IllustrationON 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
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
Equipment complaints
7 reports1998 JEEP WRANGLER 4.0L, EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK AT 30,000 MILES. JEEP/CHRYSLER REFUSED TO FIX, STATING ONLY CATALYTIC CONVERTER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CRACK OCCURRED IN A WELD JOINING THE TWO PIPE, ALMOST 3/4 OF THE WAY AROUND THE PIPE, CAUSING COSIDERABLE NOISE, AND LOSS OF POWER. GUAGES FAIL PERIODICALLY, BUT COME BACK ON …
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1998 JEEP WRANGLER 4.0L, EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK AT 30,000 MILES. JEEP/CHRYSLER REFUSED TO FIX, STATING ONLY CATALYTIC CONVERTER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CRACK OCCURRED IN A WELD JOINING THE TWO PIPE, ALMOST 3/4 OF THE WAY AROUND THE PIPE, CAUSING COSIDERABLE NOISE, AND LOSS OF POWER. GUAGES FAIL PERIODICALLY, BUT COME BACK ON THERE OWN, AFTER A FEW MINUTES. AIR CONDITIONER DRAINS ONTO FLOOR INSIDE VEHICLE ON LONG DRIVES AND CAN EVEN SHORT OUT THE RADIO. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO SQEALS LIKE AN OLD DOOR WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE.*AK
INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND LIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. BLOWER POWER FAILED ALTOGETHER (MECHANIC FOUND BURNED OUT WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASHBOARD.) AIR CONDITIONER FAILED --EVAPORATOR AND COMPRESSOR. WATER LEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD (WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED TWICE AT DEALER BUT FAILED …
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INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND LIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. BLOWER POWER FAILED ALTOGETHER (MECHANIC FOUND BURNED OUT WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASHBOARD.) AIR CONDITIONER FAILED --EVAPORATOR AND COMPRESSOR. WATER LEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD (WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED TWICE AT DEALER BUT FAILED TO FIX PROBLEM.) REAR CENTER BREAK LIGHT WIRE FAILED. HOOD LATCH BROKE OFF. *JB
WATERLEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE, DEALER CAN NOT FIX.....GEARS GRIND GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND...AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INTSRUMENT PANEL FAILS, DEALER HAS FIXED ONCE
CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE WATER LEAKAGE. WATER WILL LEAK INTO THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN IT RAINS AND WHEN YOU WASH IT. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONING IS LEAKING WATER UNDER THE CARPET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I'M THINKING IT'S NOT DRAINING PROPERLY. CHRYSLER'S SERVICE DEPT. WANTS NOTHING TO DO TO HELP ME WITH …
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CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE WATER LEAKAGE. WATER WILL LEAK INTO THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN IT RAINS AND WHEN YOU WASH IT. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONING IS LEAKING WATER UNDER THE CARPET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I'M THINKING IT'S NOT DRAINING PROPERLY. CHRYSLER'S SERVICE DEPT. WANTS NOTHING TO DO TO HELP ME WITH THESE REPAIRS. IT HAS GONE TO THEM 4 TIMES FOR THE WATER LEAK AND IT WILL BE GOING BACK FOR A SECOND TIME FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE ONE DEALER I WENT WAS FIXED BY ANOTHER DEALER. THEY ARE QUICK TO SELL YOU THE NEW CAR BUT WILL NOT GO BY THEIR WARRANTY.
NO SUMMARY
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. ALSO,PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, AND ANTENNA WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A CPV THAT BURNT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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.