1997 Jeep Wrangler Body & Structure Problems

Your Jeep's frame is rusting through at the rear wheel areas on both sides, which weakens the structural integrity of your vehicle. In your case, the rust is happening from the inside out, making it harder to spot until it becomes severe. This is a serious safety concern that many owners report experiencing. Addressing this will likely require rust treatment, frame repair, or welding depending on the severity.

Your Jeep Wrangler's wheel well has visible corrosion, and a dealer inspection found that the frame is rusted. The manufacturer says you'll be responsible for repair costs. Fixing this will likely involve removing rust, treating the affected areas, and possibly replacing corroded frame sections.

Your vehicle's rear frame where the trailing arms attach has rusted extensively from the inside out, even though it's been garage-kept. The rust was so severe on the driver's side that the trailing arm was nearly separating from the frame, requiring you to cut out and patch the damaged section. The passenger side shows similar internal rust in the same location and will also need replacement. The problem appears to stem from design holes in the frame sides that allow water and debris inside, but no drain holes at the bottom to let water escape. Fixing this requires cutting out the rusted frame sections and installing replacement patches or frame sections.

Your Jeep's frame is rusting through in the area in front of the rear control arms and where the skid plate bolts to the bottom. This type of rust can weaken the structural integrity of your vehicle over time. The fix would likely involve removing the rusted sections and having them welded or reinforced by a welding shop.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN PROUD OWNERS OF A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. IN1998, WE RETIRED TO CAPE COD, MA. OVER THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED OUR JEEP, IT HAS BEEN KEPT IN IMMACULATE CONDITION; THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, HAND WASHED WEEKLY, AND NEVER TAKEN OFF-ROAD. THE FINISH IS NEAR PERFECT AND ALL REGULAR SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED. CURRENTLY THE MILEAGE IS 91,000 MILES. AT OUR LAST SERVICE APPOINTMENT WE LEARNED OF A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR THE FRAME IS $5,000 FROM OUR LOCAL DEALER, PREMIER JEEP, IN HYANNIS MA. OUR MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED BY WELDING 6 NEW SECTIONS INTO PLACE AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $2700. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE ARE DISMAYED. WE CONDUCTED RESEARCH TO SEE WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED DESPITE OUR UPKEEP REGIMEN. APPARENTLY, WATER IS KNOWN TO ENTER THE FRAME AND NOT PROPERLY DRAIN DUE TO IT IS DESIGN. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATE WHO ASKED US TO HAVE THE VEHICLES GOOD CONDITION CONFIRMED BY OUR LOCAL JEEP DEALER WHICH WE DID. CHRYSLER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. WE ARE FILING THIS REPORT AS THIS FRAME IS GOING TO LOOSE INTEGRITY AND FAIL BASED ON NO MISHANDLING ON OUR PART. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE FRAME DESIGN WHICH WE BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

DT: CONTACT STATED THE HOOD LATCH WAS MADE FROM RUBBER, AND WHEN A STRONG WIND HIT THE HOOD, IT BLEW THE HOOD OPEN AND CAUSED THE RUBBER TO BREAK THAT KEPT THE HOOD LATCHED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED YET. *AK

WATER LEAKS ONTO FLOOR OF PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I HAVE HEARD THIS ONE SEVERAL TIMES, YET HAVEN'T SEEN JEEP DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK TO CAUSE THIS, IT RAINS AND MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR GETS SOAKED.*AK

THE TAILGATE HINGES ARE RUSTED MAKING OPENING AND CLOSING THE TAILGATE MORE DIFFICULT. NLM

THE SKID PLATE IS POSITIONED SO THAT THE GAS TANKAND SKID PLATE TOUCH EACH OTHER. IF THE SKID PLATE IS IMPACTED IN ANY WAY THAT FORCE IS TRANSFERRED TO THE GAS TANK. IF THIS IMPACT CAUSES EVEN A SMALL DENT IN THE SKID PLATE, THE GAS TANK CAN BE DAMAGED. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS BROKE, IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. *YC

WATER LEAKS TO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. *AK

HARD TOP SEAL IS TWISTED. YH

WATER LEAKS AT FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOOR BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND HEATER.

WATER LEAKS ORIGINATING UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE IN THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE, UNABLE TO BE RECTIFIED.

WATER LEAK INTO PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE.

TOP IS FRAYING AFTER BEING REPLACED.

THE TOP WAS BOUGHT LAST YEAR. STORED, HARD TOP WAS REMOVED, SOFT TOP WAS PUT ON, AND PLASTIC PIECES WERE SCREWED ON THE TOP OVER WINDSHIELD AND DRIVER/PASSENGER DOORS. WHEN THE WIND STRESSES AGAINST THE PLASTIC THE FIBER PLASTIC MATERIAL RIPS OPEN AND COMES APART, 8 INCH TEAR IN BOTH SIDES. *AK

REPLACED FRONT CROSSMEMBER.

PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY AND DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY.

DOORS FAILED.

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WITH THE TYPE OF PUTTY USED ON THE PLASTIC DOOR FRAME. THIS PUTTY IS MEANT TO KEEP WATER FROM FLOWING THROUGH A JOINT IN THE DOOR FRAME. THIS FRAME IS ONE PIECE AND IS DESIGNED TO BE REMOVED. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 20 TO 25 MPH THE HOOD SHAKES, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THERE ARE MISSING BUMPERS WHICH WERE NOT INSTALLED AT THE ASSEMBLY. PART # 55176741AA. *AK

THE BOLTS THAT HOLD UP THE BODY MOUNTS AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE MISSING AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ALMOST FELL OUT. *AK

INADEQUATE SPACE FOR RIGHT KNEE OF ANY TALL PERSON IN THE 1997 JEEP WRANGLERS. *AK