The 1997 Jeep Wrangler has 48 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.
48
Airbags complaints
9%
Share of year
18
Crash-involved
3
Related recalls
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG 'CLOCK SPRING' WIRING HARNESS CAN BREAK WHEN TURNED TO THE 'FULL LOCK' TURN POSITION.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY INCREASING THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING IN THESE AIR BAGS.
Defect
THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
Consequence
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.
Defect
THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM) SOFTWARE CONTAINS AN ERROR WHICH CAN DELAY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CERTAIN CRASH SITUATIONS.
Consequence
DELAYED DEPLOYMENT CAN CAUSE INCREASED INJURY TO FRONT SEAT VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IN A COLLISION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE ON THESE VEHICLES.
“98V046000,97V080000,96V060000. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND THERE HAVE BEEN THREE RECALLS LISTED SINCE THEN. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALLS MAY HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS…”
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the 1997 Jeep Wrangler airbags — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the airbags: 96V060000, 97V080000, 98V046000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.