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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

Seat Belts complaints

17 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 · Apr 16, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELTS HANG IN THE WAY OF THE DOOR WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THEM THE BE DAMAGED BY THE DOOR AND LATCHING MECHANISM. THIS WEAKENS THE SEAT BELT AND COULD CAUSE SEAT BELT FAILURE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY UNRESTRAINED PASSAGERS IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #705679

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 · Dec 31, 1998
Exterior LightingSeat BeltsUnknown 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 ODI #701768

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1998
Seat Belts

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BUCKLE SIDE ARE FASTENED TO THE SEATS NOT THE FLOOR THE SEATS ARE MOVABLE CHRYSLER TOLD ME THIS IS SAFE I DISAGREE

NHTSA ODI #701260

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1998
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

DRIVER HIT A BERM OF ROCK/SAND AT APPROX. 30 MPH, RIGHT FRONT OF JEEP, THE SEAT BELT AROUND THE DRIVER'S WAIST HELD, BUT THE BELT OVER THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER DID NOT HOLD, THE DRIVER'S FACE HIT THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD AND BROKE THREE TEETH THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED.ALSO, AIRBAG'S DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #781373

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1998
Seat Belts

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BUCKLED SIDE OF FRONT SEATS ARE CONNECTED TO THE SEAT INSTEAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827210

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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