1998 Jeep Cherokee electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

JEEP DEVELOPED COMMUNICATION ISSUES, DASH DISPLAYED "NO BUS." ONE MORNING I STARTED THE JEEP AND WENT TO SHIFT TO GEAR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TOOK IT UP THE ROAD AND BACK THINKING I HAD A COMMUNICATION ISSUE TO DIAGNOSE, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED TURNING ON MY ROAD. SEEMED TO HAPPEN WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE.I LEARNED ABOUT THE RECALL CORROSION IN AIR BAG MODULE MAY LEAD TO INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT. I DROPPED MY VEHICLE OFF TO NYE DODGE JEEP RAM IN ONEIDA NY. REPAIR ORDER WAS MADE NOV 14TH 2019. I WAS GIVEN A 1-800 NUMBER TO CALL, PLACED 4 CALLS BEFORE MY CASE WAS ESCALATED CORRECTLY. MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO THE 800 NUMBER AND EVENTUALLY ON 12/5 MAYBE 12/6 AN INSPECTOR CAME AND INSPECTED MY VEHICLE. WITH BASICALLY NO PROGRESS AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE. WITH A COUPLE MORE CALLS TO THE 800 NUMBER AND BEING TOLD WERE "ON HOLD" WITH CHRYSLERS END MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT FIXED AND THE 800 NUMBER CALLS ALL END WITH WELL LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE WITH YOUR CASE TO CALL YOU, THEY HAVE YET TO CALL GOING ON 3 WEEKS. I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM CHRYSLER. LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION OR TO AT LEAST GET THE MODULE INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT LOCATION AND ILL SOURCE AIRBAGS. IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TO NOT HAVE ANY ANSWERS AND MY RECALL NOT COMPLETED.

NHTSA complaint #11292524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE, THE CHECK ENGINE, MULTIPLE GAUGES, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10956533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO WORK DUE TO THE GAUGES NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V105000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PASS A VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #10818697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SOFTWARE HAD A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

NHTSA complaint #10788286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IT STARTED WITH THE LIGHTS TURNING OFF WHEN I HIT A BUMP. THE WHOLE JEEP WOULD GO DARK. INSTRUMENT PANEL, OVERHEAD LIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS, ALL OF THEM! THEN AFTER PARKING THE JEEP, DAY OR NIGHT, THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD GO OFF ALL BY ITSELF. THE DOOR SWITCHES LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEN THERE WAS THE RADIO THAT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. THEN THE WINDOWS DECIDED TO STOP GOING UP AND DOWN. WHEN I WOULD START THE JEEP THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WOULDN'T MOVE, TURN ON. SO, I WOULD TURN OFF THE JEEP AND RESTART IT. SOME OF THE GAUGES, WOULD TURN ON BUT OTHERS, WOULD NOT, LIKE THE FUEL TANK GAGE, SPEEDOMETER GAGE. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THERE WOULD BE A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. I STILL TO THIS DAY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN EVERY DAY AND EACH TIME IT WAS TURNED ON. THEN THERE IS THE TRANSMISSION AND REAR END THAT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. IT STARTED TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND THE REAR END MADE A NOISE. I HAD ALL THE OIL LEVELS CHECKED OUT, BUT STILL IT WOULD HAPPEN. I DO RECALL GETTING A FLYER IN THE MAIL, REGARDING A RECALL, BUT IT ALSO SAID THAT THE DEALER, DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHY WOULD YOU SEND OUT A FLYER THAT YOU HAVE NO WAY OF FIXING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET THE PART'S? ! AND ARE YOU EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORRY YOU PUT ME THROUGH? IT BECAME ANOTHER REASON TO PARK THE JEEP. HOW COULD YOU DO.THIS, TO SO MANY PEOPLE? WITH ALL THESE STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING TO THE JEEP, I HAD TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR MY SAFETY, AS WELL AS, THOSE WHO WERE ON THE ROAD DRIVING AROUND ME. I JUST COULDN'T LIVE WITH MYSELF, KNOWING THAT I COULD HAVE COST SOMEONE OR MYSELF INJURY OR DEATH, BY HAVING THE JEEP ON THE ROAD KNOWING IT WAS HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS. IT HAS NOW BEEN CLOSE TO THREE-YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT.

