1998 Jeep Wrangler complaints

PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION STAYING IN GEAR---FINALLY THE JEEP JUST STOPPED---REPLACED TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *MR *JB

1998 JEEP WRANGLER. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767939

A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH EXHAUST LEAKS ON WRANGLERS. NLM

THE MANNIFOLD HAS CRACKED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, JEEP FIXED IT, STATING THERE WAS A "DESIGN FLAW". NOW, APPROX. TWO YEARS LATER, AND ANOTHER 32,000 MILES(ROUGHLY) THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT, DUE TO MILEAGE. HOWEVER, I FEEL AS IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY 30,000 MILES OR SO, SOMEONE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ATTEMPT TO CORRECT IT. I JUST HAD IT FIXED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE COST WAS $600.00. NLM

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HIT A METAL POLE TO AVOID A BYSTANDER. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

AFTER APPLYING BRAKES ON RAINSLICK ROAD VEHICLE HYDROPLANED INTO THE REAREND OF A PICKUP. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL TWICE BEFORE THE SEATBELT 'CAUGHT'.... 2 BROKEN TEETH, BRAIN TRAUMA & CONCUSSION, MANGLED SPINE/SURGERY PENDING. FIRST ACCIDENT. NO ONE WILL CLAIM LIABILITY FOR THE SEATBELT NOT WORKING AND THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN TREATED AS A NON-ISSUE. MY JEEP HAS BEEN 'REPAIRED' SANS SEATBELT.... DAIMLER-CHRYSLER INVESTIGATION PENDING. ALL I ASKED, IN THE BEGINNING, WAS FOR MY SEATBELT TO BE REPLACED... NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK.... NOW I WILL FIGHT AS MY QUALITY OF LIFE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED PERMANENTLY AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ARGUE OVER A DEFECTIVE SEATBELT BEING REPLACED... AT THE VERY LEAST! I AM SEVERELY INJURED AND QUITE FRANKLY AM ANGRY, NOW, THAT I HAVE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS 'RIGHT'. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME AS MY LIFE IS NOW HOMEBASED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NUMEROUS DOCTOR VISITS.*AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD DISENGAGE WHILE PARKED. CONSUMER ROLLED OVER ON ONE OCCASION. *AK *YH

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. $900 REPAIR. DATABASE SHOWS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT KNOW SINCE 1997. SHOULD BE COVERED WARRANTY REPAIR.*AK

I WANT JEEP TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM, NOT CHARGE ME 400.00 TO FIX IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

EXHAUST HEADER SPLIT OPEN AT HEAT EFFECTED ZONE OF WELD.*AK

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND KNOCKED OUT DIGITAL CONSOLE READINGS. BOTH DOORS BULKED IN HALF DUE TO COLD WEATHER, FAILING TO LATCH SHUT. STEERING BOX IS LEAKING DUE TO A CRACK. LAST ITEM WAS REPLACED THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO RECURRING FAILURE. *AK TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER WERE REPAIRED DUE TO LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES. *SLC

WHEN CLOSING DOOR LATCH CUT THE BELT. *AK

WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS INTO VEHICLE ON PASSENGERS SIDE FLOOR DUE TO HEATER HOUSING AND SEAL MALFUNCTIONING. HAS IT REPAIRED TWICE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *NLM

CONTROL ARM BRACKET SNAPPED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM BRACKET SNAPPED OFF AND LEFT CONTROL ARM BRACKET TWISTED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE AND RAN OFF OF THE ROAD. *YH

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE ALL PRETAINING TO THE FRONT END, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START SHAKING REALLY BAD AT BETWEEN 40-50 MPH AND WE HAVE HAD LOUD BANKING NOICE COME FROM THE FRONT END AND WHEN SHIFTING. THE TIRES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES BEFORE THEY EVEN HAD 9,000 MILES ON THEM. THE VEHICLE IS A REAL LEMON. THERE HAS BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT PEELING AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS. THEY ARE NOW REFUSING TO FIX THE FRONT END AGAIN THAT WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SINCE WE BOUGHT IT.*AK

BRAKES HAD FALLEN OUT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP.*AK

ALL DASH GAUGES ARE MALFUNCTIONING, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND TACKOMETER, CAUSING ENGINE TO CUT OFF.*AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED NEAR THE FLANGE.*AK

PROBLEM 1: INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUTS DOWN AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. PROBLEM 2: WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT MAKES A SQEAKING OR GRINDING LIKE NOISE.*AK

CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE PARTIALLY ON. ENGINE WAS RUNNING. PASSENGER GOT OUT AND CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS CRASHING INTO A BUIDLING SMASHING THE WALLS AND WINDOWS.

