1998 Jeep Wrangler complaints

EXPERIENCED WHEEL LOCK-UP DURING A PANIC STOP FROM 60 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER TESTED ABS SYSTEM WITH DRBIII. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. INFOMED CONSUMER THAT DRUM BRAKES WILL PERFORM DIFFERENTLY THAN FRONT ABS BRAKES. REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK WHEN ABS IS ACTIVATED. WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND SHORT WHEEL BASE, VEHICLE WILL FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS SKIDDING WHEN IT IS NOT. THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION OF THIS VEHICLE, NO FIX ATTEMPTED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

EACH TIME I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANYWHERE WITHIN ANY VICINITY BEHIND A TRUCK AND ANY SIZE OF DEBRIS IS THROWN UP ON MY WINDSHIELD....IT CAUSES A BREAK. EACH TIME IT HAS BROKEN....THIS SIZE OF ROCK OR DEBRIS HAS BEEN HARDLY VISIBLE TO THE EYE. THE VERY LAST TIME WAS A TINY PIECE OF ASPHALT AND IT LEFT THE BIGGEST BREAK OF ALL. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF DEFAULT IN THE WINDSHIELD FOR IT TO BREAK SO EASILY. I AM CURIOUS AS IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH JEEPS AND NONE HAVE EXPIERENCED THIS TYPE OF DIFFICULTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN REAR AND AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. *AK

FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE DRIVERS SIDE AREA UNDER THE DASHBOARD FILLING WITH AT LEAST TWO INCHES OF WATER THAT HAD TO BE DRAINED. ALL WINDOWS AND HOODS WERE UP AND SECURE IN BOTH INSTANCES. SECOND COMPLAINT WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL GUAGES DROPPED TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH VAROUS PARTS: 1. CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD; 2. MUFFLER FAILED/ REPLACED;, 3. WATER LEAKING THROUGH FRONT WINDSHIELD MOULDING; 4. INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT, AND 5. FUEL GAUGE/SENDER WOULD NOT REGISTER PROPERLY. *AK

CONSUMER HAD STARTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO DRIVE THROUGH A WALL AND HIT A HOUSE . DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK

UNDER DASH WIRING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE GAUGES TO GO OUT, AND STARTED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

THE JEEP WAS BROUGHT INTO TWO DIFFERENT JEEP DEALERS ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME ELECTRICALPROBLEMS. ON MAY 2, 1999 AFTER BEING PARKED ON THE STREET FOR OVER 10 HOURS, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE ACCORDING TOT HE

ON 03/26/99 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO-AUTO COLLISION, IMPACTING FRONT RIGHT SIDE. OTHER AUTO WAS GOING 35+ MPH. NEITHER PASS. NOR DRIVER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY AIRBAGS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. DEALER CONTACTED BUT HAS YET TO INVESTIGATE. MANUFACTURER (CHRYSLER CORP.) CONTACTED BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE GUAM IS NOT WITHIN CONTINENTAL US. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF IN FACT THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED OR NOT.

SEAT BELTS HANG IN THE WAY OF THE DOOR WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THEM THE BE DAMAGED BY THE DOOR AND LATCHING MECHANISM. THIS WEAKENS THE SEAT BELT AND COULD CAUSE SEAT BELT FAILURE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY UNRESTRAINED PASSAGERS IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.

BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR CAP LEAKS BRAKE FLUID, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN BRAKE FLUID AT THE DESIGN LEVEL. DEALERSHIP PROVIDED ME WITH A NEW CAP WHICH ALSO LEAKED. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A LOSS OF BRAKES.

WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL HIWAY SPEEDS THE HOOD WILL BLOW UP IN HIGH WINDS OR WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PASSES. THE SIDE HOOD LATCHES HOLD IT DOWN, BUT IT MOVES A GOOD 2-3 INCHES UP.

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP, BUT THE REAR WHEELS CONTINUE TO TURN, WHICH IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DURING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM BY REPLACING DRUMS AND VALVE, BUT THAT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOW ORDERED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER. WE ARE HOPING THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER CURES THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THERE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

WHEN USING THE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT ALL OF THE REAR LIGHTS WILL COME ON, AND ALL THE REAR LIGHTS ARE FLASHING AND WON'T GO OFF.*AK *ML

VEHICLE LOSES CONTROL ON HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OVER 60MPH ON OCCASIONS WHEN THERE IS A MEDIUM WIND. VEHICLE WILL MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND FEEL LIKE ITS ABOUT TO FLIP OVER.

