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1998 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Jeep Wrangler do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 265.

About this comparison →
265Owner complaints

Model-year median: 265

2Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
202
19952
1996401
1997265
1998213
1999251
2000170
2001
Compare all Wrangler years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
58Engine And Engine Cooling
53Air Bags
46Power Train
33Suspension
26
All reported categories
Structure
25Seat Belts
17Steering
16Unknown Or Other
16Visibility
16Fuel System, Gasoline
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14Vehicle Speed Control
11Equipment
7Fuel System, Other
6Exterior Lighting
5Parking Brake
4Tires
4Wheels
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Seats
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

76 reports with mileage · 189 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports9 fire reports12 injury reports

Equipment Adaptive/mobility complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 7, 2008
Equipment Adaptive/mobilitySuspension

PURCHASED REPLACEMENT FRONT BALL JOINTS FOR JEEP WRANGLER(1985-1998) FROM AUTOZONE. NOTICED THAT THE TWO PARTS WERE DIFFERENT, BUT THE BOX HAD THE SAME PART NUMBER. ONE FIT PERFECTLY, BUT THE OTHER COULD ONLY BE INSTALLED IN A WAY THAT COULD CAUSE FUTURE SUSPENSION FAILURE. I WENT TO ANOTHER AUTOZONE STORE AND FOUND THE SAME TWO…

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PURCHASED REPLACEMENT FRONT BALL JOINTS FOR JEEP WRANGLER(1985-1998) FROM AUTOZONE. NOTICED THAT THE TWO PARTS WERE DIFFERENT, BUT THE BOX HAD THE SAME PART NUMBER. ONE FIT PERFECTLY, BUT THE OTHER COULD ONLY BE INSTALLED IN A WAY THAT COULD CAUSE FUTURE SUSPENSION FAILURE. I WENT TO ANOTHER AUTOZONE STORE AND FOUND THE SAME TWO DIFFERENT PARTS MARKED WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER, SO IT WAS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. THE PART NUMBER IS FA1633. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226978

Official recalls

2

98V048000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Mar 12, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE FRONT SEAT BELT SHOULDER TURNING LOOP ANCHORS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND ARE NOT PROPERLY HARDENED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELT TURNING LOOP ON THESE VEHICLES.

98V023000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR DIAPHRAGM CAN SPLIT OR TEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED AND A LOSS OF POWER ASSIST DURING BRAKE APPLICATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE BOOSTER DATE CODE AND ANY BOOSTERS WITH THE SUSPECT MANUFACTURING DATE RANGE WILL BE REPLACED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Jeep Wrangler problems

Jeep Wrangler transmission problems →Jeep Wrangler electrical problems →