THE CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TECHNICAL BULLETINS THAT DESCRIBE THIS AS A CONTINOUS PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

I TOOK THE JEEP LAST YEAR TO GET THE RATTLE FIXED. THEY FIXED IT, BUT ON THE 1/12/02 I TOOK IT BACK FOR THE SAME RATTLE. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY FIXED IT, JUST TIGHTENED THE LINKAGE UP. MY WIFE AND I SPENT 7 HOURS AT LANDERS WITHOUT ANYONE CONTACTING US ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY ALSO BROKE A BOLT OFF IN THE BLOCK THAT HOLDS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON, AGAIN WE WEREN'T INFORMED. OUR WARRENTY COVERED THE EXHAUST PROBLEM, BUT LANDERS SAID THAT THE LINKAGE WASN'T COVERED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD WORKED ON THE LINKAGE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO COVER ANY REPAIRS THEY MAKE FOR A YEAR, BUT THEY DIDN'T HONOR THIS. WE SPENT 7 HOURS WAITING FOR THE JEEP TO BE REPAIRED. THEY OFFERED US A RENTAL TO GET US HOME, BUT DIDN'T OFFER ANY GAS MONEY OR ANYTHING FOR OUR INCOVIENCE ABOUT DRIVING 150 MILES (ONE WAY). I'M A GUNSMITH AND MAKE $30 A HOUR AND I WAS AWAY FROM MY WORK FOR 20 HOURS BECAUSE OF LANDERS NOT INFORMING ME OF HOW LONG THE REPAIRS WOULD TAKE. NOW I'M BEHIND WITH MY WORK AND HAVING TO WORK16 HOURS A DAY TO CATCH UP. I WOULD LIKE SOME COMP. FOR MY TIME LOST. ALSO MY WIFE WENT WITH ME TO LANDERS AND SAT THROUGH THEIR LIES, AND SHE LOST WORK TIME ALSO. LANDERS IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FIVE STAR RATING TOWARD THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE WERE TREATED LIKE UNWANTED STEP-CHILDREN. LANDERS DIDN'T OFFER TO SUPPLY US WITH TRANSPORT TO GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT, INFORM US OF THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR JEEP, AND CHARGED US 69.97 FOR LABOR AND 24.97 FOR PARTS, THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE WORN OUT AFTER 27

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. *AK

GAUGES DROP OFF INTERMITTENTLY (SOMETIMES WHEN HIT A BUMP, OTHER TIMES ON IT'S OWN). TACH AND SPEEDOMETER DROP TO ZERO, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. TAPPING ON PANEL, LIGHTS WILL GO OFF, THEN COME BACK ON. VERY SPORADIC WHEN IT HAPPENS--EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK OR TWO, THEN NOTHING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN FOR 3 DAYS, ETC., ETC. ALSO LOSE MILEAGE INDICATOR (HOW MANY MILES WERE REALLY ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW?!?!?!) SEEN SO MANY COMPLIANTS NOW FROM CONSUMERS, WOULD LIKE A RECALL!!! WILL MY AIRBAG WORK? DON'T WANT TO KILL ANYONE TO FIND OUT!!*AK

MANIFOLD CRACKED HAD IT WELDED NOW IT CRACKED AGAIN IN 3 OTHER SPOTS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, DURING IDLING AND STARTED ACCELERATING IN REVERSE, VEHICLE MOVED 20 FEET BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP ALL MOVEMENT. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND SHE STEPPED OUT BRIEFLY WITH DOOR OPENED, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO REVERSE AT HIGH IDLE.*SLC

FUEL LEAKED FROM TOP OF TANK WHEN FULL OR NEAR FULL. *AK

NO GAUGES ARE WORKING AND AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON CONTACTED DEALER SAID THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THREE OTHER JEEPS ALREADY!*AK

THE JEEP WAS IN PARK WHEN I GOT OUT TO MAIL A LETTER. I LEFT MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPEN. THE JEEP SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND KNOCKED ME DOWN. NEXT , THE OPEN DOOR SMASHED OUR MAILBOX INTO ME. THE JEEP PROCEEDED UP THE STREET, WHERE I COLLECTED MYSELF AND RAN AFTER IT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN AND STOP IT, AND NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. THE DOOR WAS COMPLETELY WRAPPED AROUND TO THE QUARTER PANEL BECAUSE OF HITTING THE MAILBOX.*AK

MULTIPLE CRACKS IN HEADER(EXHAUST)PIPE COMING FROM ENGINE: MECHANIC SAID SERIOUS PROBLEM, BUT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN SO SOON IN LIFE OF VEHICLE. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAD NEVER SEEN IT HAPPEN SO SOON IN THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. 1998 MODEL, FAILURE HAPPENED SOMETIME IN AUGUST 2001. TOLD TO CHECK FOR RECALL INFO ON MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE AND TO MUST GO TO A DEALER TO FIX.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY IS ILLUMINATED ON DASH, CAUSING ALL GAUGES TO RETURN TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, THEY SAY THE FIX A GROUND WIRE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM NEVER IS CORRECTED, THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN STARTING UP AND USUALLY LASTS ABOUT 10-45 SECONDS. *SLC

