1998 Jeep Wrangler complaints

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, TWO CARS WERE ALREADY AT FULL STOP, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP APPROXAMETELY 10 FEET BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ALL THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE STARTED LIKE MY FOOT IS ON GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES, I PUSHED ON THE BREAKS AS HARD AS I CAN WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE, I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAPPEN. I DROVE THE CAR THIS AFTERNOON, IT IS DRIVING FINE. I WENT TO A PARKING LOT AND I APPLIED THE BREAKS THEN PUSHED GAS AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. MY BREAKS ARE FINE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN AND WHY IT HAPPENED, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MY BREAKS EWRE FULLY APPLIED, AND THE CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE IT MOVED ON ITS OWN. SKID MARKS WERE VISIBLE, BUT THE CAR KEPT MOVING.*AK

WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION, KEY WILL NOT TURN, STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN EITHER TO UNLOCK IT. *AK

PASSENGER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT PULL OUT. *AK

IRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAUGES GO TO ZERO INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. THEY SOMETIMES COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP. *AK

WHILE GOING IN REVERSE REAR BRAKES DIN'T LOCK UP. DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. BRAND NEW HUBS & BRAKE SHOES, AND IT CHANGED NOTHING.*AK

GAUGES ON INSTERMENT PANEL WILL GO OUT AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON. THIS HAVE HAPPENED REPETEADLY.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED ON AN INCLINE WITH EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS TIGHTENED CABLE, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AT 25-30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE SWAYS AT +55MPH DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF SWAY BAR LINKS. *AK

1. THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED JUMPING IN AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR IN THE 32 TO 50 MPH RANGE. BUBBLES ARE PRESENT IN THE FLUID INDICATING A SEAL IS FAILING. REPAIR ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME IS OVER $1000. THIS FAILURE IN SNOWY DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSES VEHICLE CONTROL PROBLEMS.2. PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTS INTERMITTENTLY. THE PASSENGER WILL LEAN FORWARD AND BACK MAY NOT NOTICE THE SEATBELT HAS NOT RETRACTED. THIS CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. 3. SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT IDLE. VEHICLE IDLE WILL JUMP FROM 1.5K TO 3K WITHOUT WARNING. OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. 4. ANTI-SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE. THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST INSIDIOUS FAILURE. THE STABILIZER BAR LINK BALL WILL CORRODE IN THE SOCKET AND CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND IT COVERS THE FAILURE. WHEN AN EMERGENCY TURN IS REQUIRED, THE JEEP WILL SWAY VIOLENTLY. I TALKED TO THE CHRYSLER PARTS ATTENDANT AND HE SAID HE SELLS ABOUT 12 A WEEK TO THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE FAILURE. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT NOTICE THIS, IT IS A TIME BOMB. THE PARTS ATTENDANT TOLD ME I WOULD BE BACK SOON TO REPLACE MORE. WHAT HE SAID IS TRUE.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THEN, VEHICLE VEERED TO LEFT. A CLICKING NOISE CAME ABOUT AFTER INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

DUE TO THE DESIGN OF SUSPENSION IT IS RUBBING AGAINST RADIATOR HOSE, PUNCTURING THE HOSE WHICH CAUSED A LEAK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ORIGINAL BATTERY EQUIPMENT: WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, BATTERY EXPLODED WHICH CRACKED THE BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER TYPE. *AK

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT HAS CAUSED RE-CALL BY MANUFACTURER OF THIS TIRE IN DIFFERENT SIZE. THIS TIRE ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES WHEN IT SEPARATED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: YD66A12247 TIRE SIZE: 30X9.50R15 )

AIRBAG LIGHT SPEEDOMETER AND RAM GAUGE FAIL DUE TO WATER ENTERED THE DASH BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. THE LEAK IS A COMMON SEAL FAILURE, WHIDSHIELD IS CAPABLE OF LAYING FLAT AND THE SEAL DOES NOT WORK, IT APPEARS TO CAUSE WATER DAMAGE.

