1997 Jeep Wrangler Suspension Problems

AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE STEERING SEEMS LIKE IT WOBBLES ENTIRE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11351889

Incident

Aug 28, 2020

Mileage

98,900 mi

THE REAR OF THE FRAME CAN RUST THROUGH DUE TO LACK OF DRAIN HOLES TO LET WATER AND DEBRIS OUT CAUSING THE REAR CONTROL ARMS TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.

NHTSA ID

10950359

Incident

May 21, 2015

Mileage

240,000 mi

MY FRAME IS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE REAR TRAILING ARM MOUNTS ARE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND THE FRAME ROTTED THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS THE REQUIRED SAFTEY INSPECTION. I STARTED LOOKING FOR A WAY TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE FRAME AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DATE I HAVE ENTERED IS THE DATE THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND.

NHTSA ID

10917836

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

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 STILL ATTACHED. SKID PLATE ALSO SERVES AS TRANSFER CASE MOUNT AND WHEN IT DROPS THE DRIVESHAFT WOBBLES. ULTIMATELY IF IT HAD COMPLETELY LET GO ON THE HIGHWAY THE REAR DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND LOCKED THE REAR WHEELS CAUSING UNCONTROLLED SKID, OR THE DRIVESHAFT WOULD BREAK CAUSING DANGER TO THE PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ID

10716094

Incident

Apr 8, 2015

Mileage

95,440 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AS A RESULT OF THE FRAME CORRODING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THIS CAUSED THE REAR BRAKE LINE TO BRAKE DRAINING THE MASTER CYLINDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693731

Incident

Mar 11, 2015

Mileage

154,557 mi

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

THE FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY, THE FRAME ROT CLEARLY STARTED MANY YEARS AGO. THE RUST IS QUITE BAD AND WILL NOT STOP. IN AN ACCIDENT, THE BODY COULD POSSIBLY FLY OFF THE FRAME POSSIBLY BEING FATAL. THE FRAME IS RUSTING FROM CONTROL ARM BRACKETS TO BODY MOUNTS ALL OF WHICH CAN LEAD TO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605442

Incident

Jun 23, 2014

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

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LINK ON THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE CONNECTING LINK IS NOT STURDY ENOUGH AND IS WEAK DUE TO IT'S SIZE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10101905

Incident

Nov 29, 2004

Mileage

132,998 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

THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED INSIDE THE CASING, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID

10011320

Incident

Feb 16, 2003

5-SPEED TRANS HARD TO SHIFT COLD.FRONT SWAY BER LINKS BREAKING

NHTSA ID

10002940

Incident

Jan 18, 2003

DEATH SHIMMY AT 40MPH. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM SISDE TO SIDE. TAKEN TO DEALER, TIRE SHOPS ECT. NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. REPLACED TRAKING ARM, WHEELS AND TIRES. FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED TIRES.*AK

NHTSA ID

766598

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 35 MPH VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. MECHANIC DETERMINED RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT, ALSO UPPER LEFT CONTROL ARM. PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT. *JG

NHTSA ID

8009077

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED REALLY HARD AND TOSSED CONSUMER AROUND A LITTLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8006834

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL ALL RELATED PARTS FAILED, WATER LEAKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, CLOCK AND RADIO BROKE DEALER CANT FIX, SEAT BELTS WONT RETRACT, SWAY BARS COME LOOSE

NHTSA ID

749482

DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS VIBRATIONS START AT 40 MPH AND ENTIRE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY , ACTUALLY BOUNCING FRONT END OFF OF ROAD MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO RETAIN CONTROL. PROBLEM IS BEING REFERRED TO AMONG OWNERS AS "DEATH WOBBLE". ALL COMPONENTS CHECKED, REPLACED AND/OR REPAIRED WITHOUT ANY IMPROVEMENT. MAJOR PROBLEM FOR JEEP OWNERS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 40 MHP.*AK

NHTSA ID

744723

Incident

May 1, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ALL SPEEDS AND WHEN HITTING A BUMP/ HOLE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING AND SHAKING, VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

886972

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

SWAY BAR LINK BALLJOINTS POPPED OUT ON BOTHS SIDES MAKING THE JEEP UNSTABLE IN TURNS. THE ARE LIKE THIS ON 9 OUT OF 10 JEEPS I HAVE INSPECTED WITH LOW MILEAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

736933

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SWAY BAR LINKS POPPED OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS CAUSING REDUCED CONTROL OF SIDE TO SIDE STABELIZATION. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS STABILITY PROBLEM IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW THEIR BROKEN AND HAS TO MAKE A QUICK TURN. THIS PART IS NOT SAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

724548

Incident

May 1, 2000

NOTICED OIL LEAKING. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT THE DEALER WHO PUT A NEW SEAL ON. AFTER A SECOND SEAL WAS PUT ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE TORQUE TURNING CHECKED ON THE REAR PINION GEAR. WAS TOLD THAT THE BEARINGS WERE ALL BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THEY HAD TO REBUILT THE REAR END. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

860127

Incident

Apr 11, 2000

FRONT TORSION BAR IS FLIMSY AND UNDERSIZED, BECAME STRESSED UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS (NO OFFROADING) AND GAVE WAY. TURNING, MANEUVERING IN TRAFFIC VERY DANGEROUS AS SIDE-TO-SIDE SWAYING BECAME EXCESSIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

716972

Incident

Apr 2, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT SWAY BAR BROKE, AND THE FRONT WHEELS FELT LIKE THEY WERE FALLING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

847290

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A REALLY LOUD NOISE WHEN STEERING WAS BEING TURNED .CONSUMER HAS GOTTEN ARBITRATION FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

846203

Incident

Apr 17, 1997