IllustrationELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND CRUISE CONTROL.
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
Electrical System complaints
58 reportsIN DAMP CONDITIONS, THIS CAR IS UNSAFE, WILL LOOSE POWER ON HIGHWAY AFTER RAIN AND EVEN FROM EVENING DAMPNESS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL SHUT DOWN
UNDER DASH WIRING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE GAUGES TO GO OUT, AND STARTED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK
THE JEEP WAS BROUGHT INTO TWO DIFFERENT JEEP DEALERS ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME ELECTRICALPROBLEMS. ON MAY 2, 1999 AFTER BEING PARKED ON THE STREET FOR OVER 10 HOURS, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE ACCORDING TOT HE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. NLM
WILL NEED TO RETURN TO DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME REGARDING INSTRUMENTS/AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM, AND 3RD TIME FOR STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA. SINCE THE 8000 MILE MARK, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AND ALL MY DASH GAUGES DROP TO 0. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOUR TIMES TO GET IT FIXED BUT JEEP HAS FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM IF THIS MEANS THAT IF THERE IS A…
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I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA. SINCE THE 8000 MILE MARK, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AND ALL MY DASH GAUGES DROP TO 0. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOUR TIMES TO GET IT FIXED BUT JEEP HAS FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM IF THIS MEANS THAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER ALREADY THINKS IT HAS. THEY WALK AROUND THE SUBJECT SAYING THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMONLY REPORTED FAILURE IN THE NEW JEEPS, YET I HAVE SEEN NO RECALL INFORMATION ON IT. THEY TOLD ME THEY RECEIVED A NUMBER OF BAD ELECTRICAL HARNESSES THAT CONTROL THE AIRBAG FROM THEIR MEXICO PLANT AND EVEN THE NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE FAILING. I WORRY THAT MY AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE TIME COMES AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRENTY AND IS BEING FIXED FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE WRITTEN THE FACTORY AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP AVOIDS ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. CAN YOU HELP?
CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN SHORTED OUT ALSO, ENGINE CONTROLLER, AND HORN FAILURE.ALSO AIR BAG AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON.
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.