1997 Jeep Cherokee Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 141about this part
- Share
- 36%of 390 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 82,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 141 complaints about the fuel system of the 1997 Jeep Cherokee, 36% of the 390 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 82,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a 1997 Jeep with 150,000 miles on it and I am having a lot of issues with it stalling out for no reason. It's been doing this for over a year. It started all of a sudden out of the blue. I have taken it to the repair shop over 20 times to try and get the problem resolved and they are not able to find the problem. They have even kept it over night and had it on machines to figure out why it stalls and am not able to figure it out. I have replace sensors, fuel filter, battery, not to mention so many other parts and nothing is stopping it from stalling out for no reason. …”
NHTSA complaint #10836832, filed 2016-02, 150,000 miles“Vehicle has hard starts and frequent hesitation and stalling, at all speeds city street driving as well as highway driving. I have had a new distributor cap, rotor, plugs, wires, coil, installed, yet symptoms persist. Sudden deceleration at highway speeds is a seriously dangerous condition. My research suggests this is a common problem with the Jeep Cherokee xj. I narrowly escaped a crash on a busy interstate highway this morning at freeway speeds. Jeep ought to be aware of this problem, yet there seems to be no remedy for owners. I would at least like to know what the problem is. …”
NHTSA complaint #10872145, filed 2016-06, 195,000 miles“The vehicle stalls unexpectedly when slowing down or coming to a stop. The check engine light is on, however; the code that comes up is for the ignition which was already repaired and not the issue causing at hand. This malfunction is freakishly common when I look it up online for this make, model, and year. This problem is very dangerous as it may or can cause death or serious injury if in intersection or busy road/highway. Please notify me of any solutions or information on this matter. We have also changed spark plugs as well as wires & coil.”
NHTSA complaint #10520681, filed 2013-06, 140,000 miles“Went out to go somewhere and it had a hard time starting. As I began to drive down the road my Jeep started to backfire, all of a sudden it cut off and the steering wheel locked up and the lights went out it was dark so I could of been injured. When I got it to crank back my ABS light has been on ever since and we have bought about 5 hundred dollars in parts and tried everything we know to do even the mechanics we have asked about it have no answers for us, we can't afford to buy another vehicle and no one wants to buy it from us because of all of the problems we have had with our Jeep!”
NHTSA complaint #10473864, filed 2012-09, 149,000 miles“The Jeep shut down on the hwy,wouldn't start had get a tow. Spent over 500 dollars on repairs and tow ,four days later it did the exact same thing. Lucky I was home is time .waited two day's went outside and it started with no problem .im not driving it anymore its to much trouble.”
NHTSA complaint #10683429, filed 2015-02, 9,237 milesRelated recalls
- 97V194000Nov 7, 1997Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The fuel tank mounted fuel level sending unit accuracy can degrade over time, indicating significantly…Covers: Jeep Cherokee 1997, Grand Cherokee 1997
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 44% |
| 2022 | 4 | 8% |
| 2021 | 5 | 3% |
| 2020 | 10 | 3% |
| 2019 | 43 | 3% |
| 2018 | 26 | 4% |
| 2017 | 18 | 1% |
| 2016 | 44 | 3% |
| 2015 | 40 | 2% |
| 2014 | 200 | 8% |
| 2001 | 10 | 4% |
| 2000 | 20 | 5% |
| 1999 | 17 | 5% |
| 1998 | 61 | 15% |
| 1997 | 141 | 36% |
| 1996 | 28 | 6% |
| 1995 | 15 | 2% |
| 1994 | 10 | 2% |
| 1993 | 10 | 2% |
| 1992 | 3 | 3% |
| 1991 | 4 | 2% |
| 1990 | 16 | 6% |
| 1989 | 15 | 8% |
| 1988 | 12 | 12% |
| 1987 | 4 | 7% |
Other parts of the 1997 Jeep Cherokee
75 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
47 complaintsEngine cooling
45 complaintsAir bags
28 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaintsEquipment
12 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
11 complaintsSteering
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Jeep Cherokee
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology