1997 Jeep Wrangler Transmission Problems

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 LATEST IS OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SENDING UNIT. OIL PRESSURE STILL SHOWING ZERO EVEN AFTER REPLACING SENDING UNIT! *AK

NHTSA ID

10060716

Incident

Oct 30, 2003

Mileage

73,000 mi

THE CLUTCH PEDAL QUIT WORKING AND THE THROW OUT BEARING WAS BROKEN. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10062810

Incident

Dec 26, 2003

Mileage

56,200 mi

TRANSMISSION STICKS AND GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR; DEALER CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT STILL STICKS AND GRINDS; SHIFTING INTO 3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH GEARS IT SEEMS LIKE SYNCHRONIZERS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS A USED VEHICLE WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IT SEEMS LIKE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *LA

NHTSA ID

10046886

Incident

Oct 3, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK THE GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED (GAS READ EMPTY), THE VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. DIFFERENT MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED (THERE WAS PINK FLUID IN THE BATTERY AREA), THE BELT PULLEY HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THE BATTERY FAILED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10024874

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

Mileage

73,629 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

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

NHTSA ID

10002940

Incident

Jan 18, 2003

CLUTCH PEDAL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHMENT TO CLUTCH CYLINDER HAS A PLASTIC GROMMET WHICH BROKE AND CAUSED CLUTCH PEDAL TO FALL OFF. *AK NEITHER DEALER NOR JEEP CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD ASSIST IN PROCURRING REPLACEMENT GROMMET, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE OLD STYLE HAS A PIN CONNECTION INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8016025

Incident

Aug 5, 2002

I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THIS JEEP. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEER. IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF ROAD. ITS MY DAUGHTERS CAR. SHE USES IT TO GO TO COLLEGE AND BACK HOME.*AK

NHTSA ID

757015

Incident

Jan 8, 2002

CAR WAS PARKED AND IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE AND HIT AIR PUMP AT THE GAS STATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

756239

Incident

Dec 26, 2001

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE, BUT THE LEVER IS STILL IN PARK. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK AT TIMES THE CAR WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE LEVER IS STILL IN PARK. THE HEAD LIGHTS ALSO SHORT OUT AT TIMES. I HAVE TO MOVE THE BLINKER HANDLE TO GET THEM ON AGAIN.*YD

NHTSA ID

893497

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

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

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED 6/21/01, LOCAL JEEP DEALER HAD NO RECALL, NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A BETTER AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD WHEN ON 7/19/01,WHILE STOPPED W/ ENGINE RUNNING, THE PLASTIC HYDRAULIC LINE FOR THE CLUTCH MELTED FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

749258

Incident

Jun 21, 2001

ON 09/07/99 AS MY JEEP WRANGLER WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY BANK IT PROCEEDED TO ROLL BACKWARDS OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, ACROSS A BUSY STREET, AND INTO A CANAL ( DITCH). IT LANDED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND WAS SUBMERSED. IT TOOK TWO TOW TRUCKS AND 3 HOURS TO PULL IT OUT. ONCE AT THE JEEP DEALERSHIP THEY INVESTIGATED TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS THE GEAR SHIFT ( WHICH HAD BEEN IN THE PARKED POSITION) BUT NEVER GAVE ANY SPECIFICS. MY INSURANCE AND I ENDED UP PAYING A TOTAL OF ABOUT $9,000 DOLLARS. THE REPAIRS TOOK A MONTH AND A HALF, IN WHICH MY INSURANCE PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT HAVING THE POWERTRAIN INVESTIGATED BY AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC THEY OFFERED TO "SELL" IT TO ME FOR $1000 DOLLARS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND NEVER TO THIS DAY HAVE RECEIVED A REPLY. AFTER READING THE ARTCILE IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY ABOUT THE DEFECTS IN THE GRAND CHEROKEES IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT MY JEEP AND WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THE SITUATIONS WITH OTHERS WAS EXACTLY LIKE MY EXPERIENCE EXCEPT THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE WRANGLERS YEARS 1995-1999 ALSO FOR SIMILAR ACCIDENTS. THAT JEEP WAS MY FIRST VECHICLE AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE, I HAD ALWAYS WANTED ONE. IT WAS THE FIRST AND WILL BE THE LAST JEEP I EVER OWN AFTER THAT HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. I AM JUST SO THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED.*AK

