1998 Jeep Wrangler
No clear pattern 20.5% of complaints about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 1998 vehicle, but with only 352 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is electrical system (54 complaints), typically at 5.5 yr or about 65,000 miles.
- Complaints
- 352
- Median age at failure
- 3.5 yr
- Median mileage
- 72,000 n=125
- Crash / fire / tow
- 10.5% of reports
- Safety recalls
- 6
06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting
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.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
06E022000 2006-03-13
Service brakes, hydraulic
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.
LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
06E011000 2006-02-01
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
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.
IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
04E041000 2004-06-07
Equipment
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.
SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
98V048000 1998-03-12
Seat belts:front:anchorage
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE FRONT SEAT BELT SHOULDER TURNING LOOP ANCHORS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND ARE NOT PROPERLY HARDENED.
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.
98V023000 1998-02-10
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR DIAPHRAGM CAN SPLIT OR TEAR.
THIS CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED AND A LOSS OF POWER ASSIST DURING BRAKE APPLICATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Structure mileage not reported 1 mo in service crash / fire / tow
THE WELDING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSED WATER TO LEAK UNDER THE DASH, WHICH DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MAY HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ALSO. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. REPLCEMENT PART, PLASTIC WATER DESLECTOR MELTED, CAUSING A FIRE. *AK
Structure mileage not reported 9 mo in service
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH A WATER LEAKAGE. WATER LEAKS FROM THE DASHBOARD ON TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK *ML
Structure mileage not reported 1.6 yr in service
FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE DRIVERS SIDE AREA UNDER THE DASHBOARD FILLING WITH AT LEAST TWO INCHES OF WATER THAT HAD TO BE DRAINED. ALL WINDOWS AND HOODS WERE UP AND SECURE IN BOTH INSTANCES. SECOND COMPLAINT WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL GUAGES DROPPED TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH.
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 9 mo in service
THE REAR BRAKES DON'T PROVIDE ANY STOPPING ASSISTANCE,THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP ON GRAVEL AND THE REAR WHEELS NEVER SLIDE OR PROVIDE ANY STOPPING POWER. WHEN YOU BACK UP ON GRAVEL OR ANY SLICK SURFACE THE FRONT WHEELS ALWAYS SLIDE EVEN ON LEVEL GROUND. WHEN BACKING DOWN A HILL ON GRAVEL OR A SLICK SURFACE THE JEEP WONT STOP UNLESS I USE THE HAND BRAKE ALONG WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE TESTED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND IT IS THE SAME EACH TIME. THE DEALER JUST SAYS THEY ARE ADJUSTED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO STOPPING POWER!