1998 Jeep Wrangler: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 401 complaints
401
Total Complaints
71,300mi
Median Mileage
Air Bags
Top Issue
28
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
30,000
25th Percentile
71,300
Median Mileage
99,945
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Air Bags
28
Interior/Under Dash
23
Electrical System
21
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
19
Unknown Or Other
16
Suspension
16
Body
15
Frontal
13
Exhaust System
12
Automatic Transmission
9
Severity Assessment
28
Crashes
9
Fires
19
Injuries
1
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"TRANSMISSION GRINDS GEARS WHEN ENGAGING SECOND GEAR ON ACCELERATION."
"THE WELDING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSED WATER TO LEAK UNDER THE DASH, WHICH DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MAY HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ALSO. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. REPLCEMENT PART, PLASTIC WATER DESLECTOR MELTED, CAUSING A FIRE. *AK"
"WHILE DRIVING IN THIRD GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWINGED TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND ROLL OVER."
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.
Air Bags
28 complaints
25th: 41,125 mi
Median: 60,000 mi
75th: 84,000 mi
Interior/Under Dash
23 complaints
Median: 55,000 mi
Electrical System
21 complaints
25th: 64,212 mi
Median: 73,500 mi
75th: 112,500 mi
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
19 complaints
25th: 36,500 mi
Median: 50,000 mi
75th: 57,000 mi
Unknown Or Other
16 complaints
25th: 111,000 mi
Median: 146,000 mi
75th: 165,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 59
TX: 41
PA: 18
SC: 17
GA: 16
NC: 16
NY: 16
OH: 16
MI: 15
FL: 15
Who Files Complaints?
51.1%
Original Owners
48.9%
Second+ Owners
Jeep Wrangler — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 105 | 6 |
| 1991 | 100 | 5 |
| 1992 | 100 | 7 |
| 1993 | 134 | 10 |
| 1994 | 184 | 17 |
| 1995 | 259 | 36 |
| 1997 | 548 | 46 |
| 1999 | 262 | 16 |
| 2000 | 311 | 24 |
| 2001 | 235 | 25 |
| 2002 | 139 | 22 |
| 2003 | 130 | 11 |
| 2004 | 281 | 27 |
| 2005 | 756 | 12 |
| 2006 | 852 | 9 |
| 2007 | 791 | 22 |
| 2008 | 1251 | 25 |
| 2009 | 492 | 10 |
| 2010 | 898 | 26 |
| 2011 | 672 | 16 |
| 2012 | 1275 | 35 |
| 2013 | 1027 | 24 |
| 2014 | 830 | 32 |
| 2015 | 632 | 21 |
| 2016 | 618 | 37 |
| 2017 | 405 | 25 |
| 2018 | 2566 | 38 |
| 2019 | 1036 | 16 |
| 2020 | 745 | 25 |
| 2021 | 1414 | 39 |
| 2022 | 556 | 28 |
| 2023 | 511 | 16 |
| 2024 | 1221 | 18 |
| 2025 | 87 | 4 |
Active Recalls (6)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
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.
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.
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.
Equipment
Campaign 04E041000 | 07/06/2004
SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE.
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 845-3567.
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.
Anchorage
Campaign 98V048000 | 12/03/1998
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELT TURNING LOOP ON THESE VEHICLES.
Airbag Safety
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
- Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
- Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
- Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories
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