VehicleVerdict

1997 Jeep Wrangler engine problems

The 1997 Jeep Wrangler has 122 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 22% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

122

Engine complaints

22%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Wrangler engine complaints by model year378 complaints1987: 9 complaints1988: 8 complaints1989: 13 complaints1990: 11 complaints1991: 14 complaints1992: 8 complaints1993: 19 complaints1994: 29 complaints1995: 39 complaints1997: 122 complaints1998: 58 complaints1999: 53 complaints2000: 28 complaints2001: 26 complaints2002: 8 complaints2003: 7 complaints2004: 13 complaints2005: 40 complaints2006: 29 complaints2007: 62 complaints2008: 48 complaints2009: 23 complaints2010: 52 complaints2011: 42 complaints2012: 178 complaints2013: 144 complaints2014: 330 complaints2015: 128 complaints2016: 92 complaints2017: 62 complaints2018: 100 complaints2019: 46 complaints2020: 53 complaints2021: 212 complaints2022: 86 complaints2023: 96 complaints2024: 378 complaints2025: 22 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Wrangler engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING LOST OIL PRESSURE AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND THE CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. OIL WAS SQUIRTING OUT OF THE TOPE OF THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND RUNNING BACK ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SENSOR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 26, 1998 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Jeep Wrangler have?

NHTSA has 122 complaints about the 1997 Jeep Wrangler engine — 22% of all complaints filed for that model year.

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.