NHTSA complaint #10746163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE IGNITION SWITCH STICKS, PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS DOORS WHEN OPENED AND CLOSED, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FRONT AND BACK WILL NOT GO DOWN ALL THE TIME AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL.

NHTSA complaint #10723068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL GAUGES STOP WORKING-- PRESSING HARD ON THE FACE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER OR SMACKING THE TOP OF THE DASH RESTORES EVERYTHING.. OWNED IT FOR 4 YEARS AND PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THEY EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE ME.. NOW IT HAS STARTED A NEW ADDITIONAL PROBLEM, "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT COMES ON AND VOLT METER PEGS TO THE RIGHT AT 19 VOLTS. SMACKING DOESN'T HELP THIS, IT JUST GOES AWAY IN A FEW MILES...

NHTSA complaint #10640634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD ONLY OPERATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND/OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 05/16/11

NHTSA complaint #10395142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 1998 CHEROKEE CLASSIC IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. THE ISSUES INVOLVE THE SPEED AND TACH GAUGES DROPPING TO ZERO, THE REST OF THE DASH GAUGES NOT RESPONDING FROM WHATEVER POSITION THEY ARE IN WHEN REST OF GAUGES GO SOUTH, THE "IDIOT" LIGHTS DON'T WORK, AND THE WRETCHED AIRBAG LIGHT LUMINATES THE WHOLE TIME ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IS GOING ON. THE SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, EVEN WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE. IT CAN HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE TO SEVERAL TIMES IN A MILE, CUTTING IN AND OUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON EVEN LONGER THAN WHAT I LISTED. FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR IS WHEN IT STARTED BEING MORE THAN A ONCE IN A WHILE, SPORADIC ISSUE. BEFORE THEN, IT HAPPENED LESS THAN 10 TIMES, SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE LATE 2007.

NHTSA complaint #10380861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT RESPONDING AFTER PASSING SELF DIAGNOSTIC TEST ALL FUSES WERE CHANGED AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10374013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER GO TO ZERO SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING AT THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10310222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE OTHER GAUGES WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND THE OTHER GAUGES WORKED PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 9/13/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10166693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED A FAULTY CLOCK SWITCH CAUSED THE HORN FAILURE. THE DEALER ORDERED A REPLACEMENT CLOCK SWITCH AND WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE WHEN IT ARRIVES.

NHTSA complaint #10152941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

ALL GAUGES AND LIGHTS, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, ON INSTRUMENT PANEL QUIT WORKING. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. INTERMITTENT FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #10140480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE AN THE TURN SIGNALS DON'T CUT OFF AFTER GOING AROUND CORNERS BECAUSE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CLOCK SPRING ARE BAD AND THE DEALER SAID THAT I NEED TO FIX THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SHORT OUT AND DEPLOY THE AIRBAG WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10109913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER 12 TIMES FOR RUST MARKS ON THE VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALER DESCRIBED AS FALL OUT AND THEY INSISTED IT WAS SOMETHING THE CONSUMER HAD DONE TO CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN SO SOON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ALL THE GAUGES WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, THE AIR CONDITION AND RADIO WERE INOPERATIVE AND STILL IS, THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE WHICH WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE ROTORS WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS.

NHTSA complaint #10003851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

I OWN A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. I NOTICED RECENTLY A WIRING PROBLEM TO BOTH THE FRONT DOOR SPEAKERS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS COMMON FOR THERE TO BE SHORTS IN THE WIRES THAT GO FROM THE BODY INTO THE DOOR. THEY SAID THEY USUALLY SEE THE FAILURES IN THE DOOR LOCK WIRING OR THE POWER WINDOW WIRING. THE SPEAKER WIRING TRAVELS THE SAME ROUTE INTO THE DOOR. I REALIZE THAT THE POWER IN A SPEAKER WIRE WONT PROBABLY CAUSE A FIRE, BUT THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IS 25 AMPS AND IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE IN THE WIRING IF SHORTED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE COST TO REPLACE JUST THE SPEAKER WIRING WOULD BE $140 PER DOOR IN LABOR ALONE. IF THERE WERE EVER SOMETHING THAT RECALLS WERE MEANT FOR, THIS IS IT. I AM HAVING THE SPEAKER WIRING REPLACED AT AN AUDIO STORE, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE POWER WINDOWS OR DOOR LOCKS AT THIS POINT. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. I JUST CANT AFFORD TO DO IT ON MY DIME.

