1998 Jeep Cherokee Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 3%of 399 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,900miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1998 Jeep Cherokee, 3% of the 399 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,900 miles. 3 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.
“The contact owns a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, there was a sudden acceleration and the brake pedal failed to respond as a result the contact crashed into a tree. A police report was filed and the contact sustained no injuries. The vehicle was towed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10608615, filed 2014-07, 150,000 miles“The contact owned a 1998 Jeep Cherokee. The contact was driving approximately 3 MPH when the accelerator went into the floorboard abnormally causing the vehicle to accelerate independently. The contact was unable to control the unintended acceleration and crashed into two vehicles, went over a curve, crashed into a guardrail and then into a fence. The contact sustained injuries to the head. A police report was available. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 117,400.”
NHTSA complaint #10365038, filed 2010-11, 117,400 miles“My Jeep was parked with the engine running to run the AC for approx 5 minutes. It jumped into reverse and raced off (as if someone was seating in the driver's seat with foot on the gas). My friend attempted to jump in to stop it; however, he was thrown onto the ground. The Jeep stopped only after plowing into a brand new 2002 chevrolet trailbrazer. Hitting the parked trailbrazer was blessing because it stopped the Jeep from rolling into a major highway!! I called chrysler to report the accident. Their engineer reviewed the wreckage and reported that nothing was wrong with the Jeep. …”
NHTSA complaint #764468, filed 2002-07“Engine stalls while trying to accelerate, stalls while cruise controll is set at certain speed, hesitates as if not getting gas, but has enough fuel, engine service lights comes , when put ing for repairs the technician did an engine clean and the light went off, and then came back on within 24 hours, car back in for engine check and I was tolf there was a bulletin issued by chrysler about the # 7 cylinder misfiring.”
NHTSA complaint #735937, filed 2000-11“Vehicle accelerated while either in park or drive. Vehicle was stopped when it suddenly speed forward and crashed into the garage. Driver did not have foot on gas pedal.”
NHTSA complaint #780808, filed 1998-09Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 11% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 8 | 2% |
| 2019 | 83 | 5% |
| 2018 | 20 | 3% |
| 2017 | 60 | 4% |
| 2016 | 76 | 5% |
| 2015 | 120 | 7% |
| 2014 | 185 | 7% |
| 2001 | 5 | 2% |
| 2000 | 10 | 3% |
| 1999 | 10 | 3% |
| 1998 | 11 | 3% |
| 1997 | 15 | 4% |
| 1996 | 13 | 3% |
| 1995 | 72 | 12% |
| 1994 | 38 | 7% |
| 1993 | 36 | 9% |
| 1992 | 19 | 17% |
| 1991 | 12 | 5% |
| 1990 | 54 | 20% |
| 1989 | 45 | 24% |
| 1988 | 25 | 26% |
| 1987 | 19 | 33% |
| 1986 | 3 | 14% |
| 1984 | 2 | 29% |
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 complaintsExterior lighting
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