10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,772 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 Wrangler:

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

problem #5

Dec 312006

Wrangler 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,061 miles
I was approaching a red light and approximately 3 car lengths away from the vehicle already stopped at the light I began braking and heard a noise under the floor board and while pushing the brake pedal all the way down and the braking system did not slow or stop the vehicle at all. I lifted the brake pedal from the floor and reapplied it and the vehicle did not slow down or stop until it ran into the back of the other vehicle. Upon impact the vehicle began to idle up really high as if it were trying to drive itself. I took my foot off the break pedal and after I placed the vehicle in park and pulled the emergency break the vehicle stopped idling up high.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #4

Jan 031998

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,800 miles
No rear brakes and the front brakes locked up. The trouble takes place mostly when it snows or when it is slippery. The back brakes have never worked. Dealer changed everything in the brake system, except the master cylinder. Inspector from Jeep came, . and worked on it. Then, they said the nature of the beast was not to have any rear brakes. Parts that were changed included three sets of brake shoes/two rear brake drums/two sets of rear wheel cylinders, proportional valve/ABS computer for brake system, and two brake lines.

- Adams Center, NY, USA

problem #3

Jan 042001

Wrangler

  • miles
While going in reverse rear brakes din't lock up. Dealer said brakes were out of adjustment. Brand new hubs & brake shoes, and it changed nothing.

- Conway, MA, USA

problem #2

May 011999

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles
Emergency braking from 60-62 mph on wet pavement resulted in rear of vehicle to begin sliding around to the left. The four sheel ABS system had previously been checked following a tire lock-up during emergency braking on dry pavement. Dealer performed drb test and check for codes, none found and ABS operating at this time. Dealer agreed that ABS equipped vehicle shouldn't respond in this fashion. Owner requested follow-up by Chrysler regional representative.

- Wauwatosa, WI, USA

problem #1

Jul 011998

Wrangler 4WD

  • miles
Experienced wheel lock-up during a panic stop from 60 mph on dry pavement. Dealer tested ABS system with drbiii. No problems found. Infomed consumer that drum brakes will perform differently than front ABS brakes. Rear wheels will lock and unlock when ABS is activated. With rear wheel drive and short wheel base, vehicle will feel as though it is skidding when it is not. This is a normal condition of this vehicle, no fix attempted.

- Wauwatosa, WI, USA