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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

Visibility complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 22, 1999
Visibility

EACH TIME I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANYWHERE WITHIN ANY VICINITY BEHIND A TRUCK AND ANY SIZE OF DEBRIS IS THROWN UP ON MY WINDSHIELD....IT CAUSES A BREAK. EACH TIME IT HAS BROKEN....THIS SIZE OF ROCK OR DEBRIS HAS BEEN HARDLY VISIBLE TO THE EYE. THE VERY LAST TIME WAS A TINY PIECE OF ASPHALT AND IT LEFT THE BIGGEST BREAK OF ALL…

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EACH TIME I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANYWHERE WITHIN ANY VICINITY BEHIND A TRUCK AND ANY SIZE OF DEBRIS IS THROWN UP ON MY WINDSHIELD....IT CAUSES A BREAK. EACH TIME IT HAS BROKEN....THIS SIZE OF ROCK OR DEBRIS HAS BEEN HARDLY VISIBLE TO THE EYE. THE VERY LAST TIME WAS A TINY PIECE OF ASPHALT AND IT LEFT THE BIGGEST BREAK OF ALL. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF DEFAULT IN THE WINDSHIELD FOR IT TO BREAK SO EASILY. I AM CURIOUS AS IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH JEEPS AND NONE HAVE EXPIERENCED THIS TYPE OF DIFFICULTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706753

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 · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

REAR WINDOW FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607581

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 · Aug 23, 1998
Visibility

SEAL ON WINDSHIELD OR COWL LEAKS WATER. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BUT CONTINUES TO LEAK.

NHTSA ODI #540291

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1998
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERSLEAVE A BLACK RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE DEALER/ MANUFACTURER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823531

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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