FaultScore

1998 Jeep Cherokee transmission problems

74 of the 553 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Cherokee are about the transmission — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 121,000 miles.

F

74

Complaints

9

Crashes

2

Fires

6

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 25 33.8%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 13 17.6%
Power Train 9 12.2%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 5 6.8%
Axle Assembly 3 4.1%
Clutch Assembly 3 4.1%
Seal 3 4.1%
Manual Transmission 2 2.7%
Driveshaft 2 2.7%
Driveline 2 2.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Jeep Cherokee year

1990 17 0.3%
1991 14 0.3%
1992 16 0.3%
1993 50 0.9%
1994 40 0.7%
1995 48 0.9%
1996 66 1.2%
1997 51 0.9%
1998 74 1.3%
1999 58 1.0%
2000 32 0.6%
2001 24 0.4%
2014 1,465 26.3%
2015 1,001 18.0%
2016 630 11.3%
2017 647 11.6%
2018 290 5.2%
2019 783 14.0%
2020 159 2.9%
2021 86 1.5%
2022 25 0.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 150,000 miles North Port, NY Crash

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10608615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 156,000 miles Seymour, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE A CRACKED MANIFOLD, MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BROKEN PUT A NEW PART IN IT AND NOW THAT IS BROKEN,I HAVE ALSO HAD TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT WITH ONLY 148,000.00 MILES. IN 2006 I HAD TO FIX THE GAS TANK BECAUSE IT WAS BROKEN TOO. IS THIS NOT A RECALL PROBLEM????? ANY OF THESE, I HAVE HAD THE JEEP SINCE 2000 AND I BOUGHT IT WHEN IT HAD 20,000 MILES ON IT. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE THIS IS 2012 AND I ONLY HAVE 156,000 MILES ON IT NOW. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10455791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 121,000 miles Narvon, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, A RATTLING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN 04/06. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN 05/06. A RECALL LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WAS RECEIVED ON 09/09/06, WHICH PERTAINED TO THE POWER TRAIN: CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) AND INSPECTION OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ON 09/11/06, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AND THE REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM WAS DENIED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10170945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake City, FL

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

1998 JEEP CHEROKEE; WHEN THANSFER CASE IS IN PART-TIME ALL WHEEL DRIVE,THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK WHEN IN 10-15 DEGREE TURN,FOWARD OR REVERSE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP, UNTIL STEERING WHEEL IS RETURNED TO NORMAL POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10037121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Parma Heights, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AND PARKING IN DIRTY TRACK. GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO MOVE SOMETHING ON THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AND SMASH EDA BIG ROCK, CAUSING FRONT DAMAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED

NHTSA complaint #10026842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BECAUSE THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD TO BE CHANGED. UPON LEAVING WITH THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE PUT INTO ANY GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING ANY BUTTON ON SHIFTER. *NLM .

NHTSA complaint #10021652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mastic Beach, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Martinsville, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Schuylkill Haven, PA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY

THE CONSUMER RECEIVE A RECALL FOR THE SHIFTER DETENTOR. RECALL NUMBER #B02 THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP INTO GEAR . DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL ADDATIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER. TS

NHTSA complaint #8022982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Burlington, VT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND PARKING BRAKE WAS ON, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND CRASHED INTO THE MAIL BOXES. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS SIMILAR TO THE FIRST. A FRIEND BORROWED THE VEHICLE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. NO INJUREIS.

NHTSA complaint #8016563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glendale Heights, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK AT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #566602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Great Bend, KS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

PLACED GEAR SHIFT IN PARK, THEN WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND RAISED THE HATCH. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD TOWARD THE OWNER, OWNER JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY AND THE VEHICLE PROCEDED INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC. MANAGED TO JUMP IN AND PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO FORWARD GEAR AND PULLED BACK TO SID OF ROAD, NARROWLY MISSING A SEMI-TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #9004040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Morton Grove, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

THE COMSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WENT IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, ONCE VEHICLE STOPPED, CONSUMER CHECKED THE GEAR SHIFT AND IT WAS STILL IN PARK.

NHTSA complaint #563805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa ANA, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, WHEN PLACING IT IN PARK, IT SLIPS BACK INTO REVERSE, IN OTHER WORDS IT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE. HE WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT IN RECALL.*AK VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER HAD PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK WHEN IT STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS, TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #8008269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa ANA, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, WHEN PLACING IT IN PARK, IT SLIPS BACK INTO REVERSE, IN OTHER WORDS IT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE. HE WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT IN RECALL.*AK VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER HAD PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK WHEN IT STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS, TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #8008269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dover, PA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

IGNITION WAS ON AND GEAR WAS IN PARK WHEN VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #8006990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brazil, IN 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND DRAGGED OWNER TEN FEET, RESULTING IN HITTING A STACK OF HARDWOOD LUMBER.

NHTSA complaint #9005138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Perry, ME

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSFER CASE, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHIN FOUR HUNDRED MILES OF EACH OTHER. WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED SMELLED OIL BURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8003627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Perry, ME

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSFER CASE, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHIN FOUR HUNDRED MILES OF EACH OTHER. WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED SMELLED OIL BURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8003627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Perry, ME

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT DUE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED TRANSAXLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8003468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Perry, ME

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT DUE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED TRANSAXLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8003468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATEED ON DASHBOARD, ONCE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES OTHER LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE AND THEN BLINK ON AND OFF, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER.*AK CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE AIR BAG, DUE TO DISCOVERING THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER DROPS TO ZERO WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #8002505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Waycross, GA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

MY VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IN PARK; WHILE IN PARK FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WENT FROM PARK TO REVERSE; VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A TREE. NOW MY TRUNK IS DAMAGED, AND MY POWER LOCKS DON'T WORK; IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION GOING ON WITH MY PARTICULAR BRAND OF JEEP; THE DEALER SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX MY JEEP; SO WHAT I AM SUPPOSE TO DO.

NHTSA complaint #755594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laporte, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN VEHICLE MADE LOUD NOISE COMING FROM REAR END. IT HAD NOT BEEN SHIFTING BADLY OR MAKING ANY UNUSUAL NOISES. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT ALLEN SAMUELS CHRYSLER JEEP ON HWY 3 HOUSTON, TEXAS IN JUNE. THEY CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND NEVER INIDCATED ANY THING ELSE NEEDED TO BE DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION. .

NHTSA complaint #754823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Morton Grove, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

THE COMSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WENT IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, ONCE VEHICLE STOPPED, CONSUMER CHECKED THE GEAR SHIFT AND IT WAS STILL IN PARK.

NHTSA complaint #563805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conyers, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISION FAILURE CAUSED VEH. TO CONTINUE TO MOVE WHILE SHIFT WAS IN (P) PARK POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #754249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toledo, OH

POWER TRAIN

POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION WENT FROM PARK INTO GEAR BY ITSELF.

NHTSA complaint #9004679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE JERKS WHEN TRAVELING. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING BUT WAS IN PARK. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #896926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Osterville, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CAR WENT FROM PARK POSITION WITH MOTOR RUNNING TO REVERSE, RESULTING IN HITTING A WALL AT 10-15MPH, WHICH THEN JUMPED BACK IN FORWARD POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #9003333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CAUSED ACCIDENT, WHILE KEY WAS IN IGNITION AND GEARSHIFT WAS IN PARK. CONSUMER STATED THAT PREVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE JUMPED TO REVERSE FROM PARK AND HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING.

NHTSA complaint #562829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Jeep Cherokee problems

← Full 1998 Jeep Cherokee report