1988 Jeep Wrangler Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 18%of 50 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 98,261miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the brakes of the 1988 Jeep Wrangler, 18% of the 50 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 98,261 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“I recently bought a 1988 Jeep Wrangler. I have only had it for a few weeks. I started to notice that sometimes when I engage the parking brake, it fails and releases. Everytime it would happen, it would happen right away and I would simply re-engage it, except for this last time it happened. I had my Jeep parked in my driveway with the parking brake engaged. While I was at school, the parking brake failed again and disengaged. My Jeep, then, rolled down my driveway and hit a tree in my backyard. …”
NHTSA complaint #10319262, filed 2010-03, 98,261 miles“The parking brake on my Jeep has a tendancy to disengage without warning. Before I was aware of this defect, it disengaged in a parking lot and caused my Jeep to roll back onto a new ford mustang, causing considerable damage to the other vehicle, and appearing on my insurance record as a failure on my part to engage the brake.”
NHTSA complaint #731804, filed 2000-09Related recalls
- 92V148000Oct 14, 1992On 1987 through early 1990 models, both front brake hoses can wear due to direct contact with the wheel opening splash shields. On the late 1990 through 1992…Covers: Jeep Wrangler 1987–1992
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 17% |
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2024 | 21 | 3% |
| 2023 | 7 | 2% |
| 2022 | 14 | 3% |
| 2021 | 27 | 3% |
| 2020 | 13 | 2% |
| 2019 | 32 | 4% |
| 2018 | 68 | 4% |
| 2017 | 78 | 25% |
| 2016 | 137 | 30% |
| 2015 | 136 | 28% |
| 2014 | 75 | 11% |
| 2013 | 67 | 10% |
| 2012 | 52 | 6% |
| 2011 | 30 | 6% |
| 2010 | 41 | 6% |
| 2009 | 14 | 4% |
| 2008 | 52 | 6% |
| 2007 | 41 | 7% |
| 2006 | 23 | 3% |
| 2005 | 13 | 2% |
| 2004 | 18 | 9% |
| 2003 | 10 | 10% |
| 2002 | 7 | 6% |
| 2001 | 5 | 3% |
| 2000 | 14 | 6% |
| 1999 | 14 | 7% |
| 1998 | 19 | 7% |
| 1997 | 27 | 7% |
| 1995 | 70 | 35% |
| 1994 | 29 | 19% |
| 1993 | 20 | 19% |
| 1992 | 12 | 16% |
| 1991 | 20 | 26% |
| 1990 | 28 | 35% |
| 1989 | 12 | 19% |
| 1988 | 9 | 18% |
| 1987 | 2 | 5% |
Other parts of the 1988 Jeep Wrangler
16 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsSeats
7 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Jeep Wrangler
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