1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 2%of 991 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 158,288miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the engine of the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2% of the 991 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 158,288 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee (original owner) stumbles and dies, it does restart once I shift to neutral. It is getting more frequent. I had a total of 8 incidences in the past week. 6 times happened pulling up to stop sign at about 15 MPH. 2 times happened while cruising along at 55 MPH. I lost power steering and brake boost. There is a lot of internet information regarding the same problem. This is a safety issue. I'm worried driving my Jeep in any traffic now.”
NHTSA complaint #10692172, filed 2015-03, 169,000 miles“My Jeep Grand Cherokee has been sputtering, stalling when stopped and when driving, backfires blown apart 2 mufflers. It will not show a check light or give an error code when hooked up to a computer. Have researched online and found several people with same issue. Have done as they have and replaced nearly every sensor. Have yet to replace PCM/ECM. Don't know if this will fix due to some online have and still having the same issue. Like the people online I have taken it to different mechanics, none of which could duplicate or find a problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10717760, filed 2015-05, 230,000 miles“Ecm has a fault circuit board per dealer and needs replacing . Causes completer power failure and engine will quit running , all electrical goes out -- no lights at night or emergency flashers -- and power brakes fail to work . This happens at any time , stopped or on the road .”
NHTSA complaint #11243393, filed 2019-08, 120,000 miles“Stalls idling and while going down the road. With faulty gas tank news causing fires that kill after rear collisions, driving not knowing if it will stall or not is pretty unnerving. Please for the safety of all drivers, recall these death traps.”
NHTSA complaint #10515356, filed 2013-06, 175,000 miles“Engine stall/shut off on a highway at 70 miles/hr in center lane of a five lane interstate highway with plenty of gas in the tank. Has happened three times on different days. I'm original owner. Heavy failure analysis done. Allege that Jeep cut corners that risk driver safety. They used and may still be using cheap chinese microprocessor chips in their program control modules (PCM). Fred bailey fatal accident is telling. His Jeep shut down on a bridge. Plenty of gas in the tank. Tractor trailer plows into the back of this Jeep (like mine). The gas tank explodes and he dies. …”
NHTSA complaint #10851381, filed 2016-03, 247,000 milesEngine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 71% |
| 2025 | 23 | 29% |
| 2024 | 109 | 43% |
| 2023 | 86 | 21% |
| 2022 | 51 | 19% |
| 2021 | 61 | 15% |
| 2020 | 50 | 21% |
| 2019 | 64 | 17% |
| 2018 | 125 | 15% |
| 2017 | 102 | 28% |
| 2016 | 76 | 24% |
| 2015 | 204 | 15% |
| 2014 | 409 | 17% |
| 2013 | 106 | 13% |
| 2012 | 285 | 17% |
| 2011 | 344 | 21% |
| 2010 | 21 | 18% |
| 2009 | 22 | 16% |
| 2008 | 107 | 15% |
| 2007 | 170 | 15% |
| 2006 | 124 | 10% |
| 2005 | 134 | 7% |
| 2004 | 35 | 3% |
| 2003 | 16 | 2% |
| 2002 | 26 | 2% |
| 2001 | 19 | 2% |
| 2000 | 34 | 2% |
| 1999 | 22 | 1% |
| 1998 | 14 | 1% |
| 1997 | 15 | 2% |
| 1996 | 17 | 2% |
| 1995 | 3 | 0% |
| 1994 | 3 | 1% |
| 1993 | 1 | 0% |
| 1989 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
305 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
254 complaintsBrakes
173 complaintsEngine cooling
81 complaintsBody and structure
61 complaintsElectrical system
56 complaintsSteering
47 complaintsSuspension
43 complaintsAir bags
36 complaintsVehicle speed control
36 complaintsEquipment
30 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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