NHTSA ID

747817

Incident

Sep 7, 1999

I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR,AT FIRST,I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND TRIED TO DOWN SHIFT WHEN THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR,IT WAS LOCKED UP TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT 5TH GEAR WAS CRACKED AND LOCKED UP ALL THE SHAFTS IN THE TRANSMISION. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK

NHTSA ID

744417

Incident

Feb 20, 2001

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LEAK FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AND OTHER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NLM

NHTSA ID

560731

Incident

May 1, 2000

TRANSFER CASE BROKE APART FROM VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

884986

Incident

Mar 31, 2001

GEAR SHIFT FROZE IN FIFTH GEAR PULLED GEAR SHIFT FROM TRANSMISSION AND COULDN'T SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEAR. THE FIFTH GEAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY CLOSET. NEW PART HAS BEEN INSTALLED, NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO FAULTY 4TH CYLINDER EJECTER. DEALER SAID ALL MY VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1400.00 GAVE HIM THE FINGER AND SAID NICE TRY! *AK

NHTSA ID

742515

Incident

Feb 12, 2001

TRANSMISSION STICKS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, HAS BEEN SERVICED, STILL IS STICKING WHILE SHIFTING ESPECCIALLY INTO 2ND GEAR, WHICH SOMETIMES GRINDS. DEALER HAS CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TWICE, 2ND TIME USED SYNTHETIC FLUID. 2ND GEAR FEELS LIKE THE SYNCRONIZER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, OR VERY SLOWLY. I MUST HOLD THE CLUTCH IN FOR AN EXTENED PERIOD TO ALLOW 2ND GEAR TO SYNCRONIZE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO IT UP AND DOWN SHIFTING. *AK

NHTSA ID

739106

Incident

Dec 10, 2000

CLUTCH AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER BOTH NEED REPLACED WITH ONLY 20,500 MILES . ALSO HAS HAD TWO DRIVESHAFTS REPLACED WITH ONLY 10,000 MILES. HAS SEEN VERY LITTLE 4-WHEEL DRIVE USE, AND HAS 20,500 AFTER 4 YEARS AS ORIGINAL OWNER.

NHTSA ID

736564

2ND GEAR - DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE, AND OFTEN POPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED; 4WD LOW ALSO DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE, AND OFTEN POPS OUT TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

725469

THE SHIFT STICK POPPED OUT OF ITS FIXED LOCATION. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM, LUCKILY IT HAPPENED WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A STOP. FOR FURTHER REFERENCE- THIS VEHICLE IS ADULT DRIVEN BY MYSELF ONLY AND IS NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. I PURCHASED IT WITH 31K MILES. AFTER REMOVING THE SHIFTER BOOT, WE NOTICED THAT THERE IS NO BOLT OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF FEATURE THAT ACTUALLY SECURES THE SHIFTER IN ITS LOCATION. I WOULD BE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS, TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TRANSPIRING FROM THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

723870

Incident

Jun 10, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

717167

Incident

Apr 22, 1999

DRIVING IN 5TH GEAR ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT FOR STOPLIGHT, WAS ABLE TO GET INTO NEUTRAL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION UNABLE TO MOVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

716970

Incident

Jan 3, 2000

WHILE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD VERY QUICKLY THE STICK BECOMES LOOSE AND FALLS OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT OPERABLE . THIS HAPPENED TWICE. CONTACTED DEALER FIRST TIME, AND THEY PUT A PIN WHICH BROKE. SECOND TIME, DEALER PUT ANOTHER PIN WHICH ALSO BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

850462

Incident

Oct 11, 1999

THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE TWICE, AND SAID VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL RAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

849999