1998 Jeep Wrangler

RUST HAS EATEN COMPLETELY THROUGH JEEP FRAME IN REAR SUPPORT AREA THROUGH ABOUT MIDWAY OF THE DOOR SECTION. THIS IS NOT MINOR SURFACE RUST, BUT LARGE GAPING HOLES THAT I CAN PUT MY WHOLE HAND INSIDE OF. THE JEEP WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1998 AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFFROAD. IT HAS VERY LOW HIGHWAY MILEAGE AND IS IN AN AREA WHERE THE WINTERS ARE MILD, SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROAD SALT USED DURING THE WINTERS HERE. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I HAD RECENTLY TAKEN IT TO A FABRICATION SHOP TO SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED, AND AFTER EXAMINATION THE SHOP OWNER SAID THERE IS NO SOLID METAL LEFT IN THE FRAME FOR A REPAIR TO BE POSSIBLE. HE SAID THERE ARE NO DRAIN HOLES ON BOTTOM OF THE JEEP FRAME, BUT ONLY HOLES THAT THE MANUFACTURER PUT ON THE SIDE OF THE FRAME. HE SAID, AS A RESULT ROAD GRIME ENTERED THE FRAME FROM THESE MANUFACTURED SIDE HOLES, GOT TRAPPED INSIDE THE FRAME AND CAUSED IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. HE SAID THAT IS WHY I HAD NOT DETECTED THE SEVERITY OF THE RUST PROBLEM BEFORE NOW. THE SHOP OWNER PUT HIS HAND INSIDE THE FRAME AND PULLED OUT A HANDFUL OF MOIST ROAD GRIME AND LOOSE RUST FLAKES TO FURTHER ILLUSTRATE THE PROBLEM. THE SHOP OWNER WENT ON TO INFORM ME THAT MY JEEP IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IN STARK CONTRAST, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY OF THE JEEP HAS ABSOLUTELY NO RUST AT ALL. *TR

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

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. *JB

THIS IS NOW THE 3RD SWAY BAR END-LINK I'VE REPLACED ON MY JEEP, AND THE 2ND I'VE REPLACED ON MY FRIEND'S 97 JEEP WRANGLER. I ASKED MY MECHANIC ABOUT THIS AND HE TOLD ME HE GETS THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. HOW CAN SUCH WIDE SPREAD FAILURE OF AN IMPORTANT SAFTEY ITEM LIKE THE SWAYBAR END LINK ESCAPE BEING PART OF A RECALL. MY JEEP HAS FAILED THE PENNSYLVANIA SAFETY INSPECTION FOR TWO YEARS NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IN THE FALL OF 2002 WHILE MAKING AN SUDDEN EVASIVE MANUVER, MY JEEP HANDLED THE SITUATION SO POORLY THAT I ENDED UP CRASHING THE VEHICLE. I FOUND, DURING REPAIR, THAT THE SWAYBAR END-LINK WAS NOT IN WORKING ORDER.*AK

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE ALL PRETAINING TO THE FRONT END, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START SHAKING REALLY BAD AT BETWEEN 40-50 MPH AND WE HAVE HAD LOUD BANKING NOICE COME FROM THE FRONT END AND WHEN SHIFTING. THE TIRES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES BEFORE THEY EVEN HAD 9,000 MILES ON THEM. THE VEHICLE IS A REAL LEMON. THERE HAS BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT PEELING AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS. THEY ARE NOW REFUSING TO FIX THE FRONT END AGAIN THAT WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SINCE WE BOUGHT IT.*AK

1. THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED JUMPING IN AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR IN THE 32 TO 50 MPH RANGE. BUBBLES ARE PRESENT IN THE FLUID INDICATING A SEAL IS FAILING. REPAIR ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME IS OVER $1000. THIS FAILURE IN SNOWY DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSES VEHICLE CONTROL PROBLEMS.2. PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTS INTERMITTENTLY. THE PASSENGER WILL LEAN FORWARD AND BACK MAY NOT NOTICE THE SEATBELT HAS NOT RETRACTED. THIS CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. 3. SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT IDLE. VEHICLE IDLE WILL JUMP FROM 1.5K TO 3K WITHOUT WARNING. OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. 4. ANTI-SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE. THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST INSIDIOUS FAILURE. THE STABILIZER BAR LINK BALL WILL CORRODE IN THE SOCKET AND CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND IT COVERS THE FAILURE. WHEN AN EMERGENCY TURN IS REQUIRED, THE JEEP WILL SWAY VIOLENTLY. I TALKED TO THE CHRYSLER PARTS ATTENDANT AND HE SAID HE SELLS ABOUT 12 A WEEK TO THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE FAILURE. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT NOTICE THIS, IT IS A TIME BOMB. THE PARTS ATTENDANT TOLD ME I WOULD BE BACK SOON TO REPLACE MORE. WHAT HE SAID IS TRUE.