1998 Jeep Cherokee Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 3%of 399 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 175,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1998 Jeep Cherokee, 3% of the 399 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 175,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. So, I would turn off the Jeep and restart it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10746163, filed 2015-08, 120,000 miles“I was on my way to work headed south on I-69 in fort wayne, indiana. I had just passed the indiana state road 14 underpass when a semi truck tire and rim (the whole thing) came off a semi truck and rolled across three lanes of traffic where my Jeep hit it. It hit the front passenger side of my Jeep. Directly in the front but the right half of the bumper/front end. The tire then went under my car where it forced me to slide in to the cement median in the middle of the highway hitting my driver side front bumper at about 35 miles an hour or so. My airbags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10671740, filed 2015-01, 231,000 miles“Recall 00v136000 repairs have not corrected the recall problem. Rotors have been replaced 3 times since first taken into dealer for recall. Battery failed and was replaced. Dash gauges malfunctioned due to cluster harness failure. The air bag light stays on. Fog lamp switch failed. The front pinion seal was leaking. The buckle for rear middle seat belt broke.”
NHTSA complaint #8011077, filed 2002-06“When turning on headlights, consumer has to wiggle switch to get headlights to come on. Sometimes it takes a few minutes before headlights come on, vehicle has not been examined by dealer. Consumer states at times,the instrument panel cluster fails to activate upon starting the engine.”
NHTSA complaint #8013116, filed 2002-07“Whenever the air conditioner is turned on, the head lamps would go dim. Have taken to dealer & problem could not be found. It only happens when air conditioner is in use. Taking vehicle to another dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #833775, filed 1999-01Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | 8% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0% |
| 2019 | 18 | 1% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0% |
| 2017 | 8 | 1% |
| 2016 | 20 | 1% |
| 2015 | 37 | 2% |
| 2014 | 47 | 2% |
| 2001 | 10 | 4% |
| 2000 | 7 | 2% |
| 1999 | 12 | 3% |
| 1998 | 13 | 3% |
| 1997 | 7 | 2% |
| 1996 | 7 | 2% |
| 1995 | 7 | 1% |
| 1994 | 1 | 0% |
| 1993 | 3 | 1% |
| 1992 | 3 | 3% |
| 1991 | 3 | 1% |
| 1990 | 6 | 2% |
| 1989 | 5 | 3% |
| 1988 | 2 | 2% |
Other parts of the 1998 Jeep Cherokee
88 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
65 complaintsFuel system
61 complaintsAir bags
52 complaintsElectrical system
47 complaintsEngine cooling
30 complaintsBody and structure
27 complaintsSuspension
18 complaintsSeat belts
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsTires
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Jeep Cherokee
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology