IllustrationEXHAUST MANIFOLD/HEADER CRACKED LATERALLY IN STAINLESS STEEL PIPE IN TWO PLACES JUST OFF OF ENGINE. *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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
53 reportsTHE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED AN ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING ANITFREEZE. 3 DIFFERENT TRIPS TO MAKE REPAIRS, NO ACTION ON FIRST TRIP, SECOND TRIP, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THIRD TRIP, DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR. VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON RIGHT HAND SIDE AND ONCE O…
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THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED AN ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING ANITFREEZE. 3 DIFFERENT TRIPS TO MAKE REPAIRS, NO ACTION ON FIRST TRIP, SECOND TRIP, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THIRD TRIP, DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR. VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON RIGHT HAND SIDE AND ONCE ON LEFT HAND SIDE DUE TO BELTS GETTING PINCHED IN HARDTOP DOORS AND DAMAGING BELTS. BELT ON RIGHT HAND HAS HAD FAILURE OF SEAT BELT INERTIA LOCK DURING HARD STOP. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED MOMENTARILY. FIX WAS TO CLEAN AND GREASE CONNECTORS. SYSTEM IS STARTING TO REPEAT SAME PROBLEM, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. STEERING COLUMN LOWER BUSHING HAS DEVELOPED NOISE, AFTER RAIN OR ONSET OF COLD WEATHER. DEALER STATES FIX IS TO LUBE BUSHING, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS AFTER 4 DEALER VISITS. REAR AXLE SEALS ON LEFT HAND AND RIGHT HAND WERE LEAKING, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCKUP WITH MODERATE BRAKE APPLICATION ON DAMP PAVEMENT OR SANDY ROAD SURFACES. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEALS, BUT NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT POSSIBLE BRAKE LINING CONTAMINATION OR CLEANING. VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED WATER LEAKAGE FROM AROUND WINDSHIELD ON LEFT AND RIGHT HAND SIDES, RIGHT HAND HARDTOP DOOR HINGE ATTACH BOLTS, THRU SEALS ON COWL AND AROUND DOORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALL SEALS, RTV'D GAPS, AND INSTALLED UPDATED DOOR SEALS, BUT VEHICLE STILL LEAKS. ALSO, CARPETS WERE WATER DAMAGED IN FRONT PASSENGER AREA DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE FROM VEHICLE BODY AND AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT FOR UP TO TWO DAYS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR WATER LEAKS AND MULTIPLE REPAIR COMPLAINTS.*AK
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD/HEADER CRACKS AT THE BOTTOM ON THE INSIDE PIPE I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE AND IT IS APPERANTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON 1997 - 2000 MODELS. IT IS AN EMMISSIONS LEAK AND ALSO A POSSIBLE CORBON MONOXSIDE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF 8 JEEPS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO VERY MANY PEOPLE. THE REP…
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THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD/HEADER CRACKS AT THE BOTTOM ON THE INSIDE PIPE I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE AND IT IS APPERANTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON 1997 - 2000 MODELS. IT IS AN EMMISSIONS LEAK AND ALSO A POSSIBLE CORBON MONOXSIDE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF 8 JEEPS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO VERY MANY PEOPLE. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME PART THAT IS NOW INSTALLED ON MY JEEP, SO I DON'T EXPECT IT TO LAST VERY LONG.
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
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN/INOPERATIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL.THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTHS, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUS…
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DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN/INOPERATIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL.THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTHS, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK
RADIATOR FAILED. YH
ENGINE VALVE FAILED. *YC
MAP SENSOR FAILED. MJS
WATER PUMP FAILED. MJS
BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES AT #4 CYLINDER FAILED. YH
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.