IllustrationWHEN SIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION EITHER GRINDS THE GEARS OR IS DIFFICULT TO GET INTO GEAR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, AND CANNOT BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS.
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 reportsROLL BAR DOES NOT HAVE A PROTECTIVE PAD, RESULTING IN INJURY WHEN HEAD HIT ROLL BAR.
THE WELDING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSED WATER TO LEAK UNDER THE DASH, WHICH DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MAY HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ALSO. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. REPLCEMENT PART, PLASTIC WATER DESLECTOR MELTED, CAUSING A FIRE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN THIRD GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWINGED TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND ROLL OVER.
TRANSMISSION GRINDS GEARS WHEN ENGAGING SECOND GEAR ON ACCELERATION.
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.