Total Complaints
4 filings
JEEP JEEP · model year
1998 JEEP JEEP
4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998JEEPJEEP carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 JEEP is visibility:windshield wiper/washer with 2 filings, followed by tires (1) and vehicle speed control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 1998 JEEP, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 2 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070901CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS GOING TO WORK WITH MY JEEP CHEROKEE 1998 ,I REVERSED FROM MY DRIVE WAY WHEN I CHANGED THE GEAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED ,CRASHED TO 2 PARKED CARS IN THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVE WAY MY CAR AND NEIGHBOR'S CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS AND I GOT INJURED DUE TO AIRBAG. *TR
20070710CrashTIRES
I PURCHASED 4 NEW P225/75R-15 DOMINATOR ALL SEASON COOPER TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE IN JACKSONVILLE FL FOR MY JEEP CHEROKEE. AS I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE TIRE STORE I HEARD A LOUD "ROAR" EACH TIME I REACHED A SPEED ABOVE 40 MPH. BEFORE I COULD RETURN THE CAR TO THE SHOP FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, I TOTALED IT. I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER; MY VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND IN MY ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL AND BRING IT BACK TO ROAD IT FLIPPED END OVER END. I HAD DRIVEN ON THOSE TIRES LESS THAN 100 MILES. A COMPLETE MECHANICAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR AFTER THE COLLISION AND NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE FOUND. *TR
Mileage: 92,689
20000427VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHEN I HAVE TO USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY DON'T WIPE THE GLASS CLEAR. THEY HOP AND SKIP ACCROSS LEAVING BLACK RESIDUE AND SMEAR THE GLASS. THIS OBSTRUCTS MY VISION MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AS CONDITION PROGRESSES.THE DEALER HAS OMITTED A ,BUT SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX IT BECAUSE THE NEW ASSEMBLY IS MADE BY A NEW COMPANY AND THE SPECS ARE WRONG. THIS IS A GREAT HAZZARD! WHAT CAN I DO?*AK
20000427VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHEN I HAVE TO USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY DON'T WIPE THE GLASS CLEAR. THEY HOP AND SKIP ACCROSS LEAVING BLACK RESIDUE AND SMEAR THE GLASS. THIS OBSTRUCTS MY VISION MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AS CONDITION PROGRESSES.THE DEALER HAS OMITTED A ,BUT SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX IT BECAUSE THE NEW ASSEMBLY IS MADE BY A NEW COMPANY AND THE SPECS ARE WRONG. THIS IS A GREAT HAZZARD! WHAT CAN I DO?*AK
Compare 1998JEEPJEEP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
PE25014Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
PE22009Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
PE19012Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Frame weld deficiencies
PE13027Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Headliner Fires
DP09005Defect PetitionClosed
Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 JEEP JEEP have?▼
The 1998 JEEP JEEP has 4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 JEEP JEEP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 JEEP JEEP is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1998 JEEP JEEP safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.