FaultScore

1998 Jeep Wrangler window and wiper problems

16 of the 401 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 52,023 miles.

A

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Windshield 6 37.5%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 5 31.3%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 2 12.5%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 1 6.3%
Glass, Side/Rear 1 6.3%
Visibility 1 6.3%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Jeep Wrangler year

1997 21 5.7%
1998 16 4.3%
1999 15 4.1%
2001 14 3.8%
2004 11 3.0%
2007 15 4.1%
2008 24 6.5%
2010 13 3.5%
2011 14 3.8%
2012 41 11.1%
2013 39 10.5%
2014 13 3.5%
2018 42 11.4%
2019 30 8.1%
2020 33 8.9%
2021 19 5.1%
2023 10 2.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Quakertown, PA

VISIBILITY

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK IN HIGH MODE WHEN COLD. WHEN WARM, ALL MODES WORK. RECENTLY DURING A SNOW STORM THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED, THE WIPERS WILL WORK UNTIL VEHICLE IS WARMED UP AND THEN STOP AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10257564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Anderson, SC

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WATER PUMP LEAKED - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, GAS TANK SEAL LEAKED - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, SEATS RIPPED - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, SUCTION CUP MARKS ON WINDOW - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, FRONT STABILIZER SHOCK LEAKED - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, REAR WINDOW SEAL LEAKED - REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY TWO TIMES AND STILL LEAKS, INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILS - OUT OF WARRANTY NOT REPAIRED, RADIATOR FAILED - OUT OF WARRANTY FIXED AT MY COST, STABILIZER ARM FAILED BOTH SIDES TWICE - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE AND THE OUT OF WARRANTY FIXED AT MY COST, EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED - OUT OF WARRANTY - FIXED AT MY COST, CLUTCH FORK FAILED - OUT OF WARRANTY FIXED AT MY COST, LEAK UNDER THE DASH BOARD PASSENGER SIDE - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. OF ALL THE PROBLEMS ABOVE... LOSS OF INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDLESS OF IN OR OUT OF WARRANTY. LOSS OF GAUGES IS A DRIVING DISTRACTION AND CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. JEEP NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS LONG AS THIS VEHICLE IS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10204168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,000 miles Thomasville, GA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

ON MY JEEP WRANGLER, THE HVAC EVAPORATOR DRAIN TUBE HAS REPEATLY CLOGGED UP, CAUSING CONDENSED WATER TO OVERFLOW THE HVAC HOUSING, AND DRAIN ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR.

NHTSA complaint #10081095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Charleston, SC

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN ERRATIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND AIR BAG LIGHT OPERATION. INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ROLLED BACK TO ZERO, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, AT 82,000 MILES LEFT TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AND AT 78,000 MILES WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED WHILE THE TRUCK WAS STILL RUNNING THE DEFROSTER LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO JEEP DEALERS AND SAID THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10061182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,046 miles KEY Largo, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND LIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. BLOWER POWER FAILED ALTOGETHER (MECHANIC FOUND BURNED OUT WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASHBOARD.) AIR CONDITIONER FAILED --EVAPORATOR AND COMPRESSOR. WATER LEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD (WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED TWICE AT DEALER BUT FAILED TO FIX PROBLEM.) REAR CENTER BREAK LIGHT WIRE FAILED. HOOD LATCH BROKE OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10018850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, OR

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS INTO VEHICLE ON PASSENGERS SIDE FLOOR DUE TO HEATER HOUSING AND SEAL MALFUNCTIONING. HAS IT REPAIRED TWICE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA complaint #8009930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fredericksburg, VA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

AIRBAG LIGHT SPEEDOMETER AND RAM GAUGE FAIL DUE TO WATER ENTERED THE DASH BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. THE LEAK IS A COMMON SEAL FAILURE, WHIDSHIELD IS CAPABLE OF LAYING FLAT AND THE SEAL DOES NOT WORK, IT APPEARS TO CAUSE WATER DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #9001026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakeland, FL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

LEAKS SOMEWHERE IN H/AC VENTING-NO LEAK ON DRIVER SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #713614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakewood, CA

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

SUNROOF FAILED TO CLOSE.

NHTSA complaint #609459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newbury Park, CA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

HEATER BLOWER.

NHTSA complaint #609705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Smyrna, GA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

EACH TIME I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANYWHERE WITHIN ANY VICINITY BEHIND A TRUCK AND ANY SIZE OF DEBRIS IS THROWN UP ON MY WINDSHIELD....IT CAUSES A BREAK. EACH TIME IT HAS BROKEN....THIS SIZE OF ROCK OR DEBRIS HAS BEEN HARDLY VISIBLE TO THE EYE. THE VERY LAST TIME WAS A TINY PIECE OF ASPHALT AND IT LEFT THE BIGGEST BREAK OF ALL. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF DEFAULT IN THE WINDSHIELD FOR IT TO BREAK SO EASILY. I AM CURIOUS AS IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH JEEPS AND NONE HAVE EXPIERENCED THIS TYPE OF DIFFICULTY.

NHTSA complaint #706753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandy, OR

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH VAROUS PARTS: 1. CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD; 2. MUFFLER FAILED/ REPLACED;, 3. WATER LEAKING THROUGH FRONT WINDSHIELD MOULDING; 4. INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT, AND 5. FUEL GAUGE/SENDER WOULD NOT REGISTER PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #837513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

REAR WINDOW FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newtown, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERSLEAVE A BLACK RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE DEALER/ MANUFACTURER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #823531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millburn, NJ

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

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.

Largo, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

SEAL ON WINDSHIELD OR COWL LEAKS WATER. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BUT CONTINUES TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #540291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Jeep Wrangler problems

← Full 1998 Jeep Wrangler report