1998 Jeep Wrangler Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Wrangler years
- Fewer complaints than other years 22nd of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 265 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler. That ranks 22nd out of 32 Wrangler model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (58 complaints, 22%), typically at around 65,000 miles. Complaints mention 23 crashes, 9 fires, 16 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 265owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 23complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Jeep Wrangler problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 58 | 22% | 65,000 | “airbag comes” (12%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 53 | 20% | 53,000 | “exhaust manifold” (32%) | — |
| Air Bags | 46 | 17% | 55,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 33 | 12% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 26 | 10% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 25 | 9% | 103,066 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 17 | 6% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 16 | 6% | 104,251 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 16 | 6% | 146,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 16 | 6% | 52,023 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 5% | 77,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 5% | 49,431 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 4% | 90,900 | — | — |
| Equipment | 7 | 3% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 6 | 2% | 22,873 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 2% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | 69,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Jeep Wrangler recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicle. The front seat belt shoulder turning loop anchors were not properly heat treated and are not properly hardened.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the front seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of serious injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front seat shoulder belt turning loop on these vehicles.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles. The power brake booster vacuum reservoir diaphragm can split or tear.
Risk: This can cause an increase in engine idle speed and a loss of power assist during brake application without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the brake booster date code and any boosters with the suspect manufacturing date range will be replaced.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Frame started showing signs of rusted out frame in 2003 when the transmission skid weld nuts in the bottom of the frame rusted out as well as the body side step weld nuts in the frame. In 2010, 3 or the 4 rear axle control arms broke free from the frame causing brake lines to fail while driving. I…
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…
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…
Jeep tj frame separated at the torsion bar on passenger rear wheel making vehicle unstable and un- usable.
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
Other Jeep Wrangler years
← 1997 Wrangler · 1999 Wrangler →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Wrangler | 11 | 3 |
| 2025 Wrangler | 71 | 4 |
| 2024 Wrangler | 741 | 11 |
| 2023 Wrangler | 370 | 14 |
| 2022 Wrangler | 404 | 15 |
| 2021 Wrangler | 953 | 15 |
| 2020 Wrangler | 613 | 12 |
| 2019 Wrangler | 745 | 9 |
| 2018 Wrangler | 1,827 | 14 |
| 2017 Wrangler | 311 | 5 |
| 2016 Wrangler | 462 | 5 |
| 2015 Wrangler | 476 | 3 |
| 2014 Wrangler | 657 | 4 |
| 2013 Wrangler | 654 | 6 |
| 2012 Wrangler | 835 | 9 |
| 2011 Wrangler | 485 | 10 |
| 2010 Wrangler | 686 | 10 |
| 2009 Wrangler | 372 | 6 |
| 2008 Wrangler | 873 | 7 |
| 2007 Wrangler | 558 | 8 |
| 2006 Wrangler | 730 | 3 |
| 2005 Wrangler | 650 | 1 |
| 2004 Wrangler | 192 | 1 |
| 2003 Wrangler | 98 | 0 |
| 2002 Wrangler | 108 | 2 |
| 2001 Wrangler | 170 | 3 |
| 2000 Wrangler | 251 | 1 |
| 1999 Wrangler | 213 | 1 |
| 1998 | 265 | 2 |
| 1997 Wrangler | 401 | 3 |
| 1996 Wrangler | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 Wrangler | 202 | 1 |
See all Jeep Wrangler problems by year, every Jeep model, or the Jeep VIN decoder.
Similar Jeep models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Jeep Wrangler?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 58 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Jeep Wrangler?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Jeep Wrangler a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Wrangler model years, the 1998 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.