1998 Jeep CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
291 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
98,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 291 complaints (13.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 57 | 19.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 20 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 38 |
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 20 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 12 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 10 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 38; Air Bags: 21; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 20; Electrical System: 15; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 20
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 216 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 66 |
| 2001 | 61 |
| 2002 | 52 |
| 2003 | 33 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 66; 2001: 61; 2002: 52; 2003: 33; 2004: 16; 2005: 7; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 9; 2015: 17; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 57 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 20 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012137 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016339 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
BRAKES FAILED AT 20 MPH. REAR-ENDED VOLVO STATION WAGON. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT I NEEDED BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED. CHEROKEE HAD LESS THAN 14,000 MILES ON IT. FIVE MONTHS LATER JEEP RECALLED ROTORS. BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ORIGINAL OEM PARTS (IE. ROTORS) THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME IN DISPUTING INSURANCE RATE INCREASE OR COST OF ROTOR/BRAKE REPLACEMENTS. ***NOTE*** JEEP IS ON THIRD SET OF ROTORS AND IS IN NEED OF YET ANOTHER AS THESE ARE WARPED. AND JEEP IS NOT AT THE 100,000 MILE MARK YET! *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001653 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY VEHICLE STALLS BECAUSE GAS TANK IS EMPTY BUT READS A 1/4 TANK. DEALER CONTACTED. TS *JG
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011095 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO START IT, THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE GAS TANK WHICH HAD DISINTEGRATED AND CLOGGED UP THE FUEL LINES.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272334 · 2009-05-29 (May 29, 2009)
DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH 4 MATCHING TIRES BOUGHT IN 10/07, ONLY 6,000 MILES ON THEM. DRIVER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THOUGHT HIS TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OR SOMETHING AS DRASTIC AND AS LOUD. PULLED OFF THE EXIT, WHICH WAS RIGHT THERE THANK GOD, LOOKED AT CAR, TIRE HAD A 4-6" GAPING RAGGED HOLE IN SIDEWALL. REAR TIRE, DRIVERS SIDE. HE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED FATALLY. TIRE WAS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE JEEP WAS TOWED TO PLACE OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE. WALMART IN WATERFORD CT. THEY TESTED THE THREAD ON THE OTHER 3 TIRES AND TOLD MY SON THEY'D R…
Owner-reported narrative. 121,592 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455791 · 2012-04-19 (April 19, 2012)
I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE A CRACKED MANIFOLD, MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BROKEN PUT A NEW PART IN IT AND NOW THAT IS BROKEN,I HAVE ALSO HAD TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT WITH ONLY 148,000.00 MILES. IN 2006 I HAD TO FIX THE GAS TANK BECAUSE IT WAS BROKEN TOO. IS THIS NOT A RECALL PROBLEM????? ANY OF THESE, I HAVE HAD THE JEEP SINCE 2000 AND I BOUGHT IT WHEN IT HAD 20,000 MILES ON IT. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE THIS IS 2012 AND I ONLY HAVE 156,000 MILES ON IT NOW. THANK YOU. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018286 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
WHEN THE GAS GAUGE WAS AT A QUARTER TANK, THE VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001367 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, RUST MARKS APPEARED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNTIONED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE RADIO. THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE ROTORS THAT WAS FIXED BUT THE NOISE STILL REMAINS. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003851 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER 12 TIMES FOR RUST MARKS ON THE VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALER DESCRIBED AS FALL OUT AND THEY INSISTED IT WAS SOMETHING THE CONSUMER HAD DONE TO CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN SO SOON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ALL THE GAUGES WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, THE AIR CONDITION AND RADIO WERE INOPERATIVE AND STILL IS, THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE WHICH WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE ROTORS WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037121 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
1998 JEEP CHEROKEE; WHEN THANSFER CASE IS IN PART-TIME ALL WHEEL DRIVE,THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK WHEN IN 10-15 DEGREE TURN,FOWARD OR REVERSE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP, UNTIL STEERING WHEEL IS RETURNED TO NORMAL POSITION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 741738 · 2001-03-01 (March 1, 2001)
THREE DAYS AFTER A 60000 MILES SERVICE ( DONE AT 58000 ) MY JEEP CUT-OFF AND LOCKED UP MY STEERING COMPLETELY. MY JEEP HAD TO BE TOWED OR DRAG ON THE TOWING TRUCK. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS MY BOLTS KEEPS COMING LOOSE, SECOND TIME ,TRANSMISSION AND A CRACKING NOISE AS A RESULT. DIAMLIERCHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID, VERY RUDE MS SHAY, MAYBE ROAD CONDITION..WHAT HOG WASH. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR MY JEEP TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND COMPLETELY LOCKING MY STEERING ? I WROTE THE COMPANY WITH OUT ANY RESPONSE. WOULD MY JEEP START FALLING APART AT 60000 MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 741738 at NHTSA ↗