Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system58
- Engine and engine cooling53
- Air bags46
- Power train33
- Suspension26
- Structure25
- Seat belts17
- Unknown or other16
- Steering16
- Visibility16
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 16 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 36 1998 Wrangler vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 29 people died inside them, and 18 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Jeep Wrangler failed the safety check 1.71% of the time — 0% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 146,971 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1998 Jeep Wrangler cars on Dutch roads are the 4.0 petrol (130 kW, 174 hp) and 2.5 petrol (87 kW, 117 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 petrol | 130 kW 174 hp | 61 |
| 2.5 petrol | 87 kW 117 hp | 26 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
125 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 54% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm55
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde48
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse24
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot22
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld20
- Roestschade hoofdbalk17
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen17
- Wiel of band niet goed afgeschermd14
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
240 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 216 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 240 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 63% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 22.1% | 16.0% |
| Brakes | 14.2% | 11.8% |
| Suspension | 12.5% | 12.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Visibility | 6.3% | 6.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.6% | 7.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
113 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 38% arrived as used imports, 54% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE FRONT SEAT BELT SHOULDER TURNING LOOP ANCHORS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND ARE NOT PROPERLY HARDENED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR DIAPHRAGM CAN SPLIT OR TEAR.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Jeep told its dealers about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 625588 | SOFT TOP ZIPPER CLEANER AND LUBRICANT - FOR DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WINDOW ZIPPERS. *TT |
| 625576 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE HVAC DRAIN WATER LEAKS UNDER PASSENGER SIDE CARPET. *TT |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620071 | SUBJECT REGARDING ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES CAUSED BY AN EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK. *TT |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 612190 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE WATER DRIPPING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE EVAPORATOR DRAIN TUBE AND ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING WET CARPET OR WATER ON THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOOR. *MJS |
| 612179 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPROVED DOOR WEATHER STRIP. *MJS |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 609988 | SUBJECT REGARDING MISDIAGNOSED LEAK DETECTION PUMP SYSTEMS WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1494, P0442 P0455, OR P0456. *TT |
| 6092304 | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 6089800 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 6089311 | CONCERNS WITH A/C EVAPORATOR ODOR. *NLM |
| 6089148 | CONCERNS ON INCORRECT FAULT MATURE TIME - DTC $B7 LEAK DETECTION PUMP SOLENOID CIRCUIT. *NLM |
| 6089145 | CONDITIONS ON OBD II MISFIRE MONITOR. *NLM |
| 6089130 | INFORMATION ON A/C REFRIGERANT LEAKS. *NLM |
| 6088884 | INFORMATION ON POOR DRIVABILITY WITH HIGH DI (DRIVABILITY INDEX) FUEL. *NLM |
| 6088834 | INFORMATION REGARDING NHTSA AUTHORIZED AIRBAG DEACTIVATION FOR MEDICAL NECESSITY. *NLM |
| 607616 | THIS BULLETIN PERTAINS TO FRONT END ALIGNMENT - ADJUSTABLE / OFFSET BALL JOINTS. *TT |
| 607298 | THIS BULLETIN EXPLAINS THE OPERATION AND APPLICATION OF THE LEAK DETECTION PUMP (LDP) MONITOR TEST. *TT |
| 606347 | CONDITIONS WITH VEHICLE START AND STALL OR VEHICLE NO-START. *TT |
| 606058 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ERRATIC, INTERMITTENT CLUSTER OPERATION / INTERMITTENT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. *TT |
| 604975 | VEHICLES EXHIBITING BUZZ, WHINING, OR MOANING LIKE NOISE FROM COLD TRANSMISSION WHEN REVERSE GEAR IS SELECTED. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)