1998 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
842 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
105,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 193 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 260 of 842 complaints (30.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 135 | 16.0% |
| Engine operation | 62 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 58 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 39 | 4.6% |
| Steering behavior | 37 | 4.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 260 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 76 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 50 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 44 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 42 |
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Structure | 30 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 25 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 260; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 76; Fuel System, Gasoline: 50; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 44; Fuel/Propulsion System: 42; Electrical System: 33; Structure: 30; Engine And Engine Cooling: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 54 |
| 150,000 and above | 55 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 54; 150,000 and above: 55
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (55). 649 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 | 96 |
| 2001 | 328 |
| 2002 | 105 |
| 2003 | 57 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 68 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 96; 2001: 328; 2002: 105; 2003: 57; 2004: 22; 2005: 14; 2006: 11; 2007: 11; 2008: 18; 2009: 10; 2010: 7; 2011: 17; 2012: 8; 2013: 15; 2014: 68; 2015: 27; 2016: 13; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 135 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 62 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 58 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 10003495 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON EVEN THOUGH BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING DEPRESSED.
Owner-reported narrative. 149,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005846 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUALLY WRAP. WRAPED AT 10,000, 18,000 27,000, AND NOW AGAIN AT 38,000. CHYRSLER REFUSES TO ADMIT TO A PROBLEM. FRONT ROTORS REPLACE BY RECALL AND ALSO HAVE WRAPED. SERVICE BULLITEN WAS ALSO PERFORMED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND STILL FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037598 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. AFTER BEING STRANDED AND THEN HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED, IT WAS FIGURED OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. IT DISPLAYED 1/4 TANK OF GAS LEFT IN THE TANK WHEN IN ACTUALITY THERE WAS NO FUEL LEFT. ERRATIC READINGS HAVE BEEN SHOWN SINCE THE INCIDENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121360 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
I HAVE A 1998 GRAND CHEROKEE THAT WHENEVER THE TANK IS AT 1/4 TANK FULL OR BELOW, ON A HARD LEFT TURN, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY STALL/DIE. I WAS IN AN EXTREMELY NEAR MISS YESTERDAY BECAUSE OF THIS AND HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE WEB - LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND NO RECALLS FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I CAN'T SEE WHY CHRYSLER DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. IT'S HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE BUT NEVER BEEN LIFE THREATENING WHICH IS WHY I'M NOW WRITING.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005301 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
VEHICLE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE. NOISE APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM AREA OF FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AREA....MY MECHANIC HAS REPLACED THE SHOCKS, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT STRAP AND TRACK BAR BUSHINGS....THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP IN NORTH CHARLESTON, SC HAS REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BASICALLY REBUILT THE REAR END....STILL KNOCKING PERSISTS. JEEP ADVISES NOISE IS NORMAL...I DISAGREE. JEEP WORKED ON THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO...MY MECHANIC IN JANUARY OF 2003. KNOCKING ONLY OCCURS OVER LIGHT BUMP…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007473 · 2002-10-10 (October 10, 2002)
THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AND HAS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF FAILING IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR FACILITY. THE FRONT DISC ROTORS WERE JUST REPLACED BECAUSE OF WARPING AND SHUDDERING WHILE STOPPING WHILE STOPPING AT SPEED OVER 30 MPH. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768318
Owner-reported narrative. 59,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006469 · 2001-08-03 (August 3, 2001)
THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP INSIDE OF FUEL TANK. ALSO, THERE IS ABOUT TWO OR MORE SENSORS THAT FAILED IN THE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES A PROPER DELIVERY OF ELECTRIC IMPULSE TO THE SPARK PLUGS. *AK***** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****749795.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009873 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION, AS SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK IN REVERSE UNTIL IT HIT A PARKED VEHICLE BY A GAS TANK. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD RECALL B02 PERFORMED, WHICH WAS THE FLOOR SHIFT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER PROVIDE THE CONSUMER WITH A PAYMENT FOR THE INSURANCE ESTIMATE. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010303 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
1. FUEL INJECTOR FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND OPERATE ON ONLY 5 OUT OF 6 CYLINDERS. 2. IN THE SAME CYLINDER (#6) ROD BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO BLOW AND NEED REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 42,000 MILES. 3. POWER STEERING PUMP ALMOST FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. (MOST LIKELY DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION AFTER ENGINE REBUILD). 4. BRAKES CONSTANTLY SQUEAK OR MAKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED. WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW 50 DEGREES, A HIGH PITCHED WHINNING NOISE IS HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CAN ONLY BE HEARD WHEN TRAVELING UNDE…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042409 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING, THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008755 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT AND ACCELERATE PROPERLY, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, ALL THE GAUGES ILLUMINATED, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED, AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED.*TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 29,162 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049977 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE TURN SIGNAL TO FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT NOT ON THE REAR. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ALTHOUGH VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049977 at NHTSA ↗