JEEP SAHARA 2002, CORROSION IN WHEEL LUG NUT HOLES. *BF THE CLEAR COAT ON THE WHEELT SEPARATED CAUSING MOISTURE TO SETTLE BETWEEN THE ALLUMINUM AND CLEAR COAT. *NM
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
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.
What owners actually said
265 reportsCRACKED FUEL LINE. FUEL LEAK RESULTED IN POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE/EXPLOSION AND ENVIORMENTAL DAMAGE.*AK
THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE INTERIOR GAUGES FOR THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS APPEARED ON AND REMAINED ON AS WELL. THE GASOLINE GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER WERE INOPERABLE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC INF…
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THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE INTERIOR GAUGES FOR THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS APPEARED ON AND REMAINED ON AS WELL. THE GASOLINE GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER WERE INOPERABLE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE DASHBOARD PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CLOCK SPRING FOR THE AIR BAG. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER AND ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER DRIVING IT I DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS GAUGE ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. SO I STARTED DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT 98 WRANGLERS HAD BEEN RECALLED IN THE UK FOR BAD GAS GAUGES BUT NOT IN THE US . I WAS WONDERING WHY THAT IS.…
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IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER AND ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER DRIVING IT I DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS GAUGE ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. SO I STARTED DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT 98 WRANGLERS HAD BEEN RECALLED IN THE UK FOR BAD GAS GAUGES BUT NOT IN THE US . I WAS WONDERING WHY THAT IS. AND APPARENTLY THERE ARE MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE 98S. A BAD SENDING UNIT MIGHT NOT BE A PROBLEM TO OTHER PEOPLE BUT I WORK CONSTRUCTION AND SPENT MANY NIGHTS DRIVING TO WORK IN SNOW STORMS. WHEN THEY CALL YOU IN TO SHOVEL SNOW AT 2 AM THERES NOT MANY GAS STATIONS OPEN. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS BEING TOO SHORT. *AK
ON MY JEEP WRANGLER, THE HVAC EVAPORATOR DRAIN TUBE HAS REPEATLY CLOGGED UP, CAUSING CONDENSED WATER TO OVERFLOW THE HVAC HOUSING, AND DRAIN ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR.*AK
I OWN A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER VIN NUMBER [XXX] I PURCHASED NEW ON APR 10, 1998 SINCE FEB. 1, 2003 THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS OFF AND ON NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY . THIS INCLUDED ALL THE GAUGES AND AIR BAG INDICATOR. I HAVE TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER SERVICE SHOP FOR REPAIR ON 2-6-2003, 10-16-2003 AND 5-19-2004. THE FIRS…
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I OWN A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER VIN NUMBER [XXX] I PURCHASED NEW ON APR 10, 1998 SINCE FEB. 1, 2003 THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS OFF AND ON NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY . THIS INCLUDED ALL THE GAUGES AND AIR BAG INDICATOR. I HAVE TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER SERVICE SHOP FOR REPAIR ON 2-6-2003, 10-16-2003 AND 5-19-2004. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THEY SAID THE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD CORROSION AND THEY SPRAYED IT. THE LAST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS TO MUCH CORROSION AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEING IT ABOUT $900.00 THIS VEHICLE AS OF THIS DATE HAS ONLY 16076 MILES ON IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE WHEN INSTRUCTMENT AND AIR BAG INDICATOR HAS STOP WORKING.*AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 * JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. ALL THE OTHER DASHBOARD INDICATORS DO NOT WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY.
I HAVE A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. THE PAINT ON THE SIDE MIRRORS & THE BACK WINDOW HINGES ARE CHIPPING. NOT TO MENTION THE FENDERS FRONT & REAR ARE FADDED. THEY WERE ONCE BLACK & ARE NOW GREY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE MANY JEEPS OUT ON THE ROAD ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMEONE IS CHECKING INTO THIS MATTER. GM SHOULD DO A REC…
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I HAVE A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. THE PAINT ON THE SIDE MIRRORS & THE BACK WINDOW HINGES ARE CHIPPING. NOT TO MENTION THE FENDERS FRONT & REAR ARE FADDED. THEY WERE ONCE BLACK & ARE NOW GREY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE MANY JEEPS OUT ON THE ROAD ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMEONE IS CHECKING INTO THIS MATTER. GM SHOULD DO A RECALL & FIX THE PROBLEM!*AK
I HAVE A 98 TJ JEEP 2.5LT WITH ON IT 57,000 NOW. WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS A MAJOR POWER LOSS IN THE WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. THE SYMPTOMS WERE AS FOLLOWS. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE RPMS & SPEED WOULD RISE SLOWLY. I THOUGH MAYBE THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND DROVE IT BACK HOME . I NOTICED IT GOT…
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I HAVE A 98 TJ JEEP 2.5LT WITH ON IT 57,000 NOW. WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS A MAJOR POWER LOSS IN THE WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. THE SYMPTOMS WERE AS FOLLOWS. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE RPMS & SPEED WOULD RISE SLOWLY. I THOUGH MAYBE THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND DROVE IT BACK HOME . I NOTICED IT GOT WORSE AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING POORLY AT IDLE AND IF YOU GAVE IT GAS IT WOULD BOG DOWN AND DIE. I ALSO NOTICED STRONG EXHAUST FUMES AND VERY LITTLE PRESSURE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. SO I TOOK IT TO THE MUFFLER SHOP FOR A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE JEEP DEALER. BECAUSE IN CA THERE'S A FEDERAL RECALL LAW THAT STATES THAT THE DEALER MUST REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT NO COST TO THE OWNER IF IT FAILS BEFORE 80,000 MILES REGARDLESS IF YOU BOUGHT IT NEW OR NOT AND MINE HAD 56,000. SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A BRAND NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER FREE OF CHARGE AND LABOR. THE JEEPS RUNS GREAT AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY NICE .THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS ON THIS WITH CERTAIN MODELS. HOPE THIS HELPS. OH IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW IF THAT'S THE PROBLEM JUST DISCONNECT THE EXHAUST PIPE GOING UP TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REAL QUICK AND FIRE IT UP IF IT STARTS RIGHT UP AND HAS POWER THEN YOU KNOW THAT'S IT. BUT HOOK IT BACK UP DON'T DRIVE IT LIKE THAT. YOU MIGHT DAMAGE THE ENGINE. YOU'LL NEED A 14MM DEEP SOCKET AND SOME WD40 TO REMOVED THE 2 NUTS ON THE STUDS. THAT'S IT. *NM
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.
Illustration