FaultScore

1998 Jeep Wrangler other reported problems

16 of the 401 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler are about the other systems — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 146,000 miles.

A

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Unknown OR Other 16 100.0%

Other & Unspecified across every Jeep Wrangler year

1997 15 1.2%
1998 16 1.3%
2001 12 1.0%
2005 11 0.9%
2006 12 1.0%
2007 17 1.4%
2008 37 3.0%
2009 19 1.5%
2010 41 3.3%
2011 33 2.7%
2012 53 4.3%
2013 72 5.8%
2014 49 3.9%
2015 56 4.5%
2016 54 4.3%
2017 37 3.0%
2018 209 16.8%
2019 63 5.1%
2020 57 4.6%
2021 130 10.5%
2022 62 5.0%
2023 56 4.5%
2024 121 9.7%
2025 12 1.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Mansfield, OH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Frame started showing signs of rusted out frame in 2003 when the transmission skid weld nuts in the bottom of the frame rusted out as well as the body side step weld nuts in the frame. In 2010, 3 or the 4 rear axle control arms broke free from the frame causing brake lines to fail while driving. I was able to use parking brake and downshifting manual transmission to get home. I was lucky that the rear axle didn't completely separate or the failed brake cause a serious accident. The TJ frames are poorly designed with no drainage causing them to rust from the inside out.

NHTSA complaint #11505258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Branford, CT

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY FRAME IS ROTTING OUT FAST AND FURIOUS, I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE SECTIONS, THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROLS ARMS HAVE RIPPED OFF, THE BODY FELL THREW THE MOUNTS, PAID TO HAVE THAT FIXED

NHTSA complaint #11246152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 132,000 miles Chillicothe, OH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ON MY 1998 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT, CHRYSLER PUT A HOLE IN THE FRAME TO ACCESS THE REAR SWAY ARM BOLT AND WHEN THEY DID THAT IT LET WATER , DIRT, SALT ETC INTO THE FRAME AND CAUSE THE FRAME TO ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME ONE I WANT TO PUT THE WORD OUT TO HAVE IT FIX BECAUSE IF IT WAS TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING YOUR JEEP IT CAN COST SOMEONE THERE LIFE. MINE HAS YET TO DO SO BECAUSE I SEEN IT IN TIME AND WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT A RECALL IS NEEDED TO FIX THE PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #11013840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Amherst, OH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DESIGN FLAW WHICH ALLOWS WATER IN BUT NOT OUT CAUSES WATER AND DIRT TO COLLECT INSIDE OF CHASSIS FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10765254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE REPLACING SHOCKS I FOUND MULTIPLE ROT SPOTS IN THE FRAME OF THE JEEP. THESE ROT SPOTS WERE SO BADLY ROTTED THAT I COULD POKE THROUGH WITH MY INDEX FINGER WITH MINIMAL FORCE. HAD TO SEND IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO REPAIR THE FRAME IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10716253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Bountiful, UT

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1998 JEEP WRANGLER. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767939

NHTSA complaint #10007418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cloverdale, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE TRAVELING INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED ON/OFF, ALL GAUGES FAIL TO WORK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #857481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Childress, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FIRST OFF, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN THE GAUGES WOULD SHUT DOWN. I TOOK THE JEEP IN ONCE, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS AND COULDN'T FIX IT IF THEY DIDN'T SEE IT. NEXT, I WAS DRIVING THE JEEP, HAD STOPPED TO GET GAS, THEN STARTED TO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY, THE JEEP NO LONGER WOULD MOVE. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SMELL, AND I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AT 9 P.M, 6 HOURS FROM HOME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP, AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL BE THROUGH WITH IT!!

NHTSA complaint #712299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ontario, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

OIL PRESSURE GAUGE.

NHTSA complaint #609715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wauwatosa, WI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #706888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Franciso, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN/INOPERATIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL.THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTHS, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #834966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millburn, NJ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2/10/98 - 1046 MILES: REAR WINDOW LEAKED, AND BOTH BRAKELIGHT HOUSINGS LEAKED. THE RADIO ALSO STOPPED WORKING. 7/30/98 8988 MILES: THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING. 12/30/98 15,000 MILES - FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT STOPPED RETRACTING.

NHTSA complaint #701768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Natrona Heights, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHEN ALL THE GAUGES IN THE VEHICLE GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THEY KNOW ABOUT PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER IS SAID TO BE WORKING ON SOLUTION. OWNER IS POLICE OFFICER & IS IN VIOLATION BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #832877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfield, OH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED IT LEAKS DOWN OFF THE TOP OF THE TANK ONTO THE SKID PLATE. WITH THE MUFFLER NEXT TO THE GAS TANK THIS POSES A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THE GAUGES WORK INTERMITTENTLY, INCLUDES: TACH, SPEEDOMETER, TEMP, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL, AND AMP METER. WHEN THEY STOP WORKING THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WILLN'T WORK. THE ODOMETER LIGHTS UP BUT NO MILEAGE IS REGISTERED.

NHTSA complaint #700849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Custer, WA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I AM IN CANADA, HOWEVER THIS INFORMATION APPILIES TO ALL WRANGLERS AND YOUR REPLY BY PHONE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THE FRONT SEAT BELT, IN ITS UNUSED, RESTING STATE WITH NO PASSENGERS, OVERLAPS THE DORR STRIKER/ LATCH MECHANISM. IF YOU CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE VEHICLE, YOU SLAM THE SEAT BELT IN THE MECHANISM AND TEAR HOLES IN THE SEAT BELT. IT IF THE SAME FOR BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTS. I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALER, WHO HAS NOT YET REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS, WHICH ARE NOW TORN, AS THEY WOULD GET TORN AGAIN THE SECOND YOU CLOSED THE DOOR. THIS IS A VERY VERY MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT, AND IT IS AMAZING THAT IT HAS ACUTALLY HAPPENED. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT.. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE DEALER WILL COVER IT UP AND PEOPLE WILL DEFINETLY GET HURT FROM THIS. I KNOW THAT I'M IN CANADA, BUT PLEASE CALL ME ANYWAYS, COLLECT IF YOU HAVE TO. ALSO, DON'T GIVE MY NAME TO JEEP... I DON'T WANT THEM TO SOMEHOW BLACKLIST ME... JUST GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT ANY NEW WRANGLER AND YOU'LL BE SURPRISED. THANKS

NHTSA complaint #700493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mound, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. THE DASH AND THE GAUGES (SPEEDOMETER, RPM, ETC.) STOPPED WORKING. DEALER CONTACTED TO REPAIR WORK, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #828546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Jeep Wrangler problems

← Full 1998 Jeep Wrangler report