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1997 Jeep Wrangler Brakes Problems

28 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data

28
Complaints
1
Recalls
7
Crashes
Jan 2001Dec 2002
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Brakes Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #06E022000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.

Fix: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.

Owner Complaints (28)

mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Oct 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD AND BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE PETAL WAS APPLIED TO AVERT AN ACCIDENT AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE LINES BURST CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THE NATURE OF FAILURE WAS PERMANENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO RUST ON THE BRAKE LINE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND EXPRESSED THEY HAD NO OBLIGATION TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.

NHTSA #: 10170491
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CrashFiled: Aug 2005

DT: WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED. WHEN THE BRAKES LOCK THE WHEELS SKIDDED EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, BUT MORE OFTEN TO THE RIGHT. HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE BECAUSE DEALER DETERMINED NOTHING WAS WRONG. CALLED CHRYSLER, AND TRIED TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER AND THEY DID NOT WISH TO TALK TO CONSUMER. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN SEVERAL CRASHES. *AK

NHTSA #: 10132464
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 2005

HARD BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR AXLE BURST WITH A LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE LINE, AS IT PASSED OVER THE FRAME NEAR THE FRONT WHEEL WELL WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CRUMBLING. WHEN REMOVING THE LINE FOR REPLACEMENT THE LINE ALSO BROKE IN HALF AT ONE OF THE CLIPS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME. *JB

NHTSA #: 10110218
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jan 2005

1. IMMEDIATE LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES 2. REPLACED RUSTED BRAKE LINES; 3. I SAVED OLD PARTS. *AK

NHTSA #: 10108041
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CrashFiled: Sep 2004

JEEP SKIDDED ON WET SURFACE. ON REMOVING REAR DRUM I FOUND THE BRAKE ADJUSTMENT CABLE BROKEN. BRAKE SHOES WERE OK. IN MY OPINION THE BRAKE ADJUSTMENT CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA #: 10090826
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CrashFiled: Aug 2004

WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 93 IN BOSTON, MA ON A RAINY DAY AT 6 AM. I BRAKED AND SWERVED TO AVOID A CAR AND THE BACK BRAKES ON 97 JEEP WRANGLER LOCKED AND THE BACK END CAME AROUND AND I IT THE ZIPPER LANE BARRIER. I ENDED UP FACING TRAFFICE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE. *AK

NHTSA #: 10088918
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CrashFiled: Jan 2004

ON A MAINTAINED DIRT COUNTY ROAD THE BRAKES ON MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER FAILED TO STOP MY CAR CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR.I COULD FEEL THE PULSING OF THE ABS BRAKES BUT THE CAR REFUSED TO SLOW DOWN,IT PULLED ME INTO THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. *AK

NHTSA #: 10055102
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Dec 2002

NHTSA 14720-02-V-041-000 PARKING BRAKE: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE PARKING BRAKE CAN RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING: CONSUMER STATES ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM ON APRIL 4, 1997. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD WHILE PARKED ON A HILL WHILE PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG. FIVE YEARS LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA #: 10001778
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jan 2002

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT FRONT BRAKES ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WORK PROPERTY TO STOP VEHICLE, CONSUMER FEELS THAT BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE AND REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE RECALL, DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TT

NHTSA #: 563713
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jan 2002

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT FRONT BRAKES ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WORK PROPERTY TO STOP VEHICLE, CONSUMER FEELS THAT BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE AND REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE RECALL, DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TT

NHTSA #: 563713
mediumPARKING BRAKE
Filed: May 2001

CONSUMER STATES EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IS NOT HOLDING CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL. *JB

NHTSA #: 561136
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jan 2001

FRONT BRAKES ONLY STOP THE VEHICLE, BACK BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE. ON ICE, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP BECAUSE THE AUTO TRANS KEEPS THE REAR WHEELS TURNING WHLE THE FRONT SLIDES. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

NHTSA #: 738761
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 2000

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS. THREE SETS OF PADS WERE REPLACED WITHIN FOUR MONTHS . DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK

NHTSA #: 857474
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Filed: Mar 1999

VEHICLE HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKERS ON ALL 4-WHEELS. ON SLICK ROADS,GRASS,MUD, SNOW, FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND YOU DONT HAVE ANY CONTROL AS YOU CANT STEER. THE LOCK IS WORKING ON FRONT BRAKES BUT NOT THE ANTI. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I DONT DRIVE IN SNOE. I HAVE REPORTED NUMEROUS TIME TO DEALER AND CHRYSLER. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT SERVICE MGR ALMOST WENT IN DITCH. LAST TIME I CALLED CHRYSLER THE LADY HUNG UP ON ME.

NHTSA #: 704453
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Mar 1999

I CALLED CHRYSLER THIS A.M. AND THE GIRL HUNG UP ON ME SHE SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP ME. I HAVE HAD MY 1997 JEEP WRANGLER, SAHARA TO GARAGE I DONT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON ALL 4-WHEELS AND ON SLICK ROADS THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND YOU CANNOT STEER IT THEN. IN SNOW, GRAVEL, GRASS ETC. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DONT THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HANG UP ON ME AS I OWN DODGE 1999 TRUCK AND CHEROKEE LIMITED ALL BOUGHT NEW.