MANIFOLD CRACKED AT WELD BY FLANGE. *AK

DEALER BUILT TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES AND IT'S GOING IN FORE THE 3RD TIME ON9/11/01 WHATS THE PROBLEM ( CHRYSLER ?). *AK

AS I HAVE READ MENTIONED BY OTHERS AT THIS WEBSITE, ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE JEEP, MY DASH GAUGES WOULD GO DOWN TO ZERO AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD GO ON. THIS PROBLEM IS A WINTER AND WET-WHETHER RELATED PROBLEM. IF I POUND ON THE DASHBOARD WITH MY FIST, SOMETIMES THE GAUGES WILL RECOVER TEMPORARILY. IF THEY DO RECOVER, THEY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY GO BACK DOWN TO ZERO. I SPOKE WITH A DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ACTED SURPRISED. I SEE FROM OTHER PEOPLES COMMENTS THAT THEIR ARE NUMEROUS OTHER OCCASIONS OF THIS PROBLEM. I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM UNTIL EARLIER TODAY WHEN A MECHANIC FRIEND OF A FRIEND MENTIONED SOMEONE ELSE WITH THE 1998 JEEP WRANGLER HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I NEED A RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED ON THIS? I HAVE ALSO HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER "CRUMBLE TO PIECES" ACCORDING TO A LOCAL GARAGE. HE SEEMD TO THINK THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO FIND OUT IF THERE INDEED HAS BEEN A RECALL. PLEASE CONTACT ME.*AK

SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECOMES INOPERABLE, AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (DEALER SAYS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF HARNESS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOTICED AND REDESIGNED FOR NEW VEHICLES, SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRENTY (>3YRS OWNERSHIP) I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF WIRING HARNESS (DESPITE FACT THAT MANUFACTURER HAS ADMITTED HARNESS FAILURE WAS DUE TO IMPROPER DESIGN) - I AM NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS AND INTEND TO FOLLOW-UP.*AK

THE TRANSFER CASE IS BROKEN. NLM

OUT OF TOWN BUSINESS TRIP. STRANDED.....DRIVING AT 65MPH, LOUD METAL TO METAL THUD UNDER HOOD. OIL GAUGE DROPPED TO 0, ENGINE DIED, WOULDN'T START. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR GAUGE ACTIVITY PRIOR. TOWED TO OUT OF TOWN DEALER. STATED OIL PUMP FAILURE, CAUSED ROD TO GO THROUGH BLOCK. HAD TOWED BACK TO PURCHASE POINT DEALERSHIP, CONFIRMED OIL PUMP FAILURE. OIL CHANGED 1 WEEK PRIOR AS PART OF USUAL MAINTENANCE. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE CHRYSLER WARRANTY AS ENGINE WAS MORE THAN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. PRIOR PROBLEMS, DASH CLUSTER, EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED DO TO FAILURE. (EXHAUST REPLACED WEEK PRIOR TO ENGINE FAILURE) DEALERSHIP BELIEVES DIAMLER-CHRYSLER SHOULD WARRANTY ENGINE. DIAMLER-CHRYSLER DECLINES.*AK

CONSUMER STATES RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP FAILED.*JB

SEE ATTACHED LETTER TO DAIMERCHRYSLER - WILL BE SENT VIA MAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHILE PARKING AND PULLING EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKEUP, IT BROKE.*AK

CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS SPORADICALLY SHUT DOWN AND AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *AK

MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OIL PUMP CAME LOOSE BECAUSE IT WASN'T CORRECTLY TIGHTENED AT THE FACTOEY. THIS CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT AND BEARINGS TO BURN UP. THE OIL PUMP SHOULD NOT HAVE COME LOOSE @ 26000 MILES, IT IS A WEEKEND VEHICLE IT IS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH AND HEARD LOUD NOISE, AND BACK IN LIFTED UP. FRONT HAD DROPPED, AND DRIVESHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT CRANKSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AKI CONSUMER STATES DRIVE SHAFT BOUNCED OFF OF STREET AND HIT FLOOR BOARD RIPPING HOLE IN FLOOR NEXT TO DRIVER'S FOOT. *JB

ALL FIVE LUG NUTS CAME OFF, RESULTING IN WHEEL SEPARATING FROM VEHICLE, AND MASSIVE DAMGAGE TO LFT FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK

EXHAUST SYSTEM BROKE TWICE. THIS COULD ALLOW EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM AND ALL GAUGES DROP TO ZERO!*AK

FRONT CRASH AT 30-40 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

AN EXHAUST LEAKAGE DUE TO A CRACK IN MANIFOL.; DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK