1998 Jeep Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems (warped or separated rotors, rear brakes locking up, a brake pedal that does not respond) and an intermittent instrument cluster where the gauges and air bag light cut in and out together, sometimes tied to wiring under the dash. A recurring fuel-related stall is also widely reported: the engine cuts out on left turns or sharp maneuvers when the tank is roughly a quarter or third full. Mileage at the time of complaint is typically high, in the 60,000 to 150,000 range, with many reports from long-term owners of used vehicles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster and gauges cut out; air bag light on

   • 62 complaints (16%)
   • median 128,000 mi at 12.0 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2020

   Owners report that the speedometer and other gauges stop working intermittently while the air bag warning light stays on, sometimes with all dash lights going dark. Several say pressing on or hitting the dash restores the gauges, and one reports the entire vehicle going dark over bumps along with alarm and lock cycling. Dealers variously described a wiring harness under the dash, a body control module, or said they could not diagnose it. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 30,000 to over 200,000 miles, and often described as intermittent.

   Recall 08V056000Recall 00V1050002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the vehicle and confirm all gauges sweep and work, then drive over rough pavement to see whether the cluster or air bag light flickers; ask whether any wiring or module repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It started with the lights turning off when I hit a bump. The whole Jeep would go dark. Instrument panel, overhead lights, driving lights, all of them! Then after parking the Jeep, day or night, the alarm system would go off all by itself. The door switches locking and unlocking while I was driving down the road. Then there was the radio that would turn on and off by itself. Then the windows decided to stop going up and down. When I would start the Jeep the instrument panel gauges wouldn't move, turn on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10746163, filed 2015-08, 120,000 miles

   “Air bag light comes on and all gauges stop working-- pressing hard on the face of the gauge cluster or smacking the top of the dash restores everything.. Owned it for 4 years and previous owner said they experienced it before me.. Now it has started a new additional problem, check gauges light comes on and volt meter pegs to the right at 19 volts. Smacking doesn't help this, it just goes away in a few miles...”

   NHTSA complaint #10640634, filed 2014-10, 217,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake rotors warp or separate; poor or uneven stopping

   • 93 complaints (23%)
   • median 112,750 mi at 8.3 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2020

   Owners describe rotors that warp, wear out, or in one case came apart, producing long stopping distances, noise, and a pedal that goes down further than usual. Several report repeated rotor and caliper replacements with the problem returning, and one owner says the rear brakes locked up on a wet road and the vehicle slid past a stop sign. Complaints also describe a brake pedal that felt unresponsive in a low-speed stop, and dealers replaced rotors, calipers and pads without a lasting fix. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 130,000 miles, sometimes much earlier, and several owners mention wet roads or repeated rotor replacement.

   Recall 00V136000

   What to check: Have the front and rear brakes and rotors inspected for warping, corrosion or separation, and ask whether the front rotor recall (00V136000) work was done, noting it applied only to vehicles in certain cold-weather states.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I think my Jeep is remotely bugged somehow, ABS light comes on and my brakes work, ABS light goes out and my brakes make noise and pedal goes down further like I have no brakes. Also, temperature gauge is steady then suddenly it goes up and down. I have checked fluids, had brakes inspected (replaced pads and front rotors) I went to police said they had no way of testing for bugs.”

   NHTSA complaint #10759591, filed 2015-08, 203,714 miles

   “Brakes failed at 20 MPH. Rear-ended volvo station wagon. Was told by mechanic that I needed brakes and rotors replaced. Cherokee had less than 14,000 miles on it. Five months later Jeep recalled rotors. Because I did not have original oem parts (ie. Rotors) they would not assist me in disputing insurance rate increase or cost of rotor/brake replacements. ***note*** Jeep is on third set of rotors and is in need of yet another as these are warped. And Jeep is not at the 100,000 mile mark yet!”

   NHTSA complaint #10016339, filed 2003-04, 14,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Driver's seat frame breaks at the rails

   • 16 complaints (4%)
   • median 90,750 mi at 6.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2014

   Owners report the driver's seat frame or mounting rail breaking where it attaches to the floor, leaving the seat wobbly or tipped back and to one side. Some describe the seat becoming unstable over bumps or while turning, and several say the seat had to be replaced or repaired more than once. Dealers generally treated it as wear rather than a covered repair in the complaints. Reported from about 46,000 to 157,000 miles, often after the seat felt loose for a period before breaking.

