FaultScore

1997 Jeep Wrangler door lock problems

10 of the 548 complaints about the 1997 Jeep Wrangler are about the doors, latches and locks — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 75,000 miles.

A

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Latch 6 60.0%
Latch 4 40.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 75,000 miles Richland, WA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

BOTH EXTERNAL RUBBER SIDE LATCHES FAILED ON 1997 JEEP WRANGLER. THE HOOD FLIPPED UP AND OBSCURED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. THE HOOD WAS DESTROYED BY ITS IMPACT AGAINST THE ROOF. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN MANUFACTURED W/O THE STANDARD INTERNAL LATCH DUE TO SEVERAL PARTS CHANGES DURING THE MANUFACTURING YEAR. AN INTERNAL LATCH COULD NOT BE FITTED TO THE MIS-MATCHED HOOD AND GRILL.

NHTSA complaint #10175295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Gowrie, IA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

DT: WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND, A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS WESTBOUND, THE TURBULENCE BEHIND TRACTOR TRAILER CAUSED THE EXTERNAL HOOD LATCHES TO FAIL. THE SAFETY HOOK IN THE CENTER OF THE HOOD ALSO FAILED TO KEEP THE HOOD DOWN. THE HOOD FLEW UP STRIKING WINDSHIELD AND FOLDED OVER SHATTERING WINDSHIELD. LOST VISIBILITY HOWEVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10120700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Stafford, VA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

RIGHT FROM SHOULDER HARNESS IS LOOSE AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LATCH WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED CAUSING A HOLE TO BE TORN IN THE WEBBING OF THE HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #10045717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nahant, MA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR - WATER SEEPS THROUGH AND IN COLD WEATHER ICES UP THE INTERIOR LATCH ASSEMBLY RENDERING THE DOOR UNOPENIBLE CONDITION PERSISTS UNTIL ICE MELTS.

NHTSA complaint #744725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

HOOD FLEW OPEN AT 30MPH. CHRYSLER REDESIGNED LATCH BUT NOT RECALLED. ORIGINAL HOOD LATCH NOT APPROPRIATE WITHOUT USE OF SIDE LATCHES, EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #730328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

HOOD FLEW OPEN AT 30MPH. CHRYSLER REDESIGNED LATCH BUT NOT RECALLED. ORIGINAL HOOD LATCH NOT APPROPRIATE WITHOUT USE OF SIDE LATCHES, EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #730328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Whittier, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

FRONT DOOR LATCH FAILED, WILL NOT OPEN. YH

NHTSA complaint #609423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orange, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

FRONT DOOR LATCH OUT OF ORDER. YH

NHTSA complaint #609982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fremont, NE

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

STRONG WIND CAUSED HOOD LATCH TO BREAK/FLY UP. (QCAW)

NHTSA complaint #538090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Electra, TX

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

HOOD LATCHES ARE MADE OF RUBBER ALLOWING THEM TO GIVE WHEN MEETING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LATCHES FAILED TWICE ON WINDY DAYS WHEN MEETING LARGE VEHICLES ON ROADWAY.

NHTSA complaint #523027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Jeep Wrangler problems

← Full 1997 Jeep Wrangler report