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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Jeep WRANGLER: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

177 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

73,990 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 177 complaints (12.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2111.9%
Electrical and battery issues169.0%
Steering behavior105.6%
Transmission and shifting84.5%
Fuel system concerns74.0%
Engine operation21.1%

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.

Air Bags
22
Electrical System
18
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
18
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
18
Structure:Body
13
Suspension
13
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
10
Unknown Or Other
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags22
Electrical System18
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash18
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe18
Structure:Body13
Suspension13
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System10
Unknown Or Other7

Air Bags: 22; Electrical System: 18; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 18; Structure:Body: 13; Suspension: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 10; Unknown Or Other: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
15
50,000 to 74,999
18
75,000 to 99,999
16
100,000 to 149,999
17
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,99915
50,000 to 74,99918
75,000 to 99,99916
100,000 to 149,99917
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 5

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 101 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.

2000
20
2001
34
2002
25
2003
19
2004
18
2005
4
2006
4
2007
5
2008
3
2009
2
2010
4
2011
5
2012
8
2013
1
2014
4
2015
8
2016
2
2017
4
2018
1
2019
3
2020
1
2021
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200020
200134
200225
200319
200418
20054
20064
20075
20083
20092
20104
20115
20128
20131
20144
20158
20162
20174
20181
20193
20201
20211
20231

2000: 20; 2001: 34; 2002: 25; 2003: 19; 2004: 18; 2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 8; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 8; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 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 10000168 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)

WIRING HARNESS FOR DASH, BOTH HAZARD-BLINKER-HEADLIGHTS, BURNING PLASTIC SMELL, COULD NOT LOCATE, ENDED WITH SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN WHEN WHEN WE STARTED THE ENGINE, LUCKILY, WE PULLED THE FUSE THAT POWERED IT OUT OF FUSE BOX TO ENABLE US TO RETURN HOME--70 MILES AWAY, WITH NO LIGHTS, BLINKERS, ETC. CALLED DEALER, WANTED $400.00+ TO LOOK AT IT, AND ASKED ABOUT THE ERRATIC DASH ODOMETER ACTIVITY. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD HAVE DAMAGED THE COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN DASH HAD WE NOT REMOVED THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000168 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000757 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)

GEN3 SEATBELTS IN MY 1998 JEEP WRANGLER DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. EITHER THEY DON'T RETRACT ENOUGH, CAUSING THEM TO BE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR (THUS FRAYING THE BELT), OR THEY RETRACT TOO MUCH AND WON'T RELEASE, PREVENTING ME FROM USING THE BELT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WHICH I HAVE NOTICED FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 27,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000757 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003772 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

THE CONSUMER STATE THE HIS SON HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION STAYING IN GEAR. THE CONSUMER(S) ARE REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003772 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006374 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE, VEHICLE WILL LOSE CONTROL DUE TO A FAULTY SWAY BAR HOLDER OR THE TIE ROD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006374 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007418 · 2002-10-01 (October 1, 2002)

1998 JEEP WRANGLER. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767939

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007418 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10010989 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)

EXHAUST HEADER CRACKED & BROKE IN TWO WILL NOT PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION OR EMISSION

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010989 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10013662 · 2003-03-29 (March 29, 2003)

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY JEEP WRANGLER 1998. THIS IS A PARTIAL LIST I SENT TO CHRYSLER: I BOUGHT MY JEEP WITH JUST 3600 MILES ON IT FROM A DEALER IN 1999. FROM DAY ONE I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. MANY OF THEM I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SOME THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX, OTHERS, AFTER MANY RETURN TRIPS, THEY WERE 'UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM'. 1. GAUGES WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING - I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 5 TIMES BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE AND FINALLY FIX THE PROBLEM. 2. THIS WAS ALSO TRUE OF THE BLINK…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013662 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015895 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)

A CRACKED EXHAUST HEADER CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015895 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

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 ↗
98V048000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Reported: 1998-03-12 (March 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