10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,376 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #27

Jan 262001

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle would accelerate on its own after shifting into gear. Engine would rev up when first starting up, and would remain until vehicle was shut down. Vehicle was very hard to stop due to brakes not working properly.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #26

Aug 222000

(reported on)

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
Transmission rebuilt at 9000 miles, replaced entire rear differnetial and axle due to improper replacement installation, the transmission is leaking after several repairs.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #25

May 241999

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Rotors warped/replaced at 11000 and at 25000. Transmission slips out of gear, won't go more than 20mph.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #24

Sep 011997

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed.

- San Marino, CA, USA

problem #23

Feb 252000

(reported on)

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Dealer sold vehicle with leaking rear seals, defective differential. Noticed bumping and whining noise less than 8 hours after purchase. Sun roof leaked causing the headliner to detach from roof of vehicle. Repaired once-said drain tubes were routed properly. Second time replaced roof-said seals did not match. Rear differential replaced. But did not address leakage around transfer case, seals etc in Dec 98. Now it's in the shop again! gas gauge fluctuates to empty when idling. Transmission slips. Driver seat automatiically reclines and heater does not work consistently.

- Herndon, VA, USA

problem #22

Jan 202000

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Automatic transmission failed at 50K. Rebuilt. Still slips. Serviced 2nd time.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #21

Oct 261999

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Exhaust manifold has a leak in it, transmission was replaced last month and is slipping all over again. Dealership had my truck for three days and did not fix I'm in the process of bring it to another dealership.

- Marlton, NJ, USA

problem #20

Nov 171999

(reported on)

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While in the park position, with the motor running, vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly jumped into reverse twice. Dealer and manufacturer will be notified.ak

- Mamou, LA, USA

problem #19

Jan 151999

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Shifting the transmission from drive to reverse it jerks the vehicle. Contacted dealer and manufacturer, but they were not able to help.

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #18

Jun 011998

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission pump failed.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

problem #17

Sep 011998

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Transmission has a faulty connector line which causes loss of all fluid.

- Palos Verdes Estates, CA, USA

problem #16

May 281999

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
Vehicle jumps out of gear, hitting a tree, causing damage to the rear of the vehicle.

- Sapulpa, OK, USA

problem #15

Jul 271999

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Valve body replaced 4 times still not fixed causing fatigue in U-joints could cause rollover from front of driveshaft to hit ground problem well known by christler affects several models including 1999 there only remedy is to replace valve body over and over again untill they get a good one defective valve body can also cause other problems with transfer case and differentials in my opinion they are just trying to get these vehicles through warrenty instead of fixing fixing them

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #14

Jun 261998

Grand Cherokee

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Overdrive bearings and valve body assembly failed causing noise in transmission unit. Mjs

- San Clemente, CA, USA

problem #13

Nov 011998

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission makes a whining noise when vehicle is put into reverse when the vehicle is first started, rear end replaced, front end replaced, transfer case replaced, transmission taken completely apart and no repair. Service department does not know how to repair.

- Lancaster, SC, USA

problem #12

Dec 161998

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Transmission fails to stay in park, causing vehicle to go to reverse.

- Rancho Santa Fe, CA, USA

problem #11

Jan 071999

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
No summary

- Darien, CT, USA

problem #10

Mar 051998

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
Transmission gears make whining noise/gears are difficult to shift, also gears dropped into reverse, causing vehicle to move backwards.

- Duxbury, MA, USA

problem #9

Jul 061998

Grand Cherokee

  • miles
Transmission governor and solinoid failure.

- Benton, AR, USA

problem #8

Dec 221998

Grand Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission intermittantly self shifts into reverse from the parked position.

- Monsey, NY, USA

Read the next 7 complaints »