Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Jeep Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driven home from school at 60 mile per hour and hit a deer, about a 175 pound deer. It sent me into a ditch, then out of the ditch and I stop on a famers lawn. The air bag didn't go off. The police, and my doctor think I didn't have an airbag in the sbc airbad container. The front end, and left front quarter panel are total. To repair car I am looking at $5,100. Being the car was old and paid for I had removed the collison for the insurance coverage. I am also unemploped, with no unemployment checks. I am the first onwer of the car. I having problems with my head, neck right shoulder and back. I do have medical coverage through my wife, m-care at the university of michigan.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, both the frontal driver and passenger side air bags deployed. The contact also stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated for approximately one month prior to the failure. The contact had to maneuver to the shoulder to a complete stop. There were no injuries reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH when she crashed into a cow. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy during the crash. The contact suffered injuries to the right shoulder and right leg. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, both the driver side and passenger side air bags erroneously deployed. During the incident, the contact sustained a head injury which required medical emergency treatment. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 248,000.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. While driving 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal stuck. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the accelerator cable and throttle body were greased. A week later, while driving, the vehicle suddenly began to accelerate; the contact applied the brakes and parked. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the throttle body and accelerator cable stuck. Also, the air bag light stayed illuminated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000 and the current mileage was 155,202.
Accident on 11-08-2000 wet surface, upon apply ABS brakes the vechile sled into intersection striking a gravel truck suffering approx. $ 9,000 in damage Jeep was struck on the left front and took the entire front clip off, but the airbags did not deploy, at what speed are the bags suppose to deploy, and is this a factory defect?
When brakes are applied they would vibrate. Power steering belt not working properly. Took to dealer & mechanic repaired brakes & steering belt. Was going upan incline & applied brakes lightly. Vehicle pulled to left. Emergency brake failed. Hit phone pole. Air bags did not deploy. Taken vehicle back to dealer.
Brake master cylinder does not work properly, causing excessive wear of rotors and pads which May cause extended braking distance. Common problem. Also, vehicle was bought used, and prevouisly was in a frontal collision, and airbags did not deploy. Please provide further information.
While driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle experienced several frontal impacts, and the defective driver and passenger airbag system is inoperative which did not protect the occupant in this accident. Manufacturer states the vehcile was involved in undercarriage accident.
Consumer was traveling 55mph on highway and slid into a patch of black ice, losing control of vehicle. Then, ran into a guardrail and another motorist. Upon impact, driver's side airbag did not deploy. One person was injured in the accident.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Water and/or road salt in the proximity of the air bag control module could lead to corrosion.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag control module and locate the new module on the top of the transmission tunnel.
Airbag complaints in other Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Jeep Cherokee, 7% of the model year's 390 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Jeep Cherokee airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-105 (sensor/control module-inactive, Apr 11, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Jeep Cherokee airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 155,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.