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Body and structurePart report

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Body and structure Problems

Complaints
61about this part
Share
6%of 991 total for the year
Median mileage
142,500miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 61 complaints about the body and structure of the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 6% of the 991 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 142,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, 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.

“My dealership would not address recall n45 without charging me to fix some corrosion damage. N45 is a safety recall. There's literally no reason why FCA shouldn't pay to fix the vehicle to make it safe again.”

NHTSA complaint #10872163, filed 2016-06, 115,500 miles

“On january 18th 2014 I was parked on the side of the road. The roads were somewhat icy and my Jeep was rear ended by a 2005 hyundai santa fe. The damage sustained to the Jeep included a bent bumper and bent frame, resulting in the frame being pushed up against the fuel tank, causing the fuel pump to become faulty and a slight amount of fuel to leak out from the top. There is a current recall on this model year Grand Cherokee due to a potential fire being caused from rear-end collisions from the gas tank; however I did not become aware of the recall until after the accident occurred. …”

NHTSA complaint #10747334, filed 2015-08, 187,123 miles

“I purchased this 1997, Jeep Grand Cherokee from broadway volkswagen on auto row in oakland ca. At the time the odometer read 48,080k. Two weeks ago the car stopped running while I was driving it. I had to have it towed to albera bros. Jeep/chrysler dealership where I?ve taken the vehicle since I purchased it. I also purchased a warranty, for $1500 at the time that I purchase the vehicle, which was contained in the contract of the automobile installment payments. The warranty was to cover all repair that is cover for 72 months or 100k miles. …”

NHTSA complaint #10070082, filed 2004-01, 56 miles

“Dt: the contact stated that twice the driver's door had to be put back on. It had a defect in the body frame. The first time was in 4-04, the second time it was in 4-05. Currently, ABS brake system malfunctioned. A month ago, all of the pads on front and rear were replaced. Three days ago, the ABS light came on and would not go off. The contact took vehicle a service dealer, and they told him the control unit module and the hydraulic pump motor needed to be replaced at a cost of $2,300.00.”

NHTSA complaint #10136025, filed 2005-09, 105,000 miles

“I don't know the date of when chrysler had the recall on the fuel system. They were going to put on an (oem) trailer hitch where appropriate, free of charge. The parts required were currently not available. I bought a trailer hitch and had it installed. I then took it to jeff wyler Jeep in fort thomas ky. They inspected it and passed it. (perform recall n45) I called your customer service and asked if I would be paid back for the part, they said no because it was not an (oem) part. …”

NHTSA complaint #10716892, filed 2015-04

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Body and structure: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202613%
202534%
202410%
2023102%
202241%
202161%
202083%
201992%
2018162%
2017103%
2016114%
2015312%
2014653%
2013121%
2012262%
2011433%
201054%
200997%
2008132%
2007141%
20061199%
200540520%
2004363%
200391%
2002131%
2001152%
2000312%
1999322%
1998687%
1997616%
19968510%
1995497%
1994305%
1993489%
1991117%

Other parts of the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Fuel system
305 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
254 complaints
Brakes
173 complaints
Engine cooling
81 complaints
Electrical system
56 complaints
Steering
47 complaints
Suspension
43 complaints
Air bags
36 complaints
Vehicle speed control
36 complaints
Equipment
30 complaints
Other or unknown
30 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
29 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