Complaints
1,349
Crashes
194
Fires
18
Injuries
132
Fatalities
27
Recalls
1
Worst 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1286 complaints
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Crash-related:107
#287 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Avg mileage:42,560 mi
Crash-related:1
#367 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:69,287 mi
Crash-related:10
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 286 | 107 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 87 | 1 | — | 42,560 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 67 | 10 | — | 69,287 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 50 | 3 | 2 | 111,807 mi | |
| Fuel System | 42 | 1 | 2 | 176,475 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 40 | 5 | — | 87,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 36 | 1 | 1 | 127,356 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 36 | 12 | — | 143,706 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 31 | 2 | 2 | 138,000 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 30 | 2 | 2 | 83,947 mi | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 28 | — | — | 84,090 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 25 | — | 1 | 137,134 mi | |
| Body Structure | 23 | — | — | 164,381 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 21 | 19 | — | 115,774 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 21 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 19 | 2 | — | 137,000 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 16 | 2 | 2 | 160,797 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 15 | 1 | — | 138,899 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 14 | — | 1 | 156,514 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 13 | — | 1 | 122,200 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 13 | — | — | 76,608 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 13 | — | — | 130,152 mi | |
| Airbags | 12 | 3 | — | 124,400 mi | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 12 | — | — | 60,200 mi | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 11 | — | — | 73,000 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 11 | — | — | 65,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 10 | — | — | 49,600 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 10 | — | — | 85,000 mi |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
286
complaints
Crashes
107
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
87
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
42,560
Automatic Transmission
67
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,287
Gasoline Fuel System
50
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
111,807
Fuel System
42
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
176,475
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
40
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,000
Electrical Faults
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
127,356
Unintended Acceleration
36
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
—
Avg Miles
143,706
Structural Problems
31
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
138,000
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
30
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
83,947
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
28
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,090
Engine & Cooling
25
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
137,134
Body Structure
23
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
164,381
Air Bags:Frontal
21
complaints
Crashes
19
Fires
—
Avg Miles
115,774
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
19
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
137,000
Transmission / Drivetrain
16
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
160,797
Steering Defects
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
138,899
Engine Problems
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
156,514
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
122,200
Fuel Pump
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,608
Suspension Failures
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
130,152
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
124,400
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,200
Power Train:Axle Assembly
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,000
Suspension:Front
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
49,600
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,000
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,560,000 vehicles.
13V252000Structure · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
~1,560,000 affectedChrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Other Jeep Grand Cherokee Years
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 1,349 NHTSA complaints, 194 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch with 286 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Top reported problems: Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch (286 complaints); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor (87 complaints, avg 42,560 mi); Automatic Transmission (67 complaints, avg 69,287 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 105,376 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee include 194 crash-related reports, 18 fire reports, 132 injuries, and 27 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,560,000 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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