IllustrationFUEL VAPOR CONNECTOR.
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
What owners actually said
265 reportsSUNROOF FAILED TO CLOSE.
SUSPENSION.
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
IN DAMP CONDITIONS, THIS CAR IS UNSAFE, WILL LOOSE POWER ON HIGHWAY AFTER RAIN AND EVEN FROM EVENING DAMPNESS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL SHUT DOWN
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND GOING OVER A BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL IS VIBRATING AND THERE IS SOME KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN MECHANISM DOES NOT FIT CORRECTLY CAUSING LOOSE FITTING. AK
WHILE DRIVING ON RT 84 IN NEW YORK STATE STEERING WENT OUT CAUSEING THE JEEP TO BE THROWN ACROSS THREE LANES OF THE INTERSTATE.THE JEEP THEN ROLLED OVER DOWN THE MEDIUM STRIP. DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM JEEP THE OTHER THREE PASSENGERS REMIANED IN JEEP SUSTIANING BRUISES. AIRGAGS NEVER DEPLOYED WHILE JEEP WAS ROLLING OVER.
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB HAD BLOWN UP UNDER VEHICLE. HEARD METAL AGAINST METAL RATTLING & THEN A LOUD BANG. VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY ON HIGHWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE DRIVETRAIN HAD EXPLODED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY. *…
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WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB HAD BLOWN UP UNDER VEHICLE. HEARD METAL AGAINST METAL RATTLING & THEN A LOUD BANG. VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY ON HIGHWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE DRIVETRAIN HAD EXPLODED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM 60-62 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT RESULTED IN REAR OF VEHICLE TO BEGIN SLIDING AROUND TO THE LEFT. THE FOUR SHEEL ABS SYSTEM HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHECKED FOLLOWING A TIRE LOCK-UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER PERFORMED DRB TEST AND CHECK FOR CODES, NONE FOUND AND ABS OPERATING AT THIS TIME. DE…
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EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM 60-62 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT RESULTED IN REAR OF VEHICLE TO BEGIN SLIDING AROUND TO THE LEFT. THE FOUR SHEEL ABS SYSTEM HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHECKED FOLLOWING A TIRE LOCK-UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER PERFORMED DRB TEST AND CHECK FOR CODES, NONE FOUND AND ABS OPERATING AT THIS TIME. DEALER AGREED THAT ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLE SHOULDN'T RESPOND IN THIS FASHION. OWNER REQUESTED FOLLOW-UP BY CHRYSLER REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. *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.