE PURCHASED SEVERAL JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES THREW THE YEARS ALL BEING AROUND THE 1997 MODEL WITH THE V8. EVERY SINGLE ONE IVE HAD HAD A A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND RECENTLY IM HAVING TRANSFER CASE PROBLEMS WHERE IT WILL NOT SHIFT IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AS THE OTHER 2 I HAD SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG AND IT WINTER AND IM WITHOUT 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND MAYBE A BAD TRANSMISSION AGAIN IF U COULD LOOK INTO IT PLEASE I WOULD BE GRATEFUL. *LN
PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS. ALSO REPLACED TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVESHAFT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT END WOBBLE AFTER HITTING (MILD) BUMPS. I HAVE HAD OVER $2,000 WORTH OF WORK DONE ON MY VEHICLE AND REPLACED SOME PARTS TWICE OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS. THE JEEP DEALER TOLD ME AFTER THIS LAST TIME THERE WAS NO WAY TO FIX THE PROBELM AND THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL JEEPS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAD REPLACE STABILZER SHOCKS, STRUTS, AND IN THEIR WORDS "EVERYTHING BUT THE AXLE AND STEERING" I HAVE TO PULL OF OF HE ROAD BECUASE THE FRONT END WOBBLES OUT OF CONTROL, AND SUBSEQUENTLY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I DRIVE A 1997 JEEP LAREDO IT BACK FIRES AND STALLS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING. IT HAS STALLED AT A STOP LIGHTS. AND HELP UP TRAFFIC HAVE REPLACED SENSORS AND NOW GOING TO TRY CHANGING FUEL PUMP. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF HOW SAFE IS THAT CAME CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED BY A SEMI WITH MY GRAND KIDS IN VEHICLE BECAUSE OF IT CUTTING OUT AND LOOSING POWER AT 55MPH THESE JEEPS ARE DEATH TRAPS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED AND THEN ITS TO LATE WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE AND HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE PURCHASED SEVERAL JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES THREW THE YEARS ALL BEING AROUND THE 1997 MODEL WITH THE V8. EVERY SINGLE ONE IVE HAD HAD A A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND RECENTLY IM HAVING TRANSFER CASE PROBLEMS WHERE IT WILL NOT SHIFT IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AS THE OTHER 2 I HAD SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG AND IT WINTER AND IM WITHOUT 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND MAYBE A BAD TRANSMISSION AGAIN IF U COULD LOOK INTO IT PLEASE I WOULD BE GRATEFUL. *LN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FIRST TIME I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND MAKING A LEFT TURN ON GREEN AND THE CAR TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. THE SECOND TIME I WAS GOING UP A RAMP AND THE WHEELS LOCKED. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .