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 reports
176,000 miles · Jul 16, 2017
Structure
TAKATA RECALL REPORTING THIS IN HOPES OF HAVING THE ISSUE RESOLVED BY NHTSA OR CHRYSLER... I HAVE A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER AND LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, MINE HAS DEVELOPED MAJOR FRAME RUST. I KNOW THIS ISNT GOING TO BE RESOLVED ANYTIME SOON, BUT I NEED TO GET MINE FIXED NOW. HOPEFULLY IF THERE IS EVER A RECALL I CAN STILL BE APA…
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TAKATA RECALL REPORTING THIS IN HOPES OF HAVING THE ISSUE RESOLVED BY NHTSA OR CHRYSLER... I HAVE A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER AND LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, MINE HAS DEVELOPED MAJOR FRAME RUST. I KNOW THIS ISNT GOING TO BE RESOLVED ANYTIME SOON, BUT I NEED TO GET MINE FIXED NOW. HOPEFULLY IF THERE IS EVER A RECALL I CAN STILL BE APART OF IT EVEN AFTER MINE IS REPAIRED. IM GOING TO BE HAVING IT PATCHED FOR NOW AS A FRAME REPLACEMENT WILL COST WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME AT THE MOMENT. MYSELF, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS WOULD GREATLY BENIFIT FROM THIS BEING RECALLED. THERE ARE A LOT OF JEEPS OUT THERE DRIVING ON REPAIRED FRAMES. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEING AS THERE ARE SO MANY WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11005524
88,900 miles · Aug 18, 2016
Seat Belts
SEAT BELTS DO NOT GRAB WHEN PULLED RAPIDLY, MOST OF THE TIME. THE CENTRIFUGAL PAWLS SEEM TO NOT BE FREELY MOVING OUTWARD AND HOLDING THE BELT FROM FREELY PLAYING OUT, WHEN THEY SHOULD. I MADE THE TEST WHILE PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND OFF, AND ALSO WHILE IN MOTION.
NHTSA ODI #10897011
124,000 miles · Mar 7, 2016
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE SPEED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
NHTSA ODI #10840221
180,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015
Unknown Or Other
DESIGN FLAW WHICH ALLOWS WATER IN BUT NOT OUT CAUSES WATER AND DIRT TO COLLECT INSIDE OF CHASSIS FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
NHTSA ODI #10765254
90,900 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL SPEED INCREASED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO SHUTTING OFF SPEED CONTROL OR BY HITTING THE BRAKES CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED ONLY PUSHING IN CLUTCH WHILE THE ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY AND PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE ONTO SIDE OF ROAD TURNING OFF KEY STOPPED THIS . WHEN STARTED BACK UP ENGINE STILL RAC…
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WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL SPEED INCREASED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO SHUTTING OFF SPEED CONTROL OR BY HITTING THE BRAKES CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED ONLY PUSHING IN CLUTCH WHILE THE ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY AND PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE ONTO SIDE OF ROAD TURNING OFF KEY STOPPED THIS . WHEN STARTED BACK UP ENGINE STILL RACING. SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO NEVER USED SPEED CONTROL AGAIN UNTIL THIS
NHTSA ODI #10762100
100,000 miles · Jul 3, 2015
StructureSuspension
THE RUST IS SO BAD ON THE JEEPS IT'S RIDICULOUS IT'S NOT SAFE YOUR GOING TO KILL SOMEONE WHEN THERE REAR AXLE SHOOTS OUT FROM UNDER THEM THIS IS A ISSUE YOU SHOULD FIX NOT THE CONSUMER I WILL NOT BE BUYING THIS PRODUCT AGAIN IF IT IS MY FIXED. 98 TJ JEEP WRANGLER
NHTSA ODI #10731857
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2015
Unknown Or Other
WHILE REPLACING SHOCKS I FOUND MULTIPLE ROT SPOTS IN THE FRAME OF THE JEEP. THESE ROT SPOTS WERE SO BADLY ROTTED THAT I COULD POKE THROUGH WITH MY INDEX FINGER WITH MINIMAL FORCE. HAD TO SEND IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO REPAIR THE FRAME IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