NHTSA complaint #10086085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED MOST OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STOP FUNCTIONING. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES EVERYTHING WILL RETURN TO NORMAL AND WORK AGAIN. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10048296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER. ALSO, GASOLINE/OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING, AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10034412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

ON GOING PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW INCLUDING MY SON. THEIR 1998. 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE'S WHILE LOSE ALL INSTRUMENT OPERATION. AT THE SAME TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. FAILURE MAY CONTINUE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES OR SEVERAL HOURS. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. MY BROTHER IN LAW CALLED THIS MORNING AND GAVE ME THE SAME SYMPTOMS HE IS HAVING WITH HIS JEEP. IT SEAMS TO BE A LARGE SCALE PROBLEM. IT MAY BE TEMPERATURE RELATED BUT ALL THAT I KNOW OF ARE IN CHEROKEES. MY BROTHER'S IS A 97, SON'S IS A 98, ONE OF HIS FRIENDS IS A19 99 AND MY BROTHER IN LAW'S IS ALSO A 99. SON'S FRIENDS IS ALSO A 1998.

NHTSA complaint #10028636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, RUST MARKS APPEARED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNTIONED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE RADIO. THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE ROTORS THAT WAS FIXED BUT THE NOISE STILL REMAINS.

NHTSA complaint #10001367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

RECALL FOR '97 XJ'S REGARDING GAS GAUGE. '98 NOW HAVING SAME PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA complaint #769900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DASH FUNCTIONS ARE INOPERATIVE (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TACHOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, ETC.). AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER HAS RUN OUT OF GAS ON 3 OCCASIONS AND RECEIVED TWO SPEEDING TICKETS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM

NHTSA complaint #8022176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

ELECTRICAL ARCING WHERE CONNECTOR IS INSERTED INTO LAMP. LAMP HSG. CHARRED AND MELTED. MR

NHTSA complaint #768071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENT FAILURE,ALLOWED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WITHOUT WARNING CRACKING THE ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD, AIR BAG POSSIBLY AFFECTED.

NHTSA complaint #763805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHEN TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS, CONSUMER HAS TO WIGGLE SWITCH TO GET HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES BEFORE HEADLIGHTS COME ON, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK CONSUMER STATES AT TIMES,THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILS TO ACTIVATE UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8013116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RECALL 00V136000 REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE RECALL PROBLEM. ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE FIRST TAKEN INTO DEALER FOR RECALL. *AK BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. DASH GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO CLUSTER HARNESS FAILURE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. FOG LAMP SWITCH FAILED. THE FRONT PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING. THE BUCKLE FOR REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #8011077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

THE FOG LAMPS STOPPED WORKING. WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. CONTACTED DEALER THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RE-CALL ON THIS. SIX MONTHS LATER WHEN THEY WERE REPLACING THE ROTORS ON RE-CALL,I SAID SOMETHING TO THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE LIGHTS. HE STATED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE ASKED IF I EVER USED THE POWER OUTLET FOR A PHONE. I STATED YES! HE SAID THAT WHEN USING THE OUTLET IT WAS MELTING THE WIRES TO THE FOG LAMP SWITCH MAKING IT UNOPERABLE. STILL THE SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. I'MNOT THE ONLY PERSON HERE AT WORK THAT HAS THAT PROBLEM. ANOTHER FIRE FIGHTERS LAMPS STOPPED WORKING JUST AFTER HIS WARRANTY WAS UP,AND HIS WAS NEVER REPLACED EITHER. *AK .

NHTSA complaint #760392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSYEM WILL GO ON AND OFF AT TIMES. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING FOG LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8000738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

ELECTRICAL SYSYEM WILL GO ON AND OFF AT TIMES. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING FOG LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8000738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.