1997 Jeep Wrangler Steering Problems

FRAME WAS ROTTED THROUGH FROM CONTROL ARM TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BRAKING ABILITY BECAME DIFFICULT AND HARD TO STEER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664067

Incident

Dec 12, 2014

Mileage

71,596 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY JEEP ON A PUBLIC ROAD GOING ABOUT 45, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE SHAKING TO STOP. IT WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618040

Incident

Jul 31, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

VIOLENT WOBBLING OF FRONT OF JEEP , IT COMES AND GOES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND YOU MUST COME TO A SUDDEN STOP TO AVOID LOOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE . I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS AS THERE IS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO REPAIR. IN MY OPINION IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR USE ON PUBLIC ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10572544

Incident

Jan 16, 2014

THE VEHICLE USED AS PERSONAL AUTO, NON RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, IN MORMAL CITY DRIVEING CONDITIONS. SPEED 50 TO 55 MPH, I PASSED OVER A SEAM IN THE PAVEMENT, AN UNDAMPED OSCELATION WAS INITATED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLABLE AT ALL SPEEDS. I WAS ALBLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE AND STOP WITHOUT FURTHER INCEDNET. INVESTITAGION OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS IDENTIFED EXCEVE WEAR ON FRONT END TIE RODS AND STEARING DAMPER. THE CAR IS A 97 JEEP TJ WITH 35000 MILES . *AK

NHTSA ID

10082993

Incident

Aug 12, 2003

Mileage

35 mi

I BOUGHT MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER IN JUNE, 2002 FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN BALTIMORE, MD WITH AN AS-IS WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD PASSED INSPECTION AND WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. IT HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT AND APPEARED TO BE GOOD. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS JEEP. FIRST THE WIRING HARNESS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION, NOW A DIAGNOSIS TO REPLACE THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD, REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND HAS A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE, AND POSSIBLY THE STABILIZER BAR OR STEERING COMPONENTS. THIS JEEP IS COSTING ME MORE IN REPAIRS THAN THE ACTUAL VALUE OF IT. I FEAR THAT IT IS UNSAFE AND THAT I M FACING MORE EXPENSES IF I KEEP IT, BUT I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AS FAR AS LEMON LAW PROTECTION, RECALLS, HELP!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023888

Incident

May 15, 2003

Mileage

74,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING RAN OVER BUMP IN THE ROAD AND LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE POWER STEERING RESOVOIR WAS POORLY DESIGNED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8021598

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

762970

Incident

Jun 8, 2002

CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD @ PIPE UNION ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE. ALSO, POWER STEERING FLUID LEEKAGE FROM STEERING GEAR BOX REQUIRES COMPLETE STEERING GEARBOX REPLACEMENT @ COST OF $1350 ON CAR W/ 49,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

745693

Incident

Apr 15, 2001

AFTER TOLERATING BOTH PROBLEMS FOR SOME TIME (POOR STARTING AND LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID), I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR ESTIMATES. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE AND, THAT IN HIS OPINION, NEITHER SHOULD BE HAPPENING AT THE LOW MILES I HAVE ON THE VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO PUT MORE THAN A MINIMAL PORTION INTO THE REPAIRS.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

745411

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

LEAK ON PASSENGER SIDE. FLOOR GETS WET WHEN IT RAINS OR AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. MAUNFACTURER SAID THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CLOGGED VENTS. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO SO MANY OTHER JEEP OWNERS, MAYBE IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED MORE OF A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

NHTSA ID

745057

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

732489

Incident

Jul 11, 2000

COLUMN SHAFT UPPER BEARING FELL OFF, CAUSING CAR TO WOBBLE ON THE FREEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

863764

Incident

Sep 15, 1999

ALL THREE FAILURES HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. THE LATEST BEING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER FAILURES REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

722422

Incident

Apr 10, 2000

POWER STEERING PUMP/PULLY FELL OFF TAKING OUT THE WATER PUMP AND SERPENTINE BELT. UNABLE TO DRIVE, WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. NEVER HEARD OF A POWER STEERING PUMP FALLING OFF. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR $767.00. HAD VEHICLE MAINTAINED AT DEALER A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN OFF ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

718669

Incident

Feb 11, 2000

VEHICLE SLID ON ICE/ LOST CONTROL, AND HIT A BOULDER HEAD-ON. THEN ROLLED OVER. DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

856548

Incident

Dec 24, 1999

DEALER SAID NO WARRENTY COVERAGE FOR MANIFOLD DUE TO MILEAGE AND AGE. CALLED CHRYSLER HELP LINE AND TOLD MAYBE COLD WATER OR RAIN GOT ON IT AND AGREED I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRENTY. WHY ISN'T THE MANIFOLD COVERED UNDER THE EMISSION CONTROL WARRENTY. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN GETTING THE EXHAUST GAS TO THE CONVERTER? INSTEAD IT GOES TO THE AIR AND CREATES A SAFETY PROBLEM IF IT GETS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I SEE YOUR DATA BANK HAS OTHER MANIFOLD FAILURES ALREDY AND SERVICE NOTICES OF HEAD BOLT MAIFOLD ISSUES. LOOKS LIKE A MFG. DEFECT SINCE THESE VEHICLES ARE SO YOUNG. THE FUEL PUMP WAS FIXED UNDER WARRENTY, THE CAR WOULD'T START RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING UNIT CONTINUES TO LEAK SLOWLY AND THE DEALER SUGGEST A SEAL LEAKING BUT I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX. GREAT CAR!

NHTSA ID

713896

Incident

Jun 10, 1999

SEAT BELT CATCHES ON DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH 9 OUT 0F 10 TIMES. SEAT BELT IS GETTING A HOLE IN IT. LEAK HAS BEEN FIXED 15 TIMES AND IT STILL LEAKS ON PASSENGER'S FEET. DAMAGE IS OCCURRING TO INTERIOR OF JEEP AND ANYTHING LEFT ON THE FLOOR GETS WET. I WAS TOLD( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: 22SS/75R15 )

NHTSA ID

713439

Incident

Sep 5, 1999

VEHICLE EXHIBITS UNDAMPED SHIMMY OF FRONT SUSPENSION AFTER HITTING PAVEMENT IRREGULARITIES AT ~40-45 MPH. SHIMMY CONTINUES UNTIL SPPED IS REDUCED BELOW THAT RANGE. CONDITION APPEARS TO BE WORSENING. MILEAGE AT 37,000 NOW. DEALER REPLACED STERRING DAMPER AND PITMAN ARM SHAFT SEAL WHICH HAD LITTLE AFFECT.

NHTSA ID

710471

Incident

Mar 15, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THIS VEHICLE SWERVED AND LOST CONTROL, WENT INTO A DITCH FRONT FIRST AND FLIPPED OVER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTALED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

845170

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. REAR PASSENGER SEAT CAME LOOSE, STRUCK DRIVER IN HEAD, EJECTED FROM VEHICLE. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED? *AK

NHTSA ID

705360

Incident

Jan 30, 1999

RON FORD REPORTS THAT THE STEERING MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND VEHICLE GOES STRAIGHT AHEAD WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND NO ATTEMPTS MADE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, HIT A BOULDER, AT 35-40 MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. PROVIDED FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

835052

Incident

Nov 20, 1998

TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

609982

Incident

Mar 1, 1997

DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.

NHTSA ID

543386

Incident

Nov 15, 1998

POWER STEERING PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED (LOOSE AND LEAKING).

NHTSA ID

542421

Incident

May 6, 1998

FAULTY STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ID

540927