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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 →

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

What owners actually said

265 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, TWO CARS WERE ALREADY AT FULL STOP, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP APPROXAMETELY 10 FEET BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ALL THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE STARTED LIKE MY FOOT IS ON GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES, I PUSHED ON THE BREAKS AS HARD AS I CAN WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE, I HIT THE CA…

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I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, TWO CARS WERE ALREADY AT FULL STOP, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP APPROXAMETELY 10 FEET BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ALL THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE STARTED LIKE MY FOOT IS ON GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES, I PUSHED ON THE BREAKS AS HARD AS I CAN WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE, I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAPPEN. I DROVE THE CAR THIS AFTERNOON, IT IS DRIVING FINE. I WENT TO A PARKING LOT AND I APPLIED THE BREAKS THEN PUSHED GAS AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. MY BREAKS ARE FINE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN AND WHY IT HAPPENED, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MY BREAKS EWRE FULLY APPLIED, AND THE CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE IT MOVED ON ITS OWN. SKID MARKS WERE VISIBLE, BUT THE CAR KEPT MOVING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #742596

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2001
Electrical System

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION, KEY WILL NOT TURN, STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN EITHER TO UNLOCK IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882400

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001
Seat Belts

PASSENGER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT PULL OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880803

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001
Air Bags

IRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAUGES GO TO ZERO INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. THEY SOMETIMES COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741252

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE GOING IN REVERSE REAR BRAKES DIN'T LOCK UP. DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. BRAND NEW HUBS & BRAKE SHOES, AND IT CHANGED NOTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #879652

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Air BagsElectrical System

GAUGES ON INSTERMENT PANEL WILL GO OUT AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON. THIS HAVE HAPPENED REPETEADLY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740138

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2001
Parking Brake

WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED ON AN INCLINE WITH EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS TIGHTENED CABLE, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #879135

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2000
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AT 25-30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876314

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000
Suspension

VEHICLE SWAYS AT +55MPH DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF SWAY BAR LINKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737159

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2000
Power TrainSeat BeltsSuspension

1. THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED JUMPING IN AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR IN THE 32 TO 50 MPH RANGE. BUBBLES ARE PRESENT IN THE FLUID INDICATING A SEAL IS FAILING. REPAIR ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME IS OVER $1000. THIS FAILURE IN SNOWY DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSES VEHICLE CONTROL PROBLEMS.2. PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTS INTERMITTENTLY. THE PASS…

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1. THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED JUMPING IN AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR IN THE 32 TO 50 MPH RANGE. BUBBLES ARE PRESENT IN THE FLUID INDICATING A SEAL IS FAILING. REPAIR ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME IS OVER $1000. THIS FAILURE IN SNOWY DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSES VEHICLE CONTROL PROBLEMS.2. PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTS INTERMITTENTLY. THE PASSENGER WILL LEAN FORWARD AND BACK MAY NOT NOTICE THE SEATBELT HAS NOT RETRACTED. THIS CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. 3. SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT IDLE. VEHICLE IDLE WILL JUMP FROM 1.5K TO 3K WITHOUT WARNING. OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. 4. ANTI-SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE. THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST INSIDIOUS FAILURE. THE STABILIZER BAR LINK BALL WILL CORRODE IN THE SOCKET AND CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND IT COVERS THE FAILURE. WHEN AN EMERGENCY TURN IS REQUIRED, THE JEEP WILL SWAY VIOLENTLY. I TALKED TO THE CHRYSLER PARTS ATTENDANT AND HE SAID HE SELLS ABOUT 12 A WEEK TO THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE FAILURE. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT NOTICE THIS, IT IS A TIME BOMB. THE PARTS ATTENDANT TOLD ME I WOULD BE BACK SOON TO REPLACE MORE. WHAT HE SAID IS TRUE.

NHTSA ODI #736981

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.

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