Jeep Wrangler 1997-2006 used car review

The Jeep Wrangler is exceptional off the road and fun for summer roof-down motoring. For the rest of the year, its poor handling and noise will disappoint.

The Jeep Wrangler is an off-road legend. With engineering and styling based on the legendary military Willy’s Jeep, the Wrangler has go-anywhere ability. In recent years Jeep has attempted to sell it as more of a lifestyle vehicle for those spending more time in the city. While more recent versions have become feature-packed and comfortable, the 1997-2006 version reviewed here is still basic and utilitarian.

To get in, you need to step over a lip in the side of the door. You realise the car is very compact once you’re inside. The front passengers sit close to the very vertical dashboard and windscreen. The gauges are basic and sit in a pod fixed into the dash in front of the steering wheel made out of a brittle-feeling plastic. In the centre of the dash is an aftermarket CD player stereo and the controls for the heater – the Sport does not have air conditioning as standard.

The front seats are very soft and comfortable, though not very supportive. There is not much adjustment forward and back. At 182cm I was comfortable, though would have preferred to sit a little further back. Access to the rear is difficult; there is a lever on the side of the front seats to tilt them forward, though they don’t automatically slide to make more space. There is enough rear legroom for children or small adults. The back seat is very soft and springy. There is no rear headrest, and the backrest is quite low. There is room for two people only, and seat belts to match.

The boot in the Wrangler is almost non-existent, made worse in our review vehicle by a set of aftermarket speakers sitting in the space. A couple of soft bags will fit here at most, and if you want more space you will need to fold the rear seat forward. Even in this format, the seat is still quite bulky. The boot is accessed by a side-opening door, which is hard to use in tight parking spaces. It is fiddly to open the soft top to access this from above.

The soft top is awkward to use. It’s time-consuming to get up and down – expect 10 minutes or more to do either. You can fold it down to sit on the rear seat, although most users will pick a dry day and remove it entirely. The front windows are made of plastic and can be zipped out but not wound up or down. With the roof up you are kept dry - though driving at anything over 50km/h becomes very noisy. The top does little to insulate from the vehicle’s noises, and creates wind noise of its own. The optional hardtop is a better choice if you intend to use your Wrangler regularly.

The Jeep feels sprightly off the line thanks to short gearing; the progress seems less rapid the faster you go. This is not helped by the transmission in 1997-2001 models as it only has three speeds. Later model automatics have four speeds, and manuals are five-speed, except for 2005-2006 models which use a six-speed.

The Wrangler is not great on the road because of its heavy off-road axles and suspension. The steering lacks feel, and the suspension is soft, with lots of body roll and bounce over bumps. The brakes are also quite soft and require a hard stomp if you need to brake quickly. A positive in the city is that the steering is very quick, and only needs a little input for tight turns.

You can tackle extreme four-wheel drive trails with the right equipment and preparation. It has excellent ground clearance. The short distances between its wheels at both the front and rear give it excellent departure and arrival angles. This means it can get over steep inclines without its front or back getting stuck on the ground.

The ‘Command-Trac’ four-wheel drive system is for use off the road only, as when you put it into four-wheel drive it locks the front and rear axles together for maximum traction. If there is no wheel slippage you can severely damage the system. You can run the system in 2H for road use, 4H for slippery conditions or 4L for extreme conditions, which engages the low-range transfer box.

Visibility in front of the driver's seat is excellent. You sit high and can see the front corners of the bonnet, which are far lower than the centre section. You can also easily see where the rear of the car is, both in the huge mirrors and through the flat rear of the car. The biggest issue with vision is the plastic windows, which can become opaque with age, as is the case in the rear window of our review car. We do not believe a reversing camera is necessary.

The Wrangler has a low tow rating for a vehicle with a large engine. It can pull 650kg unbraked, or 900kg braked. This restricts you to little more than a small-to-medium sized trailer.

An exhaust smell and a ticking noise when the engine is idle are signs of this. The cost of repair depends on the seriousness of the cracks, and they can be replaced or rebuilt. Expect a bill of at least $500 for removing and fixing the manifold. This issue is more evident when the engine is cold, so make sure you see the engine running without it being warmed before buying.

Oxygen sensor failure is common and will lead to high fuel consumption and a check engine light. They are relatively easy to replace. Expect a bill from $300.

Suspension maintenance can be a big ongoing cost with the Wrangler. Some components in these systems will have worn out, or be close to wearing out, in these 20-year-old cars. A lot depends on just how hard the vehicle has been driven, how much it has been used off the road, and if it has been cared for. Listen for creaks, rattles and groans during your test drive, and ensure the car tracks and handles safely.

When driving, keep an eye out for a ‘wobble’ which occurs with this model. Under certain road and speed conditions the front end of the car can begin vibrating and wobbling. The only way to stop this is to slow down to a crawl. 

Triggers include moderate speed and an uneven or bumpy road surface. It is usually a sign of worn suspension, a car that has been fitted with oversized tyres or an improperly raised suspension. Vehicles that show this behaviour should be avoided. A critical component to check is the radiator.

These are aluminium with plastic tanks, and they get brittle as they age. Look for signs of cracking in the plastic. A replacement radiator costs from $400, though if you do not catch a failure in time and the engine overheats the repair bill could be far higher.

Water leaks into the passenger footwell are all too common, due to a poorly designed front scuttle panel that directs any rain overflow straight into the passenger compartment. Look carefully under the carpets or mats for any signs of damp, mould or rust from years of wetness.

The door seal on the “A” pillar post can also perish and cause the entry of rainwater too. On models equipped with air-conditioning, a fault in the design of the unit drain hose can cause condensed water to drip out of the outlet and into the passenger footwell.

This review covers the Jeep Wrangler for model years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Review vehicle supplied by City Motor Group.

*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.