← New search

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 →

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN/INOPERATIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL.THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTHS, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUS…

Read full complaint

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN/INOPERATIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL.THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTHS, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834966

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 30, 1998
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

WHEN ALL THE GAUGES IN THE VEHICLE GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THEY KNOW ABOUT PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER IS SAID TO BE WORKING ON SOLUTION. OWNER IS POLICE OFFICER & IS IN VIOLATION BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832877

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…

Read full complaint

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 · Nov 10, 1998
Unknown Or Other

I AM IN CANADA, HOWEVER THIS INFORMATION APPILIES TO ALL WRANGLERS AND YOUR REPLY BY PHONE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THE FRONT SEAT BELT, IN ITS UNUSED, RESTING STATE WITH NO PASSENGERS, OVERLAPS THE DORR STRIKER/ LATCH MECHANISM. IF YOU CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE VEHICLE, YOU SLAM THE SEAT BELT IN THE MECHANISM AND TEAR HOLES IN THE …

Read full complaint

I AM IN CANADA, HOWEVER THIS INFORMATION APPILIES TO ALL WRANGLERS AND YOUR REPLY BY PHONE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THE FRONT SEAT BELT, IN ITS UNUSED, RESTING STATE WITH NO PASSENGERS, OVERLAPS THE DORR STRIKER/ LATCH MECHANISM. IF YOU CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE VEHICLE, YOU SLAM THE SEAT BELT IN THE MECHANISM AND TEAR HOLES IN THE SEAT BELT. IT IF THE SAME FOR BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTS. I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALER, WHO HAS NOT YET REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS, WHICH ARE NOW TORN, AS THEY WOULD GET TORN AGAIN THE SECOND YOU CLOSED THE DOOR. THIS IS A VERY VERY MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT, AND IT IS AMAZING THAT IT HAS ACUTALLY HAPPENED. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT.. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE DEALER WILL COVER IT UP AND PEOPLE WILL DEFINETLY GET HURT FROM THIS. I KNOW THAT I'M IN CANADA, BUT PLEASE CALL ME ANYWAYS, COLLECT IF YOU HAVE TO. ALSO, DON'T GIVE MY NAME TO JEEP... I DON'T WANT THEM TO SOMEHOW BLACKLIST ME... JUST GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT ANY NEW WRANGLER AND YOU'LL BE SURPRISED. THANKS

NHTSA ODI #700493

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1998
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. THE DASH AND THE GAUGES (SPEEDOMETER, RPM, ETC.) STOPPED WORKING. DEALER CONTACTED TO REPAIR WORK, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA ODI #828546

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