JEEP LAREDO · model year

1998 JEEP LAREDO

43 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998JEEPLAREDO carries 43 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 2 fires, 5 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 LAREDO is power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch with 6 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (4) and air bags:frontal (2). 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 29 investigation files overlapping the 1998 LAREDO, and 3 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.

43
Complaints
9
Crashes
2
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

43 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)1
SUSPENSION1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1

Recent Complaints

20190402FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

JEEP STALLS OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. HAVING TO REPLACE GAS TANK. INSIDE LINE FOR TANK HAS ERODED AWAY AND PLASTIC FLAKES CLOG THE LINE AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO DEAD STOP RUN.

Mileage: 10

20160718LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP LAREDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH FRACTURED AND ALLOWED THE DOOR TO OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE LATCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

20150127FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

IT FIRST STARTED OUT AS THIS.. THE A/C QUIT WORKING ,WINDOWS DON'T ROLL, CLUSTER QUIT WORKING, COMPUTER QUIT WORKING , NO POWER GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND NOW THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE HOUSE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE MY HUSBAND DID A COMPLETE TUNE UP, FIXED THE A/C, THE WINDOWS, CHANGED ALL FLUIDS, PUT A NEW A COMPUTER, BASICALLY FIXED EVERYTHING, THEN TODAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE . *TR

Mileage: 206,604

20150127FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IT FIRST STARTED OUT AS THIS.. THE A/C QUIT WORKING ,WINDOWS DON'T ROLL, CLUSTER QUIT WORKING, COMPUTER QUIT WORKING , NO POWER GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND NOW THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE HOUSE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE MY HUSBAND DID A COMPLETE TUNE UP, FIXED THE A/C, THE WINDOWS, CHANGED ALL FLUIDS, PUT A NEW A COMPUTER, BASICALLY FIXED EVERYTHING, THEN TODAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE . *TR

Mileage: 206,604

20140909EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP LAREDO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. WHEN PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000.

Mileage: 206,000

20140909POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP LAREDO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. WHEN PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000.

Mileage: 206,000

20140204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAD JUST PURCHASED A LIFTED 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, ON MY WAY HOME WITH MY NEW PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING STEERING AND BRAKE FAILURE. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A FLUKE BUT THEN IT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. I BEGAN SWITCHING PARTS HOPING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS MY CHILDREN SOMETIME RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER HEARING OF SIMILAR INSTANCES HAPPENING I BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER HAS A BIG PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS. THE PRODUCT HAS FAULTS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE A COSTLY/ LAWSUIT/DEATH OCCURS. I LOVE MY JEEP, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT A SOLUTION IS TO FIX AN INFERIOR PRODUCT. *TR

Mileage: 100,117

20110519CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON MY WIFE WAS PREPARING TO RUN ERRANDS WHEN SHE BACKED OVER SOMETHING IN OUR GARAGE. SHE PULLED THE JEEP FORWARD, PUT IT IN PARK. SHE LEFT IT RUNNING AS SHE GOT OUT, AND TOOK A COUPLE OF STEPS TO THE BACK TO FIND WHAT SHE RAN OVER. SHE TOLD ME SHE HEARD THE CAR REV BRIEFLY, THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATE TOWARDS HER. SHE COULDN'T JUMP OUT OF THE WAY AND GRABBED THE DOOR. IN A FEW SECONDS, SHE WAS DRAGGED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, ACROSS A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY AND INTO HIS LAWN. WHEN SHE REACHED GROUND SHE DROPPED AND THE JEEP CONTINUED UNTIL IT REVERSED INTO A TREE, SMASHING THE REAR. *TR

Mileage: 215,782

20110510STEERING

VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT 70 MPH. *TR

Mileage: 218,920

20060213CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER PARKING THE JEEP IN MY GARAGE, I LEFT IT RUNNING TO CHECK FOR CLEARANCE. AFTER ENSURING THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND IN PARK I EXITED THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED MOVING VERY QUICKLY AND THE DOOR WAS BENT BACKWARDS AND THEN PROCEEDED TO HIT ME AND TRAVEL ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF A MILE BEFORE CRASHING. *JB

20051103VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC SHOP, THEY STATED THE COMPUTER'S DASHBOARD CLUSTER FAILED, A SHORT WAS FOUND IN THE WIRING TO THE SPEEDOMETER, BUT THE CLUSTER HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER CONTROLLED THE SPEEDOMETER, AMP GAUGE, FUEL GAUGE, AND OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHTS. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. *AK

