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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 →
265Owner complaints

Model-year median: 265

2Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
202
19952
1996401
1997265
1998213
1999251
2000170
2001
Compare all Wrangler years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
58Engine And Engine Cooling
53Air Bags
46Power Train
33Suspension
26
All reported categories
Structure
25Seat Belts
17Steering
16Unknown Or Other
16Visibility
16Fuel System, Gasoline
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14Vehicle Speed Control
11Equipment
7Fuel System, Other
6Exterior Lighting
5Parking Brake
4Tires
4Wheels
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Seats
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1

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.

22 crash reports9 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

53 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HAD A CLATTER NOISE AND SHORT BLOCK WAS REPLACED. EVER SINCE, THERE HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHENEVER VEHICLE IS RUNNING - DOES NOT HAVE TO BE MOVING. PREVIOUS ENGINE DID NOT HAVE VIBRATION. OTHER VEHICLES TEST DRIVEN TO COMPARE DO NOT VIBRATE AS STRONGLY. DEALER STATES THIS IS A NORMAL VIBRATION AND WILL NOT DO ANYTH…

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ENGINE HAD A CLATTER NOISE AND SHORT BLOCK WAS REPLACED. EVER SINCE, THERE HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHENEVER VEHICLE IS RUNNING - DOES NOT HAVE TO BE MOVING. PREVIOUS ENGINE DID NOT HAVE VIBRATION. OTHER VEHICLES TEST DRIVEN TO COMPARE DO NOT VIBRATE AS STRONGLY. DEALER STATES THIS IS A NORMAL VIBRATION AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. REAR AXLE HOUSING HAD OIL LEAK DUE TO AXLE TUBE NOT SEATED PROPERLY INTO CENTER HOUSING. COMPLETE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

NHTSA ODI #700764

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1998
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN SHORTED OUT ALSO, ENGINE CONTROLLER, AND HORN FAILURE.ALSO AIR BAG AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI #781114

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE EAR MAIN SEAL MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI #539098

Official recalls

2

98V048000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Jeep Wrangler problems

Jeep Wrangler transmission problems →Jeep Wrangler electrical problems →