IllustrationEXHAUST HEADER SPLIT OPEN AT HEAT EFFECTED ZONE OF WELD.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
1525–50K
1850–75K
1675–100K
17100–150K
5150K+
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
What owners actually said
265 reportsAIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND KNOCKED OUT DIGITAL CONSOLE READINGS. BOTH DOORS BULKED IN HALF DUE TO COLD WEATHER, FAILING TO LATCH SHUT. STEERING BOX IS LEAKING DUE TO A CRACK. LAST ITEM WAS REPLACED THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO RECURRING FAILURE. *AK TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER WERE REPAIRED DUE TO LEAKING TRANSMIS…
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AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND KNOCKED OUT DIGITAL CONSOLE READINGS. BOTH DOORS BULKED IN HALF DUE TO COLD WEATHER, FAILING TO LATCH SHUT. STEERING BOX IS LEAKING DUE TO A CRACK. LAST ITEM WAS REPLACED THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO RECURRING FAILURE. *AK TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER WERE REPAIRED DUE TO LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES. *SLC
WHEN CLOSING DOOR LATCH CUT THE BELT. *AK
WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS INTO VEHICLE ON PASSENGERS SIDE FLOOR DUE TO HEATER HOUSING AND SEAL MALFUNCTIONING. HAS IT REPAIRED TWICE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *NLM
CONTROL ARM BRACKET SNAPPED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM BRACKET SNAPPED OFF AND LEFT CONTROL ARM BRACKET TWISTED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE AND RAN OFF OF THE ROAD. *YH
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 I…
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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
BRAKES HAD FALLEN OUT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP.*AK
ALL DASH GAUGES ARE MALFUNCTIONING, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND TACKOMETER, CAUSING ENGINE TO CUT OFF.*AK
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED NEAR THE FLANGE.*AK
PROBLEM 1: INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUTS DOWN AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. PROBLEM 2: WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT MAKES A SQEAKING OR GRINDING LIKE NOISE.*AK
Official recalls
298V048000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.