NHTSA ODI #10716253
99,945 miles · Apr 29, 2015
StructureSuspension
DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROT THAT IS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE, WHILE TRAVELING I HIT A BUMP AND SNAPPED MY DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM. THIS CONSEQUENTLY MADE FOR A DANGEROUS RIDE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR IT I NOTICED HOW BAD THE FRAME WAS ROTTED, BUT UNLIKE NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE WOULD HAVE EQUAL CORROSION. T…
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DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROT THAT IS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE, WHILE TRAVELING I HIT A BUMP AND SNAPPED MY DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM. THIS CONSEQUENTLY MADE FOR A DANGEROUS RIDE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR IT I NOTICED HOW BAD THE FRAME WAS ROTTED, BUT UNLIKE NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE WOULD HAVE EQUAL CORROSION. THE INSIDE WAS ROTTED MUCH WORSE, AND PARTS OF THE FRAME EASILY CRUMBLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10713501
128,000 miles · Mar 29, 2015
StructureSuspension
THE FRAME AROUND THE CONTROL ARMS ARE RUSTING, THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED AND THERE ARE MORE 97-06 WRANGLERS WITH RUSTED FRAMES THAN NOT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702422
106,132 miles · Mar 29, 2015
Structure
PURCHASED A USED 1998 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT ON DECEMBER 27 2014. HAD IT IN A SHOP FOR NEW TIRES WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE FRAME WAS ROTTED AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM INSPECTED IT AND SURE ENOUGH, ROTTED FRAME AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY AGREED TO PAY 1700 DOLLARS TOWARDS THE COST OF A FRAME SWAP AND I…
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PURCHASED A USED 1998 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT ON DECEMBER 27 2014. HAD IT IN A SHOP FOR NEW TIRES WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE FRAME WAS ROTTED AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM INSPECTED IT AND SURE ENOUGH, ROTTED FRAME AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY AGREED TO PAY 1700 DOLLARS TOWARDS THE COST OF A FRAME SWAP AND IT COST ME 1000 DOLLARS MORE FOR A TOTAL OF 2700 DOLLARS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REAL ISSUE WITH JEEPS BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 97 TO 04, I MAY BE WRONG ON THE EXACT YEARS BUT THERE IS A DEFINITE PATTERN OF BAD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES/BAD QUALITY STEEL TO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS FRAME ROT. IS CHRYSLER WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? BIG CORPORATIONS AND POLITICS MEET TO SCREW THE GENERAL PUBLIC ONCE AGAIN? CHRYSLER, TAKE A LESSON FROM TOYOTA AND FIX THESE FRAMES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND THEIR FRAME BREAKS. MY JEEP WAS TOTALLY BONE STOCK WHEN THIS WAS DISCOVERED. I'M NOT TRYING TO GET A DOLLAR BACK FOR WHAT I PAID, JUST TRYING TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS AS HAVE MANY OTHERS. JEEPERS LOVER THEIR JEEPS NO DOUBT AND ARE VERY LOYAL TO THE BRAND. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS AND DO THE RIGHT THING. I HOPE MANY MORE COME FORWARD AND STEPS ARE TAKEN TO RIGHT THIS WRONG BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. CHRYSLER CAN BLAME IT ON ROAD SALT OR SEA AIR OR WHATEVER, BUT THERE ARE OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURERS WITH CARS STILL ON THE ROAD FROM THE 60'S AND 70'S AND EARLIER ERAS WITH NO FRAME PROBLEMS AT ALL. BIG CORPORATIONS HIDE BEHIND BAD POLITICS AND THEY WORK HAND IN HAND TO NOT TAKE BLAME FOR THINGS LIKE THIS. ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH POLITICS IN AMERICA. *TR
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.
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