"How reliable is the 1997 Unknown Unknown?"

"Based on 54 NHTSA complaints, the 1997 Unknown Unknown has a median complaint mileage of 5800 miles. The most common issue is TIRES."

"What are common problems with the 1997 Unknown Unknown?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Unknown Unknown is TIRES, accounting for a significant portion of the 54 total complaints filed."

1997 Unknown Unknown: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 54 complaints

Total Complaints

5,800mi

Median Mileage

TIRES

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

5,800 25th Percentile

5,800 Median Mileage

5,800 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

TIRES

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CHILD SEAT

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

WHEELS:RIM

EQUIPMENT

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE PAD WORN PREMATURELY DAMAGED ROTOR AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DELEAR REPAIRED AT OWNER COST. BRAKES STILL FEEL "SOFT" BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDS TO FLOOR."

"THE ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANLY COMES ON ALSO I GOT THE 30,000 MILE CHECK UP ALSO( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185/60H/14 )"

"GAUGES AND AIR CONDITIONER FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. ERRATIC LOSS OF GAUGES, CAUSES SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

AZ: 9 TX: 4 OH: 4 FL: 4 CA: 3 NY: 3 OK: 3 KS: 3 MI: 3 WA: 2

Who Files Complaints?

44.4%

Original Owners

55.6%

Second+ Owners

Unknown Unknown — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1994	23	-	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	0
1995	37	85,000	TIRES	2
1996	27	-	TIRES	2
1998	62	-	TIRES	10
1999	137	78,500	TIRES	10
2000	129	27,250	TIRES	14
2001	64	30,000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS	9
2002	65	5,950	EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS	6
2003	85	4,166	LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	7

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28