1997 Jeep Wrangler Airbags Problems

Your air bag warning light came on, and you're concerned the air bag might deploy unexpectedly. You took your Jeep to the dealership for a recall repair, but they couldn't get the necessary part in stock, leaving your car unrepaired for an unreasonably long time. The repair will likely involve replacing the air bag control module or related electrical components that are triggering the warning light.

Your Jeep has two open recalls related to airbags (recalls #97V-808 and 974-194). The dealership says they cannot fix one of these recalls because the airbag module part has been discontinued and is unavailable, though Mopar claims parts are still available. You may want to contact Mopar directly or seek a second opinion from another dealer to confirm parts availability and get the recall addressed.

Your airbag warning light turned on while you were reversing and turning the steering wheel left. The vehicle wasn't diagnosed or repaired, and the manufacturer confirmed your specific vehicle wasn't part of an airbag recall. You should have the airbag system inspected by a technician to determine why the warning light is on, as this could indicate a problem with airbag deployment.

1997 JEEP WRANGLER CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR HELP WITH A RECALL ON CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. VIN IS NOT LISTED ON RECALL BUT SAME PROBLEM EXIST *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V046000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WIRING HARNESS COULD BREAK WHEN TURNED TO THE 'FULL LOCK' TURN POSITION. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE AND CAUSE THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V046000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 9/25/12 *CN UPDATED 10/09/12

HORN DOESN'T WORK AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. SHOWING THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE INOPERABLE AS WELL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY THE STEERING COLUMN CLOCK SPRING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $385. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,194 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,077.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. WEEKS LATER, HE NOTICED THAT THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V046000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) IN 1999; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT HAD TO ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO CHAARGE. UPDATED 10/06/08. *JB

DT: THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE CONSUMER ASSUMED THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER FOUND RECALL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO A SIMILAR ISSUE INVOLVING THE AIRBAG; NHTSA RECALL 98V046000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CONSUMER TALKED WITH A DEALER WHO SAID HE WOULD NEED THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED, BUT NO REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS OR INCIDENTS. *SC . *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS RECALL#98V046000 REGARDING THE CLOCKSPRING; THE HORN FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, VIN 1J4FY19S2VP52606. RECENTLY, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY IN ONE DIRECTION (I DON'T RECALL IF IT WAS CLOCKWISE OR COUNTERCLOCKWISE), AND HEARD A SNAP SOMEWHERE IN THE STEERING WHEEL OR STEERING COLUMN. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE), AND THE HORN NO LONGER WORKS. *AK I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE AIRBAG RECALLS FOR THE '97 WRANGLER. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS A BIT OF A COINCIDENCE THAT THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED FOR THE '97 WRANGLER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V046000 - "DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WIRING HARNESS CAN BREAK WHEN TURNED TO THE FULL LOCK TURN POSITION" *** RECALL NOTICE - "A BROKEN CLOCKSPRING WILL ALSO CAUSE THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL STAY ON IF THE CLOCKSPRING BREAKS." THE PARTS ARE CURRENTLY STILL AVAILABLE, BUT I HESITATE WAITING VERY LONG BEFORE HAVING THIS BROKEN PART REPLACED. *AK

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC STATED CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ADVISED CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL98V046000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICL CLOCK SPRIING BROKE, AND HORN MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN DIRECTLY INTO A SMALL CONCRETE POST. BUMBER WAS FORCED BACK CAUSING ENGINE AND FRAME DAMAGE. DRIVER HEAD STRUCK WINDSHIELD OF VEHICLE. DRIVER (COMPLAINANT) WAS OPERATING VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD NOT PLACED SEAT BELT ON AT TIME OF CRASH. FACE WENT INTO WINDSHIELD BREAKING WINDSHIELD AND COMPL. NOSE. IT WAS OPINION OF POLICE, DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL, AND OTHERS THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH SUCH A SEVERE FRONT END CRASH. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WAS WRITTEN TO AND A SUBJECT MET COMP AT DEALERSHIP AND TOOK COMPUTER READINGS OF VEHICLE. NO ANALYSIS WAS GIVEN TO COMPL EXCEPT FOR WRITTEN CORRESPONDANCE FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER (A.L. GILBERT -SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR) THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STRIKE THE APPROPRIATE "CRUSH" AND "CRUNCH" ZONES TO OPERATE AIRBAG. WE CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A FRONT END IMPACT INTO A POLE WITH 8000 DAMAGE AND THE DRIVERS FACE HITTING AND BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT ENOUGH OF AN IMPACT TO CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. WE HAVE WRITTEN DAIMLERCHRYSLER TWICE ASKING FOR THE READINGS FROM THE COMPUTER AND NO ONE WILL RESPOND. WE ALSO STILL DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS WITH THE FRONT END. WE WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN OTHER JEEP OWNERS WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AS TO HOPE AND REMEDY A POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING ON JEEP PRODUCTS. *AK

WHTILE DRIVING OVER AN OVERPASS A VEHICLE MADE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF CONSUMER CAUSING A COLLISION, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT HOLD, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT CLOCK SPRING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 98V046000, AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 56 MPH HE THER WAS A FRONTAL CRASH AND VEHICLE WENT IN INTO A WALL, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING FRONT END COLLISION.

VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO DITCH NOSE FIRST, ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION, VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 35MPH ON IMPACT,MOTORCYCLE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STRUCK THE JEEP HEAD-ON, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, INJURY TO CONSUMERS. *ET

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. VEHICLE HAD DIRECT FRONTAL DAMAGE. ALSO ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. DRIVERS SPEED AT TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS 45 MPH.

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN DEATH, PRIOR RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON AIR BAG UNIT.

RECALL 97V080000., AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALER CAN'T REMEDY THE RECALL. PROBLEM KEEPS COMING BACK. *AK

I WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE DOT TO HAVE A PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SWITCH PUT IN AND MY DEALER WONT INSTALL IT. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHERE I COULD GET THIS DONE?.

98V046000,97V080000,96V060000. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND THERE HAVE BEEN THREE RECALLS LISTED SINCE THEN. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALLS MAY HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING ACCIDENT RESULTED IN ONE FATALITY AND INJURY.

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS IN CRASH. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING A COLLISION. VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.534707 DUP 0F 543502; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

UNSPECIFIED: DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN ACCIDENT.

AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE ON RECALL, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO REPORT TO SELLING DEALER TO GET REPAIR.

DIFFICULTY HAVING AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER. (97V-080)

AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF.

RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED.

AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE IN A CRASH.

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.

DRIVING 55MPH, RAN OFF ROAD INTO AN EMBANKMENT DURING CRASH 10:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES, DUAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES, THEN DIED. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS IN ACCIDENT.

BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, REAR ENDED VEHICLE AND DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK