1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the engine stalling without warning at any speed, and about transmission and rear-drive noise and failures. Many complaints come from vehicles well past 100,000 miles, and several describe repeated dealer visits where no fault code could be found. Brake and steering complaints cluster at lower mileage, including front-end shaking after a bump and shuddering rotors.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls without warning at any speed

   Mentioned in 18 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out with no warning light, at highway speed, in traffic, or while idling at a stop. Some owners say it restarts after a few minutes or after the battery is disconnected and reconnected, while others report it starting again immediately. Owners list coils, crank and cam sensors, idle air control motors, throttle position sensors and in some cases the powertrain control module as things that were replaced, and often say the stalling returned. Several report that no fault codes could be retrieved, and that dealers could not duplicate or diagnose the condition. Reported from roughly 42,000 to over 200,000 miles, with many entries between 100,000 and 180,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the stalling has been logged and what was replaced; scan for stored codes and check the crank sensor, idle air control and PCM connectors. Because the complaints describe intermittent no-code stalls, a long test drive at highway and stop-and-go speeds is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 98 jgc started stalling randomly; on acceleration, deceleration, highway, stoplights, etc. It would always start back up and run again, but the stalling would happen at any time. No codes would register either. The dealer tried replacing the idle air control motor and ignition coil ($300), but the problem continued. I replaced the ignition wires, distributor cap, spark plugs, and throttle position sensor but still the same. . When this occurs the electrical system would drop out momentarily. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10289864, filed 2009-10, 156,000 miles

   “Vehicle will stall out without warning while moving at any speed. Pulling over and restarting the car fixes the issue temporarily. This has been a problem for several years. No error codes are being generated . Replaced o2 sensors and this remains an issue. Looking online, many people have had this same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11102239, filed 2018-06, 146,200 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Rear impact fuel tank and hitch recall repairs

   • 269 complaints (26%)
   • median 98,245 mi at 9.3 yrs old (65 state mileage)
   • 24 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $550 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2018

   Owners report taking the vehicle in for the rear-structure recall and being told the trailer hitch reinforcement would not be installed because of corrosion around the attachment area, or that parts were unavailable and only a sticker was applied. Other fuel-system complaints describe the engine cutting out from a failed fuel sending unit, and a gas gauge that reads off from empty or full. Recall-related complaints were filed from 2014 onward on vehicles between about 72,000 and 268,000 miles; gauge and sending unit reports appear from about 30,000 to 55,000 miles.

   Recall 13V2520003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm whether the rear-structure recall work was completed and what was actually installed, and inspect the rear floor and attachment points for corrosion. Check the fuel gauge against a known fill level and ask about the fuel sending unit's service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went in to have the recall of my 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee done this morning (safety recall n45/NHTSA 13v-252 rear structural reinforcement), and the Jeep dealer refused to install the trailer hitch per the recall specifications. They said that it looked fine and put a sticker on it after making me wait for 2 hours. This, even though the aftermarket hitch that is installed on mine is so corroded that the ball and attachment point cannot be removed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10622084, filed 2014-08, 154,000 miles

   “When I bough my vehicle 2 years ago the gas gauge needle would go to empty, the bell would ring, then go back to full a few times. Dealer said since I bought the car used, and it wasn't a safety issue, they would not cover it in the 30 day warranty. Now the needle is only correnct when it is full. Also, all 4 tires seem to lose air quickly. Brought it to the dealer twice. First time couldn't find a problem, second time they replaced the stems. Now still have the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10025480, filed 2003-07, 42,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and rear axle noise or failure

   • 89 complaints (9%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2015

   Owners describe whining, grinding or howling from the rear of the vehicle that comes back after bearings, pinion gears or the whole rear carrier are replaced. Others report transmission slipping in first and second gear, a transfer case failing, or the vehicle jerking and hesitating when the gas pedal is pressed from a stop. Some say the work was done under warranty the first times and later declined, and that the truck had only been used for normal driving. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 180,000 miles, with several cases recurring within a few years of the first repair.

