Jeep Grand Cherokee / 1998
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Owners have filed 1,349 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 34.2% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 13.2%.
Complaints1,349
Crashes194
Fires18
Injuries132
Deaths27
What owners report breaking
Power train 34.2% · 461
Service brakes, hydraulic 13.2% · 178
Fuel system, gasoline 7.4% · 100
Engine and engine cooling 5.4% · 73
Structure 5.1% · 69
Electrical system 4.7% · 63
Fuel/propulsion system 3.1% · 42
Steering 3.0% · 41
Severity
Of those complaints, 194 describe a crash, 18 describe a fire, 132 report an injury and 27 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 33 model years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in this data, 1998 sits 13th by complaint volume. 2014 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 5 in the last three years against 43 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 105,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Heard noise coming from rearend and transmission slipped. Took it to petri Jeep in scottsdale, az. They said bearings were worn out in rear diff and transmission needed to be rebuild. Ok, they fixed it, at 71000 miles. I think this was way too soon. The Jeep now has 88000, the transmission is acting up again and the humming noise is returning. At 75000 my extended warranty expired. Im not happy!!! Power train · reported at 71,000 miles
The consumer placed the vehicle in the park position, as she stepped out of the vehicle, she noticed the engine was running. The vehicle rolled back in reverse until it hit a parked vehicle by a gas tank. Prior to the accident, the vehicle had recall b02 performed, which was the floor shift. The consumer requested that daimler chrysler provide the consumer with a payment for the insurance estimate. Scc Power train
On september 27, 2001, I parked my Grand Cherokee in front of my place of business. I left the car idling in park, while I ran into the building to drop something off at the front desk. I was gone for approximately 20 seconds. When I returned my car was rolling backwards through the parking lot. It traveled 214 feet, running up over a curb, over a stop sign and hitting a parked car before stopping. Power train
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…