IN TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP GASKET FAILURE. I FILLED THE FUEL TANK ON A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER ON A SUNDAY NIGHT, THE VEHICLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVER NIGHT AND INTO THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON. UPON RETURNING HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE FUEL RUNNING AT A STEAY STREAM ONTO MY DRIVEWAY FROM THE JEEP I HAD FILLED UP THE PREVIOUS EVENING. I ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK AND STOP IT, HOWEVER I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. I REMOVED THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FUEL TO BE LEAKING AROUND THE RETAINING RING FOR THE FUEL PUMP THAT IS INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK. I CHECKED THE SCREW ON RETAINING RING FOR TIGHTNESS AND FOUND IT TO BE SECURE AND SNUG ON THE TANK. THE RING IS A SCREW ON TYPE COLLAR MADE OF HARDENED PLASTIC, WHICH HOLDS THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TANK, THE FUEL PUMP SITS ON A FLAT RUBBER GASKET WHICH SITS ON THE LIP OF THE PLASTIC GAS TANK. UPON REMOVING THE RETAINING RING AND LIFTING THE FUEL PUMP OUT OF THE TANK I NOTICED THE GASKET WAS CRIMPED AND TORN ON THE TOP FLAT PORTION OF THE GASKET. I CONTACTED THE OWNER TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THE GASKET TEAR, THE OWNER CLAIMED TO HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR A FAULTY FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR A COUPLE MONTHS EARLIER. WHICH WAS INLINE WITH WHAT I HAD ASSUMED SEEING AS THE FUEL TANK HAD GREASE PENCIL WRITING ON TOP OF THE TANK INDICATING A TECHNICIANS INITIALS, DATE AND MILEAGE. THIS PROBABLY EXPLAINS THE TORN GASKET, HOWEVER UPON O

CAR DIED SUDDENLY IN BUSY HWY RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC,GAGE SHOWED OVER1/4 TANK GAS,ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED W/SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER,GAS PEDAL NOT RESPONDING,LIGHTS STILL WORKED..TOW-TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE HAD SEEN LOTS OF G.JEEPCHEKEES DIED SUDDENLY W/GAS-GAUGE SHOWING GAS IN TANK&WHEN A BIT OF GAS WAS ADDED,THEY STARTED.WE ADDED QT.GAS AND OUR CAR STARTED,STILL SHOWING +1/4TANK.THIS SUDDEN DEATH COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT PLUS WE HAD TO LEAVE CAR AND EXIT IN MIDDLE OF VERY BUSY ROAD..MAYBE WRANGLERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM AS GR.CHEROKEE?THIS IS VERY SCARY AND WORRISOME..CAR WAS FINE AND NO WARNING BEFORE IT DIED. *AK

UNDER BODY FIRE ON VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING UNIMPROVED ROAD IN BRUSH. DEBRIS PACKED INTO SKID PLATE UNDER TRANSFER CASE AND CAUGHT FIRE. REDESIGN OF SKID PLATE IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE FIRE SITUATION. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE RE-FINISHED AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES. I QUESTION THE QUALITY OF MATERIALS CHRYSLER IS USING. STEERING WHEEL RUBBING: STEERING COLUMN WOULD MAKE A RUBBING NOISE EVERY TIME IT WAS TURNED. DID THIS EVEN ON THE INITIAL TEST DRIVE NEW OFF THE LOT. THEY SAID IT WAS A SIMPLE LUBRICATION ISSUE. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE NOISE WAS BACK. I BROUGHT IT IN A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY RESOLVED, APPARENTLY WITH SOME NEW SUPER SLICK POLYMER AND ONLY AFTER I PERSONALLY CALLED THE FACTORY TO GET ADVICE. OTHER ISSUES: DRIVER'S SEAT CREAKS LIKE AN OLD TRACTOR. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAUGES ON MY DASH GOING OFF. THEY KNEW WHAT THAT WAS AND DIXED IT. EXHAUST MANIFOLD WENT AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES (MORE SUBSTANDARD PARTS USED BY CHRYSLER). THIS IS WHY I HESITATE TO BUY AMERICAN.

DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAUSED ALL THE GAUGES TO FAIL AND AIR BAGS TO SHUT DOWN. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS RAINING AND SOMEONE CUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INDICTATING A DEFECT IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. ALSO SPEEDOMETER FAILED. . DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THE DEFECTS. *AK THE TACHOMETER FAILS WHEN THE SPEDOMETER STARTS TO WORK. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED ON/OFF, ALL GAUGES FAIL TO WORK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

EXHAUST MANIFOLD/HEADER CRACKED LATERALLY IN STAINLESS STEEL PIPE IN TWO PLACES JUST OFF OF ENGINE. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED AN ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING ANITFREEZE. 3 DIFFERENT TRIPS TO MAKE REPAIRS, NO ACTION ON FIRST TRIP, SECOND TRIP, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THIRD TRIP, DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR. VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON RIGHT HAND SIDE AND ONCE ON LEFT HAND SIDE DUE TO BELTS GETTING PINCHED IN HARDTOP DOORS AND DAMAGING BELTS. BELT ON RIGHT HAND HAS HAD FAILURE OF SEAT BELT INERTIA LOCK DURING HARD STOP. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED MOMENTARILY. FIX WAS TO CLEAN AND GREASE CONNECTORS. SYSTEM IS STARTING TO REPEAT SAME PROBLEM, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. STEERING COLUMN LOWER BUSHING HAS DEVELOPED NOISE, AFTER RAIN OR ONSET OF COLD WEATHER. DEALER STATES FIX IS TO LUBE BUSHING, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS AFTER 4 DEALER VISITS. REAR AXLE SEALS ON LEFT HAND AND RIGHT HAND WERE LEAKING, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCKUP WITH MODERATE BRAKE APPLICATION ON DAMP PAVEMENT OR SANDY ROAD SURFACES. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEALS, BUT NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT POSSIBLE BRAKE LINING CONTAMINATION OR CLEANING. VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED WATER LEAKAGE FROM AROUND WINDSHIELD ON LEFT AND RIGHT HAND SIDES, RIGHT HAND HARDTOP DOOR HINGE ATTACH BOLTS, THRU SEALS ON COWL AND AROUND DOORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALL SEALS, RTV'D GAPS, AND INSTALLED UPDATED DOOR SEALS, BUT VEHICLE STILL LEAKS. ALSO, CARPETS WERE WATER DAMAGED IN FRONT PASSENG

STARTED VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD SAT FOR 13 HOURS. VEHICLE STARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM, BUT A POP/CRACKLING SOUND WAS HEARD AT START-UP. THE RADIO WAS TURNED ON AND IT IMMEDIATLEY POWERED DOWN AND CLOCK WENT BLANK. ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL READ "0". THE HEADLIGHTS, FOGLIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WORK. THE INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. ALL FUSES FOR RADIO, INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INTERIOR LIGHT ARE NOT BLOWN. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE.

THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE. WHEN YOU BACK UP ON ANY SURFACE AND APPLY THE BRAKES THE FRONT BRAKES [DISC] LOCK UP AND THE BACK WHEELS JUST KEEP ROLLING. THEY PROVIDE NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE AT ALL. *AK

VEHICLE LEANS ON ONE SIDE MORE THAN ON THE OTHER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE SUSPENSION , IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS CAUSING TILTING. *AK

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD/HEADER CRACKS AT THE BOTTOM ON THE INSIDE PIPE I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE AND IT IS APPERANTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON 1997 - 2000 MODELS. IT IS AN EMMISSIONS LEAK AND ALSO A POSSIBLE CORBON MONOXSIDE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF 8 JEEPS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO VERY MANY PEOPLE. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME PART THAT IS NOW INSTALLED ON MY JEEP, SO I DON'T EXPECT IT TO LAST VERY LONG.

WATERLEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE, DEALER CAN NOT FIX.....GEARS GRIND GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND...AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INTSRUMENT PANEL FAILS, DEALER HAS FIXED ONCE

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE U BOLT THAT CAUSED THE I BEAM TO BREAK. DRIVER RAN INTO A TRUCK. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

LEAKS SOMEWHERE IN H/AC VENTING-NO LEAK ON DRIVER SIDE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, WHERE THEY WERE DOING ROAD WORK, FRONT END VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, EVEN LOST CONTROL AFTER DECELERATION. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

FIRST OFF, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN THE GAUGES WOULD SHUT DOWN. I TOOK THE JEEP IN ONCE, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS AND COULDN'T FIX IT IF THEY DIDN'T SEE IT. NEXT, I WAS DRIVING THE JEEP, HAD STOPPED TO GET GAS, THEN STARTED TO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY, THE JEEP NO LONGER WOULD MOVE. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SMELL, AND I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AT 9 P.M, 6 HOURS FROM HOME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP, AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL BE THROUGH WITH IT!!

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH STEERING COLUMN MAKING SCRAPING NOISS. VEHICLE BENN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE THEY REPLACED STEERING COLUMN. LESS THEN THREE MONTHS LATER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART, AND IF SO, HOW LONG WOULD THEY DO THIS UNTIL WARRANTY RAN OUT. IF SO, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? ! CAN NHTSA HELP WITH THIS MATTER BEFORE THIS OCCUR AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

MY WIFE WAS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND THE STICK SHIFT SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR HARD. WHEN WE CALLED JIM MARSH JEEP MY WIFE TOLD THEM THE STICK SHIFT CAME OFF AND THE PERSON SAID "YOU MUST HAVE A WRANGLER". THIS HAS TO BE MORE THAN AN ISOLATED INCEDENT. HAD WE BEEN 4 WHEELING SOME WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD ACCIDENT.

SUNROOF FAILED TO CLOSE.

FUEL VAPOR CONNECTOR.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND CRUISE CONTROL.

HEATER BLOWER.

OIL PRESSURE GAUGE.

SUSPENSION.

NO SUMMARY

CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE WATER LEAKAGE. WATER WILL LEAK INTO THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN IT RAINS AND WHEN YOU WASH IT. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONING IS LEAKING WATER UNDER THE CARPET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I'M THINKING IT'S NOT DRAINING PROPERLY. CHRYSLER'S SERVICE DEPT. WANTS NOTHING TO DO TO HELP ME WITH THESE REPAIRS. IT HAS GONE TO THEM 4 TIMES FOR THE WATER LEAK AND IT WILL BE GOING BACK FOR A SECOND TIME FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE ONE DEALER I WENT WAS FIXED BY ANOTHER DEALER. THEY ARE QUICK TO SELL YOU THE NEW CAR BUT WILL NOT GO BY THEIR WARRANTY.

IN DAMP CONDITIONS, THIS CAR IS UNSAFE, WILL LOOSE POWER ON HIGHWAY AFTER RAIN AND EVEN FROM EVENING DAMPNESS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL SHUT DOWN

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND GOING OVER A BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL IS VIBRATING AND THERE IS SOME KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN MECHANISM DOES NOT FIT CORRECTLY CAUSING LOOSE FITTING. AK

WHILE DRIVING ON RT 84 IN NEW YORK STATE STEERING WENT OUT CAUSEING THE JEEP TO BE THROWN ACROSS THREE LANES OF THE INTERSTATE.THE JEEP THEN ROLLED OVER DOWN THE MEDIUM STRIP. DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM JEEP THE OTHER THREE PASSENGERS REMIANED IN JEEP SUSTIANING BRUISES. AIRGAGS NEVER DEPLOYED WHILE JEEP WAS ROLLING OVER.

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB HAD BLOWN UP UNDER VEHICLE. HEARD METAL AGAINST METAL RATTLING & THEN A LOUD BANG. VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY ON HIGHWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE DRIVETRAIN HAD EXPLODED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM 60-62 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT RESULTED IN REAR OF VEHICLE TO BEGIN SLIDING AROUND TO THE LEFT. THE FOUR SHEEL ABS SYSTEM HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHECKED FOLLOWING A TIRE LOCK-UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER PERFORMED DRB TEST AND CHECK FOR CODES, NONE FOUND AND ABS OPERATING AT THIS TIME. DEALER AGREED THAT ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLE SHOULDN'T RESPOND IN THIS FASHION. OWNER REQUESTED FOLLOW-UP BY CHRYSLER REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. *AK