"How reliable is the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee?"

"Based on 1349 NHTSA complaints, the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a median complaint mileage of 105000 miles. The most common issue is Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch."

"What are common problems with the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee is Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch, accounting for a significant portion of the 1349 total complaints filed."

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1349 complaints

1349

Total Complaints

105,000mi

Median Mileage

Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch

Top Issue

194

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

70,000 25th Percentile

105,000 Median Mileage

154,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch

286

Rotor

Automatic Transmission

Fuel System, Gasoline

Fuel/Propulsion System

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System

Structure

Tank Assembly

Severity Assessment

194

Crashes

Fires

132

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"PULLED INTO PARKING AREA & PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. REACHED IN REAR FOR BAG & EXITED VEHICLE. HEARD A CRASH. NOTICED VEHICLE HAD HIT COMPRESSOR SHIELD. TRIED TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. BUTTON WOULD NOT DEPRESS TO RELEASE DRIVE/REVERSE. CALLED DEALER & INFORMED VEHICLE NEVER IN PARK POSITION, WAS STEERI..."

"REAR WIPER DOES NOT PERFROM PROPERLY."

"STEERING WHEEL MISALIGNED."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Rotor 87 complaints

25th: 22,000 mi Median: 40,000 mi 75th: 59,800 mi

Automatic Transmission 67 complaints

25th: 55,000 mi Median: 70,000 mi 75th: 85,000 mi

Fuel System, Gasoline 50 complaints

25th: 88,295 mi Median: 122,500 mi 75th: 158,500 mi

Fuel/Propulsion System 42 complaints

25th: 143,100 mi Median: 180,000 mi 75th: 193,064 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 159 NY: 82 FL: 80 NJ: 69 IL: 69 VA: 68 TX: 65 MA: 61 PA: 53 OH: 43

Who Files Complaints?

36.2%

Original Owners

63.8%

Second+ Owners

Jeep Grand Cherokee — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1993	784	129,000	Rotor	68
1994	775	146,000	Vehicle Speed Control	142
1995	983	115,461	Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch	146
1996	1249	139,000	Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch	156
1997	1432	120,000	Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch	143
1999	2319	80,800	Rotor	157
2000	1855	85,000	Rotor	132
2001	1128	69,000	Rotor	95
2002	1770	74,000	Air Bags	98
2003	887	71,000	Air Bags	60
2004	1570	64,000	Air Bags	149
2005	2732	80,000	Electrical System	137
2006	1750	81,000	Electrical System	79
2007	1475	70,000	Electrical System	47
2008	990	76,200	Electrical System	35
2009	195	62,360	Electrical System	9
2010	171	70,000	Electrical System	18
2011	2421	64,000	Electrical System	90
2012	2308	65,000	Electrical System	72
2013	1102	66,000	Electrical System	41
2014	3365	46,865	Power Train	224
2015	1725	40,000	Power Train	179
2016	434	32,537	Power Train	45
2017	552	33,000	Engine	38
2018	1160	19,000	Electrical System	75
2019	516	31,000	Electrical System	25
2020	329	7,100	Electrical System	39
2021	643	17,500	Electrical System	34
2022	415	26,000	Electrical System	12
2023	617	13,266	Electrical System	26
2024	355	12,000	Electrical System	9
2025	87	-	Electrical System	3

Active Recalls (10)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Tank Assembly

Campaign 13V252000 | 19/06/2013

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support pro

Headlights

Campaign 09E025000 | 11/05/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Campaign 06E022000 | 13/03/2006

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.

Glass, Side/Rear

Campaign 07E104000 | 11/12/2007

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.

SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER

Fuel Pump

Campaign 06E011000 | 01/02/2006

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-880-3056.

Rotor

Campaign 00V136000 | 10/05/2000

THE REDUCED STRENGTH CAN ALLOW THE CAST IRON WEAR SURFACE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HUB, REDUCING THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.

Floor Shift

Campaign 02V053000 | 15/02/2002

INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE D

Vacuum

Campaign 98V023000 | 10/02/1998

THIS CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED AND A LOSS OF POWER ASSIST DURING BRAKE APPLICATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE BOOSTER DATE CODE AND ANY BOOSTERS WITH THE SUSPECT MANUFACTURING DATE RANGE WILL BE REPLACED.

Extend Your Transmission Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately

Compare Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Vehicle Rankings

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28