1998 Jeep Wrangler: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 265 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (17% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 265 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Airbag light come on and speedo and tach stops working. Vehicle has not been in an accident and this is occuring on numerous jeeps of this year. Why has there not been a recall? If something isn't done about this I will be getting a lot of jeep owners together and filing a class action lawsuit!! It is a serious safety problem. I just purchased the vehicle and after researching this its happening to the majority on this years wranglers”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2021
“Jeep wrangler frames rust from inside out due to moisture getting in through upper part of frames where their are holes and settling to lower part of frame where their are no drain holes. Their may have not been an issue if jeep had just put in drain holes in lower part of frame. It is a common problem in 1997 through 2006 jeep wranglers. I have this issue.”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2020
“My frame is rotting out fast and furious, I've already had to replace sections, the upper and lower controls arms have ripped off, the body fell threw the mounts, paid to have that fixed”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“Had to replace the frame due to left rear rusted through the whole frame, just a small amount of the frame was left. Other areas had rust eating threw the frame, and in a matter of time would have failed!!!.”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2018
“I have an excessive amount of frame rust and my vehicle has less than 150xxx miles and this is a severe safety hazard. I have read that there are many people who have experienced this and I am wanting to know what you guys could do to resolve this issue. I bought this vehicle and I do not want to resale because I do not want to sell it in this condition and I want to keep it but I also do not want to drive because of this. There's a lot of life left in this vehicle and it only has 126xxx miles so I need help”Owner report · Structure · Oct 2017
“On my 1998 jeep wrangler sport, chrysler put a hole in the frame to access the rear sway arm bolt and when they did that it let water , dirt, salt etc into the frame and cause the frame to rot from the inside out. I have researched the problem and many people seem to have the same one I want to put the word out to have it fix because if it was to break while driving your jeep it can cost someone there life. Mine has yet to do so because I seen it in time and want something done about it a recall is needed to fix the problem”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2017
“Seat belts do not grab when pulled rapidly, most of the time. The centrifugal pawls seem to not be freely moving outward and holding the belt from freely playing out, when they should. I made the test while parked with engine running and off, and also while in motion.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Aug 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 jeep wrangler. While driving at an unknown speed, the speedometer failed to display the speed intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2016
“While using cruise control speed increased and would not respond to shutting off speed control or by hitting the brakes car could not be stopped only pushing in clutch while the engine raced uncontrollably and pulling off the interstate onto side of road turning off key stopped this . When started back up engine still racing. Same thing happened about seven years ago never used speed control again until this”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2015
“Due to excessive rot that is common on this vehicle, while traveling I hit a bump and snapped my driver side control arm. This consequently made for a dangerous ride. While attempting to repair it I noticed how bad the frame was rotted, but unlike normal circumstances where the outside and inside would have equal corrosion. The inside was rotted much worse, and parts of the frame easily crumbled. *tr”Owner report · Suspension · Apr 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 23 of these complaints and injuries in 16 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE FRONT SEAT BELT SHOULDER TURNING LOOP ANCHORS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND ARE NOT PROPERLY HARDENED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELT TURNING LOOP ON THESE VEHICLES.
BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF RACK. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.
Remedy: BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 845-3567.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET AIRTEX ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN 1997-2004 JEEP WRANGLER; 1997-2001 JEEP CHEROKEE; 1997-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE; AND 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL GROMMET CONNECTORS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUELS AND MAY DEGRADE CAUSING A POTENTIAL LEAK PATH FOR FUEL.
Remedy: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-880-3056.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR DIAPHRAGM CAN SPLIT OR TEAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE BOOSTER DATE CODE AND ANY BOOSTERS WITH THE SUSPECT MANUFACTURING DATE RANGE WILL BE REPLACED.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1998 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Wrangler by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Jeep Wrangler reliable?
NHTSA has 265 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 1998 Jeep Wrangler. The most complained-about area is electrical system (17% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Jeep Wrangler problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 75,000 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Jeep Wrangler have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.