   Recall 98V048000

   What to check: Grab the seat and rock it firmly in all directions and look under it for cracks at the mounting rails and bolts; check both front seats.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I noticed my seat leaning to the side. Looking under the seat, I saw where the metal rails on the bottom of the seat, where it attached to the floor mount, to have completely broken away from the bolts. I now have a rocking drivers chair. It is difficult to drive laying on your back.”

   NHTSA complaint #10504857, filed 2013-03, 120,000 miles

   “Drivers seat of 1998 Jeep Cherokee classic failed. Left front attachment rail nut worked it's way through the railing causing front left part of seat to dislodge itself from seat track, which allowed seat to fall back and to the right. Nuts which attach seat to track are smaller than bolt holes causing nuts to work through bolt holes resulting in seat track and seat base failure. I explained to dealer that this was not normal wear and tear. Dealer did not reimburse me for the cost of a new base, which cost $350.00. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10018550, filed 2003-05, 56,500 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Engine stalls on left turns with low fuel

   • 14 complaints (4%)
   • median 68,500 mi at 5.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2009

   Owners describe the engine hesitating or cutting out completely when turning left or through sharp turns with the tank below roughly a quarter to a third full. Several mention this happening in traffic or at intersections, and one says the dealer identified a known problem with the fuel filter or pump pickup; another reports a disintegrated tank clogging the fuel lines. Complaints also mention fuel gauge readings that fluctuate. Usually reported between about 46,000 and 160,000 miles, under low-fuel conditions during turns.

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump, filter sock or tank has been replaced, and test drive with the tank below a quarter full while making left turns.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Standard Jeep Cherokee (had been maintained by us gvt. Until I bought) hesitates or stalls when turning when gas tank below 25-35% . Is hazardous and have nearly been rearended a few times, from 2003 thru 2009. Chrysler says known problem with fuel filter/pump 'sock'--but no assistance in the 500$ plus potential repair costs. This is the biggest safety problem I have ever heard of in a modern car and it's rampant among Cherokee owners.”

   NHTSA complaint #10261376, filed 2009-03, 67,000 miles

   “1998 Jeep Cherokee limited 4.0 - when turning left and the fuel level is below aprox 1/3 full the engine stalls and stops running. This created a very dangerous situation when proceeding through intersections with on coming traffic. I am aware that many Jeep owners are experiencing the same problem which leads to a conclusion that this is a manufacturer defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10188948, filed 2007-04, 75,000 miles
5. 5
   Suspension

   Front-end shake at highway speed ('death wobble')

   • 16 complaints (4%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 15.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2024

   Owners describe a violent shaking of the front end at around 50 to 60 mph, typically triggered by a bump or road crack, that only stops after slowing down sharply. Several link it to worn front-end components on the stock suspension, and complaints note that it recurs once the vehicle reaches the same speed again. One owner reports the same violent oscillation starting from a stop. Reported from about 62,000 to 198,000 miles, at highway speeds after hitting a bump or road irregularity.

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed over uneven pavement; ask about tie rod ends, track bar, ball joints and steering stabilizer condition and any recent front-end work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recently I have noticed that at speeds of around 50-60 MPH my Jeep Cherokee begins to violently shake when brakes are applied or after passing over a bump. While researching this online I have determined that it is similar to other complaints that are being characterized as death wobble. This is a very dangerous condition and appears to be directly contributed to faulty front end component design on Jeep cherokees/wranglers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10509685, filed 2013-04, 130,000 miles

   “The right side of the Jeep hit a small bump in the road and the entire front of the car began to oscillate at high speed. The only way to make it stop was to slow down on the highway during traffic. I had to slow down to approximately 30 miles per hour. After the oscillation stopped we began travelling again and got up to 55 MPH again. A small bump in the road was hit and same situation occurred. This vehicle has a completely stock suspension system and we've only owned it for approximately 2 years.”

   NHTSA complaint #10681970, filed 2015-02, 62,000 miles

Buying note. Check the brakes, front-end components and instrument cluster carefully on a test drive, and confirm which open recalls (including the air bag module, rotor and seat belt anchorage campaigns) have been completed. A pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with this model is worthwhile given the mix of brake, suspension and electrical reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.