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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

Power Train complaints

33 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2000
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED AN ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING ANITFREEZE. 3 DIFFERENT TRIPS TO MAKE REPAIRS, NO ACTION ON FIRST TRIP, SECOND TRIP, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THIRD TRIP, DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR. VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON RIGHT HAND SIDE AND ONCE O…

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THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED AN ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING ANITFREEZE. 3 DIFFERENT TRIPS TO MAKE REPAIRS, NO ACTION ON FIRST TRIP, SECOND TRIP, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THIRD TRIP, DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR. VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON RIGHT HAND SIDE AND ONCE ON LEFT HAND SIDE DUE TO BELTS GETTING PINCHED IN HARDTOP DOORS AND DAMAGING BELTS. BELT ON RIGHT HAND HAS HAD FAILURE OF SEAT BELT INERTIA LOCK DURING HARD STOP. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED MOMENTARILY. FIX WAS TO CLEAN AND GREASE CONNECTORS. SYSTEM IS STARTING TO REPEAT SAME PROBLEM, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. STEERING COLUMN LOWER BUSHING HAS DEVELOPED NOISE, AFTER RAIN OR ONSET OF COLD WEATHER. DEALER STATES FIX IS TO LUBE BUSHING, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS AFTER 4 DEALER VISITS. REAR AXLE SEALS ON LEFT HAND AND RIGHT HAND WERE LEAKING, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCKUP WITH MODERATE BRAKE APPLICATION ON DAMP PAVEMENT OR SANDY ROAD SURFACES. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEALS, BUT NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT POSSIBLE BRAKE LINING CONTAMINATION OR CLEANING. VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED WATER LEAKAGE FROM AROUND WINDSHIELD ON LEFT AND RIGHT HAND SIDES, RIGHT HAND HARDTOP DOOR HINGE ATTACH BOLTS, THRU SEALS ON COWL AND AROUND DOORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALL SEALS, RTV'D GAPS, AND INSTALLED UPDATED DOOR SEALS, BUT VEHICLE STILL LEAKS. ALSO, CARPETS WERE WATER DAMAGED IN FRONT PASSENGER AREA DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE FROM VEHICLE BODY AND AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT FOR UP TO TWO DAYS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR WATER LEAKS AND MULTIPLE REPAIR COMPLAINTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #717525

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1999
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

WATERLEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE, DEALER CAN NOT FIX.....GEARS GRIND GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND...AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INTSRUMENT PANEL FAILS, DEALER HAS FIXED ONCE

NHTSA ODI #714410

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Power TrainUnknown 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 …

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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 ODI #712299

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Power Train

MY WIFE WAS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND THE STICK SHIFT SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR HARD. WHEN WE CALLED JIM MARSH JEEP MY WIFE TOLD THEM THE STICK SHIFT CAME OFF AND THE PERSON SAID "YOU MUST HAVE A WRANGLER". THIS HAS TO BE MORE THAN AN ISOLATED INCEDENT. HAD WE BEE…

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MY WIFE WAS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND THE STICK SHIFT SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR HARD. WHEN WE CALLED JIM MARSH JEEP MY WIFE TOLD THEM THE STICK SHIFT CAME OFF AND THE PERSON SAID "YOU MUST HAVE A WRANGLER". THIS HAS TO BE MORE THAN AN ISOLATED INCEDENT. HAD WE BEEN 4 WHEELING SOME WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #711370

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB HAD BLOWN UP UNDER VEHICLE. HEARD METAL AGAINST METAL RATTLING & THEN A LOUD BANG. VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY ON HIGHWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE DRIVETRAIN HAD EXPLODED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY. *…

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WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB HAD BLOWN UP UNDER VEHICLE. HEARD METAL AGAINST METAL RATTLING & THEN A LOUD BANG. VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY ON HIGHWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE DRIVETRAIN HAD EXPLODED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838266

Mileage unknown · May 26, 1999
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706888

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1999
Air BagsPower TrainSeat Belts

WHEELS LOCKED UP WHILE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IN ICE CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #543925

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

EXPERIENCING SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607958

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKES / ROTORS / BRAKE PADS EXPERIENCED FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607186

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Air BagsEquipmentPower Train

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. ALSO,PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, AND ANTENNA WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A CPV THAT BURNT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830518

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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