Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1997 Jeep Cherokee. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FMVSS 101, 108, 111, 114, 115, 118, 120, 208, 301
- Summary
- U.S. DRIVE RIGHT IS RECALLING 107 MY 1994-1998 RIGHT HAND DRIVE, 4-WHEEL DRIVE JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, 'CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS;' NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT;' NO. 111, 'REARVIEW MIRROR;' NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION;' NO. 115, 'VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER;' NO. 118, 'POWER WINDOW SYSTEM;' NO. 120, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS;' NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION;' AND NO. 301, 'FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY.'
- Consequence
- THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.
- Remedy
- U.S. DRIVE RIGHT WILL MAKE ALL THE REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS. A REPRESENTATIVE WILL TRAVEL TO THE CUSTOMER'S LOCATION AND MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS ON SITE. THE RECALL WILL BE PERFORMED ON A REGIONAL BASIS BEGINNING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT U.S. DRIVE RIGHT AT 1-888-632-5936.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FRONT BRAKE ROTOR
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, OR WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS CAN EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN THE "SALT BELT." IF THE ROTORS ARE NOT REPLACED, THE CORROSION CAN EVENTUALLY COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER HUB SECTION OF THE ROTOR.
- Consequence
- THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER/AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. WATER AND/OR ROAD SALT IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE COULD LEAD TO CORROSION.
- Consequence
- SUCH CORROSION CAN LEAD TO ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT OR COULD ALLOW INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND LOCATE THE NEW MODULE ON THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL.
CHRYSLER/FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL TANK MOUNTED FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT ACCURACY CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME, INDICATING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUEL IN RESERVE THAN IS ACTUALLY PRESENT.
- Consequence
- OWNERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS LOW ON FUEL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH IF THE VEHICLE STOPS DUE TO NO FUEL.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (390)
390 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The fuel system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 390 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 134 | 34.4% |
| Service brakes | 68 | 17.4% |
| Power train | 47 | 12.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 45 | 11.5% |
| Air bags | 28 | 7.2% |
| Electrical system | 23 | 5.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 3.8% |
| Equipment | 12 | 3.1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 11 | 2.8% |
| Steering | 11 | 2.8% |
How 1997 compares with other Cherokee years
Best and worst Cherokee years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 418 | 3 |
| 1994 | 519 | 5 |
| 1995 | 608 | 6 |
| 1996 | 447 | 6 |
| 1997 | 390 | 4 |
| 1998 | 399 | 5 |
| 1999 | 366 | 2 |
| 2000 | 369 | 1 |
| 2001 | 229 | 2 |
| 2006 | 17 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,350
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 444 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicles
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 19 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 21 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 4 L 6-cyl · Automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 20 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 4 L 6-cyl · Automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 13 / 18 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1997 Cherokee for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Jeep Cherokee FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Jeep Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 08V056000 (electrical), 00V136000 (brake), 00V105000 (air bag), 97V194000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Jeep Cherokee problems?
Owners filed 390 complaints with NHTSA. Fuel system (134), Service brakes (68), Power train (47) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1997 Jeep Cherokee get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 18 city, 23 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1997 Cherokee compare with other years?
Among the 1993–2006 Jeep Cherokee model years at least five years old, the 2006 drew the fewest complaints (17) and the 1995 the most (608). The 1997 drew 390. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.