   Recall 02V0530003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for whine or howl from the rear axle on a test drive and check for leaks at the transfer case and transmission. Ask for service records on differential or transfer case work, and confirm the shifter engages park fully and holds the vehicle when left running.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sole owner of 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2wd with less than 39,000 to date. Vehicle has been treated with care and it has received regular maintenance service from local Jeep dealerships, excluding a few oil changes. Rear carrier, pinion and axle bearings replaced at 32,339 miles (07-08-03) due to significant whining noise in rear of vehicle, within a month after driving from california to north carolina. Noise returns in september 2004. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10093519, filed 2004-10, 38,620 miles

   “The vehicles' rear end pinion gear is making a noise. The mechanic indicated that they were going bad and needed to be replaced or the entire rear end needs to be re built. Please provide more details. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #10006088, filed 2003-01, 96,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Front brake shudder, squeal and rotor problems

   • 116 complaints (11%)
   • median 70,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $625 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2016

   Complaints describe brake squeal, grinding and a pulsing or shuddering pedal and wheel that return after rotors are turned or replaced. Some owners say the front rotors corroded or separated from the hub, and others report the ABS light coming on with a loss of brake power that resets after the ignition is cycled. A few mention bolts missing from the brake assembly and one describes a front hub separating from the rotor. Owners report being told their vehicle was not eligible for a regional rotor campaign. Reported from roughly 10,000 to 111,000 miles, several under 60,000 miles.

   Recall 00V136000Recall 98V023000

   What to check: Inspect the front rotors for heavy corrosion or scoring, and test braking from highway speed for pulsation. Ask whether the rotor corrosion campaign was ever completed and have the booster and ABS warning lamps checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brake rotors continually wrap. Wraped at 10,000, 18,000 27,000, and now again at 38,000. Chyrsler refuses to admit to a problem. Front rotors replace by recall and also have wraped. Service bulliten was also performed for this problem and still failures have occurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #10005846, filed 2003-02, 10,000 miles

   “While making a left turn right front brake hub came off the rotor. The resulted in consumer losing control of the vehicle. Consumer had to continuously pump the brake pedal until the front left brake stopped the vehicle. Dealership replaced the front brake rotors, and hub plate. This occurred due to the defect described in the front brake rotor recall 00v136000, but consumer didn't live in the recall states listed. Separation due to corrosion.”

   NHTSA complaint #10094921, filed 2004-11, 81,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Front-end shimmy and steering shake after bumps

   • 72 complaints (7%)
   • median 126,000 mi at 13.8 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2022

   Owners describe the front end shaking or jerking violently after hitting a small bump, with the steering wheel moving side to side and the vehicle hard to slow and pull over. Complaints list tires, alignments, shocks, track bar, sway bar bushings, steering gear and pitman arm as repairs that did not stop it, and one mentions worn lower track arm bearings being replaced. Others describe vague, sloppy steering and heavy body lean in turns. Reported from about 55,000 to 156,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive over a rough patch at highway speed and check for the front-end shake; inspect track bar bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints and steering play, and ask what front-end parts have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was on the highway with my 3 year old grandchild in the back when my car started shaking so violently I thought we were going to die! It literally felt like the wheels and the steering wheel as well were going to all fall off! I've never been more scared in my life. It was very difficult to slow it down and pull over to a breakdown lane so I could stop . I was even going under the speed limit when this happened”

   NHTSA complaint #11204239, filed 2019-04, 150,000 miles

   “Having recently purchased a pre-owned 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee laredo. With 80k miles, I was rudely introduced to Jeep's apparently well known. Attribute known as 'wobble of death' or 'death wobble'. Please do an internet. Search of this malady to realize the extent of this inherent problem. My Jeep is completely stock and completely nerve-wracking to drive with it's current tendencies. I am completely surprised that this problem has been allowed to persist for this long.”

   NHTSA complaint #10191903, filed 2007-05, 80,900 miles

Buying note. This model year is old enough that condition and service history matter more than the model itself; ask for records on the transmission, rear axle, brakes and any outstanding recall repairs. A thorough test drive at highway speed, over bumps, and with several braking stops will surface most of what owners describe here.

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.