VehicleVerdict

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems

The 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 292 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 20% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

292

Transmission complaints

20%

Share of year

58

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Related recalls

02V053000TransmissionFebruary 15, 2002 · 1,620,000 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER HAS NOT PLACED THE SHIFTER LEVER FULLY INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AFTER SEEMING TO BE STABLE.

Consequence

INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

What owners report

PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT. I LEFT CAR IDLING, IN PARK, AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT BACK TIRE. DRIVER SIDE LOOKED OK, I THEN WENT AROUND BACK TO LOOK AT PASSENGER SIDE AND CAR STARTED ROLLING IN REVERSE. OPEN DRIVER DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND RAN OVER HEEL OF SHOE, COULDN'T CATCH…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 18, 2001 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?

NHTSA has 292 complaints about the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission — 20% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 02V053000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.