20051103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DT CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC SHOP, THEY STATED THE COMPUTER'S DASHBOARD CLUSTER FAILED, A SHORT WAS FOUND IN THE WIRING TO THE SPEEDOMETER, BUT THE CLUSTER HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER CONTROLLED THE SPEEDOMETER, AMP GAUGE, FUEL GAUGE, AND OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHTS. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. *AK

20050829SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DT: THE CALLER STATED DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE. WHEN HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WHOEVER HAD IT BEFORE HELD IT DOWN WITH SOME KIND OF STRAP. HE WAS USING A COAT HANGER WRAPPED THROUGH THE HOLE IN THE BRACKET AND AROUND THE BAR THAT MOVED THE SEAT TO HOLD IT DOWN. THE HOLE IN THE BRACKET ON THE FLOOR GOT BIGGER AND THE BOLT WAS ABLE TO FIT THROUGH IT. DEALER SAID HE NEEDED TO GET ANOTHER SEAT. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE STRAP THAT HELD THE SEAT WHEN HE FIRST BOUGHT IT LASTED UNTIL LAST MONTH. *AK

Mileage: 147,000

20041122FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL INDICATOR GAUGE FLUCTUATES BETWEEN FUEL SUPPLY AND EMPTY, AND LOW FUEL ALARM ACTIVATES EVEN WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL. ATTEMPTED TO TRACK ACTUAL FUEL SUPPLY BY OVERHEAD CONSOLE DISPLAY, BUT THAT DISPLAY FLUCTUATES WITH FUEL INDICATOR GAUGE ALSO. WHILE DRIVING, EVEN WITH FULL TANK, FUEL INDICATOR GAUGE AND LOW FUEL ALARM KEEPS ACTIVATING. THE ONLY TIME IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE SURE OF FUEL SUPPLY IS WHEN FUEL TANK IS REFUELED. TOLD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF PROBLEM WHILE IN FOR SERVICE, BUT THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INDICATOR GAUGE. FOLLOWING THIS, I WROTE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP. IN 2002 INFORMING THEM THAT I WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH NOT ONLY MY PERSONAL JEEP CHEROKEE LAREDO, BUT ALSO WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER CONCERNING MY LETTER, AND THEY ALSO SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM. UPON SPEAKING TO OTHER OWNERS OF JEEP CHEROKEES, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE OTHERS EX

Mileage: 20,000

20031103CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HIT A WOODEN BOX HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

Mileage: 156,230

20030610ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WELDS BROKE ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK

Mileage: 80,000

20030507ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OUR JEEP CHEROKEE LAREDO (72994 MILES AS OF YESTERDAY 5/6/03) WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, PRESSURE IS JUST LOST; NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL THE SPEED WILL JUST DROP DOWN TO ZERO. THEN IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO GET IT TO MOVE AT ALL. WE HAD TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC, NOT BEING ABLE TO PINPOINT WHY (BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT THERE IT WAS NOT DOING THAT) THEY DID A FEW TEST AND A TUNE UP. AFTER A FEW DAYS, SAME THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AGAIN. NOW WHEN IT HAPPENS IT WILL TAKE 45 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR TO GET IT TO STAY STARTED FULLY (INSTEAD OF ON/OFF). WE TOOK IT TO A JEEP DEALER (SALERNO DUANE JEEP-EAGLE), THEY TEST DRIVE IT AND TRIED EVERYTHING THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY TO DRIVE IT AND FRUSTRATING TOO BECAUSE NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. MAYBE WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN GET TO THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE IT GEST WORSE AND THE PROBLEM CAN BE DETECTED AND FIXED. ANY SUGGESTIONS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL AND APPRECIATED. YOU CAN

20021107POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TO DEACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

20020416PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOE LINING COME OFF DO TO CORROSION CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP AT ANY SPEED ANY CONDTION. WHERE IS YOUR WISTLE BLOWER SITE FOR MECHANIC'S TO REPORT THESE ISSUES WITH OUT JUMPING THREW HOOPS

20020318SUSPENSION:REAR

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING IT SUDDENLY TOOK OFF. LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW IN THE PROCESS.*AK THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V053000 REGARDING THIS CONDITION. PHOTOS ATTACHED. FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH AFTER ENGINE IS WARMED. FUEL PUMP REPLACED. SERPENTINE BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR PADS WERE REPLACED AND FRONT AND REAR ROTORS RESURFACED. *TT

Compare 1998JEEPLAREDO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 3 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 JEEP LAREDO have?
The 1998 JEEP LAREDO has 43 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 JEEP LAREDO?
The most-complained component for the 1998 JEEP LAREDO is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1998 JEEP LAREDO 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.