NHTSA #: 704024
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 1999

I HAVE E-MAILED YOU SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ANSWER. FRONT BRAKES ON MY JEEP LOCK UP ON SLICK ROAD AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL, ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES. ANTI LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON FRONT. VEHICLE HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. I CANNOT GET ANY SATISFACTION FROM COMPANY. SERVIOCE MANAGER DROVE IT AND ALMOST WRECKED. ANOTHER MECHANIC DROVE IT AND SAID THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU COULD STOP IT ON SLICK ROAD WAS 4-WHEEL. I PAID $23,900.00 FOR IT AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT ON SLLICK ROADS. *AK

NHTSA #: 703568
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 1999

FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP ON SLICK ROAD-SNOW-MUD. I HAVE HAD IT TO GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES. VERY DANGEROUS, ONE MECHANIC WAS ABOUT TO WRECK TRYING IT OUT. OTHER MECHANIC SAID THAT YOU COULD NOT STOP IT ON SLICK ROAD EXCEPT WHEN IT WAS IN 4-WHEEL. FRONT WHEELS LOCK AND YOU CAN STEER. CHRY. FINALY SENT REP. IN THIS WEEK BUT HE DROVE IT IN LEVEL DRY FIELD, HE SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I DONT DRIVE IT IN SNOWY WEATHER, WILL CHRYSLER REIMBURSE ME OR PAY FOR DAMAGES IF I SHOUILD WRECK?

NHTSA #: 703249
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CrashFiled: Jan 1999

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION, DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND JEEP VEERED TO THE LEFT, MAKING HEAD-ON IMPACT WITH A BRIDGE. AFTER FLIPPING SEVERAL TIMES ENDED UP OVER GUARD RAIL ON RIVER BANK BESIDE A TREE. DRIVER SUSTAINED MASSIVE SEVERE INJURIES AND PERMANENT DISABILITIES. NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED UNTIL AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND DESTROYED. AIRBAG TEAM WAS CALLED AT TIME OF INCIDENT AND STATED TO LOOK AT VEHICLE WOULD ONLY BE A WASTE OF THEIR TIME AND OUR MONEY. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THERE WERE DEFECTS IN THE SRS, I THANK GOD I WAS NOT KILLED IN THIS CRASH BECAUSE OF OBVIOUS DEFECTS. *AK

NHTSA #: 701921
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jan 1999

FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP ON SLICK ROADS AND THEN NO CONTROL. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK BACK THE OTHER DY AND THE SHOP FOREMAN ALMOST WENT IN A DITCH. I DONT LET MY WIFE DRIVE AS IT IS DANGEROUS. IT HAS ANTILOCK BRAKES ON FRONT. THE SHOP MAN SAID THAT I NEED TO GET SOMEONE FROM FACTORY TO LOOK AT. I CANNOT GET ANY SATISFACTION FROM COMPANY. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THIS JEEP ON A SLICK ROAD. I WOULD LIKE FOR SOME FACTPRY PERSON TO LOOK AT IT. AS IT IS VERY DANGERPUS. I DO NOT DRIVE IT ON SNOWY ROADS AS YOU CANT STOP IT IN 2-WHEEL DRIVE. I WOULAPPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA #: 701931
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CrashFiled: Jul 1998

BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL ARE WITHIN ONE INCH OF EACH OTHER, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL PASSES THE GAS PEDAL AND CAUSES CONSUMERS FOOT TO CATCH THE SIDE OF THE GAS PEDAL WHICH OVERRIDES THE BRAKE. THIS CONDITION CAUSED A CRASH IN JULY OF 97. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *SLC

NHTSA #: 825005
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 1998

COMPUTER/FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND ENGINE OIL FILTER FAILED.

NHTSA #: 534586
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Dec 1997

THE TRUCK HAD SOME BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED FROM A SEAL LEAK AT THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE TRUCK DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO STOP. *AK

NHTSA #: 820210
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Filed: Oct 1997

BRAKE ROTORS, PADS AND DRUMS FAILED.

NHTSA #: 605321
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Sep 1997

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM CRACKED/UNIT FAILED.

NHTSA #: 522342
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER,POWER TRAIN,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE
Filed: Aug 1997

4-WHEEL DRIVE INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT/GAS GAUGE FAILED, SHOWS TANK 1/4-1/2 FULL WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY OUT OF GAS/PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE VERY TIGHT AND SQUEAKY/ABS BRAKES SQUEAL LOUDLY/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING AND STICKS PRIOR TO RELEASING TO NEXT GEAR, AND SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM BUZZER SOUNDS AT TIMES UNEVEN AND LOUD WITH A SQUEAKING NOISE. *AK

NHTSA #: 522675
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jan 1997

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT.

NHTSA #: 514152
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Oct 1996

STOPPED BEHIND THREE OR FOUR VEHICLES AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CONSUMER FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAIL. *AK

NHTSA #: 803626
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Sep 1996

MASTER CYLINDER SEAL LEAK.

NHTSA #: 509009

Other 1997 Jeep Wrangler Issues