1998 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000015 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)
RE: 00V136000 YOU IMPLEMENTED A RECALL THAT INCLUDED 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES IN CERTAIN STATES. MY QUESTION IS WHY WAS DELAWARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE YOU HAVE PRACTICALLY EVERY STATE SURROUNDING DELAWARE INCLUDED? (IE. MARYLAND, NEW JERSEY, PA & NY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000158 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
FUEL GAUGE - VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF FUEL AT 1/4 TANK MARKER. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000650 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
REAR DIFFERENTIAL
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001372 · 2002-12-23 (December 23, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER IS TAKING TO LONG TO PERFORM THE RECALL#02V053000 INADVERTENTLY VEHICLE MOVEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE THE NAME, NUMBER, AND ADDRESS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003097 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, ALLOWING EXHAUST GASES TO EXIT EXHAUST SYSTEM. ALLOWING GASES TO ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT POSSIBLY CAUSING DEATH FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THIS MANIFOLD. AT A COST OF $1127.00 EACH TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003097 at NHTSA ↗
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 10003825 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
THE GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONS. (OFTEN STOPS AND DROPS TO EMPTY, CAUSES LOW FUEL LIGHT TO SIGNAL-UNTIL THE GAUGE RETURNS TO IT'S PROPER READING, THIS OCCURS WHEN THE TANK IS ABOUT THREE QUARTERS FULL, AND WILL READ EMPTY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL) SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004287 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD WILL POP UP CAUSING LOST OF VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004287 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V136000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Reported: 2000-05-10 (May 10, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, OR WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS CAN EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN THE "SALT BELT." IF THE ROTORS ARE NOT REPLACED, THE CORROSION CAN EVENTUALLY COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER HUB SECTION OF THE ROTOR.
Consequence: THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗02V053000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift
Reported: 2002-02-15 (February 15, 2002)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER HAS NOT PLACED THE SHIFTER LEVER FULLY INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AFTER SEEMING TO BE STABLE.
Consequence: INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V252000 · Structure | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2013-06-19 (June 19, 2013)
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support proper installation. On vehicles in the recall that are equipped with an aftermarket tow hitch, Chrysler will assess whether the hitch and surrounding areas show evidence of sharp edges or other puncture risks. If so, Chrysler will replace the tow hitch with a Chrysler designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support proper installation. On vehicles already equipped with a Chrysler designed tow hitch, Chrysler will inspect the area around the tow hitch installation, and if any installation issues are identified, they will be repaired free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign numbers are N45 (for the Grand Cherokee vehicles) and N46 (for the Liberty vehicles).
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V023000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Reported: 1998-02-10 (February 10, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR DIAPHRAGM CAN SPLIT OR TEAR.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