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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.

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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

IN TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP GASKET FAILURE. I FILLED THE FUEL TANK ON A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER ON A SUNDAY NIGHT, THE VEHICLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVER NIGHT AND INTO THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON. UPON RETURNING HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE FUEL RUNNING AT A STEAY STREAM O…

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IN TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP GASKET FAILURE. I FILLED THE FUEL TANK ON A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER ON A SUNDAY NIGHT, THE VEHICLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVER NIGHT AND INTO THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON. UPON RETURNING HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE FUEL RUNNING AT A STEAY STREAM ONTO MY DRIVEWAY FROM THE JEEP I HAD FILLED UP THE PREVIOUS EVENING. I ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK AND STOP IT, HOWEVER I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. I REMOVED THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FUEL TO BE LEAKING AROUND THE RETAINING RING FOR THE FUEL PUMP THAT IS INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK. I CHECKED THE SCREW ON RETAINING RING FOR TIGHTNESS AND FOUND IT TO BE SECURE AND SNUG ON THE TANK. THE RING IS A SCREW ON TYPE COLLAR MADE OF HARDENED PLASTIC, WHICH HOLDS THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TANK, THE FUEL PUMP SITS ON A FLAT RUBBER GASKET WHICH SITS ON THE LIP OF THE PLASTIC GAS TANK. UPON REMOVING THE RETAINING RING AND LIFTING THE FUEL PUMP OUT OF THE TANK I NOTICED THE GASKET WAS CRIMPED AND TORN ON THE TOP FLAT PORTION OF THE GASKET. I CONTACTED THE OWNER TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THE GASKET TEAR, THE OWNER CLAIMED TO HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR A FAULTY FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR A COUPLE MONTHS EARLIER. WHICH WAS INLINE WITH WHAT I HAD ASSUMED SEEING AS THE FUEL TANK HAD GREASE PENCIL WRITING ON TOP OF THE TANK INDICATING A TECHNICIANS INITIALS, DATE AND MILEAGE. THIS PROBABLY EXPLAINS THE TORN GASKET, HOWEVER UPON OBTAINING A NEW GASKET AND ATTEMPTING TO REINSTALL THE NEW GASKET IN THE TANK WITH THE FUEL PUMP I NOTICED THE REASON THE GASKET PROBABLY TORE, THE RETAINING RING HAS A TENDENCY TO GRAB THE GASKET AND TURN IT AS THE RING SEATS ITSELF. I WAS VERY CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS WHILE INSTALLING THIS RING AND GASKET CONSIDERING I DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER GASKET AND I DID NOT WANT TO TEAR THIS REPLACEMENT PART. I NEED MORE ROOM TO FINISH. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT VPBARAZ@MAIL.COM THANKS. IM OUT OF ROOM.

NHTSA ODI #723995

Mileage unknown · May 5, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineInterior Lighting

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837513

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown 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 CR…

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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 ODI #700849

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO FAULTY FUEL LINES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829576

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.

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