1998 Jeep Cherokee Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 61about this part
- Share
- 15%of 399 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 61 complaints about the fuel system of the 1998 Jeep Cherokee, 15% of the 399 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I just found out I have a cracked manifold, my driver side door has broken put a new part in it and now that is broken,I have also had to put a new transmission in it with only 148,000.00 miles. In 2006 I had to fix the gas tank because it was broken too. Is this not a recall problem????? Any of these, I have had the Jeep since 2000 and I bought it when it had 20,000 miles on it. Please help because this is 2012 and I only have 156,000 miles on it now. Thank you.”
NHTSA complaint #10455791, filed 2012-04, 156,000 miles“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“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“A recall based on 37 fatal accidents over the course of 20 years, involving millions of cars and billions, possibly trillions, of miles driven is absurd. It is more likely that a person would be struck by lightning than dying in a fire caused be a car crash. I would be willing to bet that there are at least ten other cars with a similar incidence of fire and fatality after a crash.”
NHTSA complaint #10515181, filed 2013-06, 1 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 milesFuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 44% |
| 2022 | 4 | 8% |
| 2021 | 5 | 3% |
| 2020 | 10 | 3% |
| 2019 | 43 | 3% |
| 2018 | 26 | 4% |
| 2017 | 18 | 1% |
| 2016 | 44 | 3% |
| 2015 | 40 | 2% |
| 2014 | 200 | 8% |
| 2001 | 10 | 4% |
| 2000 | 20 | 5% |
| 1999 | 17 | 5% |
| 1998 | 61 | 15% |
| 1997 | 141 | 36% |
| 1996 | 28 | 6% |
| 1995 | 15 | 2% |
| 1994 | 10 | 2% |
| 1993 | 10 | 2% |
| 1992 | 3 | 3% |
| 1991 | 4 | 2% |
| 1990 | 16 | 6% |
| 1989 | 15 | 8% |
| 1988 | 12 | 12% |
| 1987 | 4 | 7% |
Other parts of the 1998 Jeep Cherokee
88 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
65 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 complaintsExterior lighting
13 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 30, 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