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 Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 30 MPH he rear-ended another vehicle. The vehicle was severely damaged, and none of the air bags deployed. Consequently he sustained major injuries to his neck, chest and legs. The vehicle was towed to his place of residence. The vehicle was repaired according to recall# 97V080000 (air bags: frontal: sensor/control module) in 1997. A technician from the dealer was in the process of determining the cause of the failure. A police report was available. The failure and current mileages were 140000.
The horn on my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee stopped working a year ago, affecting my ability to warn others of safety issues. Mechanics tell me the horn "button" is embedded in the safety airbag in the steering wheel and can only be fixed by replacing the entire, costly airbag. That can be hundreds of dollars. I believe that horn switch replacement should be a recall item and the manufacturer should replace the switch , which required replacing the air bag. Or, the manufacturer should be required to add a supplemental switch on the dash to control the horn.
I have contacted your office before following the jan. 24, 2014 crash that took my wife's life, on the vehicle indicated, it was equipped with Michelin tires noted during the period before the recall this year. I had contacted you earlier about the air bags on a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee that failed to deploy in this crash. Could you please get back to me to discuss this latest development in what could have caused the death of my wife. Thank you very much.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH the vehicle crashed into another vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact was injured and the other driver suffered a broken arm. The contact did not notify the manufacturer of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 198,000.
I was driving 45mph when this vehicle entered the road without looking the traffic and I hit her on the back with my 1997 Jeep. The passenger seat belt didn't lock, causing my daughter going forward and injuring her neck; plus both air bags didn't deploy.
Crossed into intersection and hit a vehicle broadside traveling aprox 55mph (I was almost stopped). Extensive front end impact damage to Jeep. Will probably be totaled. Neither driver, or passenger airbag deployed.
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee air bags did not deploy. ** ans required*** the vehicle was involved in a head on collision with a big rig. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss.
The main problem is that my daughter was in an accident on nov. 12, 1998. She collided with a g20 van. The van has a small dent in the driver side door. Our Jeep is a wreck!! We are not sure if it is a total or not yet. The front is gone. The consol between the driver and passenger seats is bent and not able to close. Therefore I assume that the inside of the frame is bent. Our bumper was in the street and it was styrofoam. The air bags did not deploy!!! My daughter, who was wearing a seat belt, was thrown forward and dislocated her knee cap. I can't believe that this car folded like this. The gentleman in the other car was fine. By the looks of this car we are lucky that my daughter is alive! The other problem is that the car has been repeatedly brought back to the dealer because of mold and mildew. …
Vehicle hydroplaned going 70 MPH and went off one side of road. Vehicle jumped back onto road and jumped ditch in middle of interstate. Vehicle crashed into opposite bank of ditch at approximately an 80 degree angle, crushing in front end from middle of hood over to drivers side of vehicle. Air bags did not deploy. Vehicle pivoted toward passenger side, rolled over onto roof and came to a stop. The vehicle was considered a total loss by insurance. Judging by amount of damage to front end, the air bags should have deployed. Jeep was contacted and they sent an investigator. I called Jeep early one morning and they stated they did not have all the information to tell me why the airbags failed. Fifteen minutes later a Jeep rep. Called and stated the air bag system is working properly and they were not supposed to deploy. How did they get all the info needed in fifteen minutes? …
While driving 35 MPH and without warning, vehicle was involved in a head on collision. Upon imact, air bags did not to deploy. Consumer suffered minor injuries, vehicle was totaled. Consumer and passenger of the vehicle both suffered back and neck injuries. Both are required to have physical therapy.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.
Airbag complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4% of the model year's 991 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 97V-080 (sensor/control module-inactive, May 16, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 135,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 28 crashes, 2 fires and 19 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.