DESIGN OF THE WHEELS CAUSE SNOW AND WATER TO GET BETWEEN THE FACE OF THE RIM AND THE INNER RIM AND SOMETIMES FREEZE IN ONE SPOT CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION AS IT MAKES THE WHEELS OUT OF BALANCE.

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN/INOPERATIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL.THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTHS, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEELS LOCKED UP WHILE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IN ICE CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

REAR WINDOW FAILED.

EXPERIENCING SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. *YC

MAP SENSOR FAILED. MJS

ENGINE VALVE FAILED. *YC

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. *YC

WATER PUMP FAILED. MJS

FRONT BRAKES / ROTORS / BRAKE PADS EXPERIENCED FAILURE. *YC

RADIATOR FAILED. YH

FUEL VAPOR CONNECTOR FAILED. YH

BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES AT #4 CYLINDER FAILED. YH

POSSIBLE TIRES FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HYDROPLANING RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. YH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

WILL NEED TO RETURN TO DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME REGARDING INSTRUMENTS/AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM, AND 3RD TIME FOR STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM

AIR BAG SENSOR LAMP ILLUMINATES AT ANY SPEED OF OPERATION PRECEEDED BY TICKING SOUND FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. ONCE SENSOR ILLUMINATES TACHOMETER STOPS AND ODOMETER STOPS RECORDING MILES. THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME AND LAST ANYWHERE FROM 10 SECONDS TO 20 MINUTES. MANUFACTURERS LITERATURE STATES THAT AIRBAG CAN BE DEPLOYED WHILE SENSOR IS ILLUMINATED. TWO DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS IT MAY NEVER ACCURATELY IDENTIFY OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

2/10/98 - 1046 MILES: REAR WINDOW LEAKED, AND BOTH BRAKELIGHT HOUSINGS LEAKED. THE RADIO ALSO STOPPED WORKING. 7/30/98 8988 MILES: THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING. 12/30/98 15,000 MILES - FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT STOPPED RETRACTING.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER FROM THE BACK, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

WHEN ALL THE GAUGES IN THE VEHICLE GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THEY KNOW ABOUT PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER IS SAID TO BE WORKING ON SOLUTION. OWNER IS POLICE OFFICER & IS IN VIOLATION BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. *AK

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BUCKLE SIDE ARE FASTENED TO THE SEATS NOT THE FLOOR THE SEATS ARE MOVABLE CHRYSLER TOLD ME THIS IS SAFE I DISAGREE

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH A WATER LEAKAGE. WATER LEAKS FROM THE DASHBOARD ON TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK *ML

I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA. SINCE THE 8000 MILE MARK, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AND ALL MY DASH GAUGES DROP TO 0. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOUR TIMES TO GET IT FIXED BUT JEEP HAS FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM IF THIS MEANS THAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER ALREADY THINKS IT HAS. THEY WALK AROUND THE SUBJECT SAYING THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMONLY REPORTED FAILURE IN THE NEW JEEPS, YET I HAVE SEEN NO RECALL INFORMATION ON IT. THEY TOLD ME THEY RECEIVED A NUMBER OF BAD ELECTRICAL HARNESSES THAT CONTROL THE AIRBAG FROM THEIR MEXICO PLANT AND EVEN THE NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE FAILING. I WORRY THAT MY AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE TIME COMES AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRENTY AND IS BEING FIXED FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE WRITTEN THE FACTORY AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP AVOIDS ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. CAN YOU HELP?

THE REAR BRAKES DON'T PROVIDE ANY STOPPING ASSISTANCE,THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP ON GRAVEL AND THE REAR WHEELS NEVER SLIDE OR PROVIDE ANY STOPPING POWER. WHEN YOU BACK UP ON GRAVEL OR ANY SLICK SURFACE THE FRONT WHEELS ALWAYS SLIDE EVEN ON LEVEL GROUND. WHEN BACKING DOWN A HILL ON GRAVEL OR A SLICK SURFACE THE JEEP WONT STOP UNLESS I USE THE HAND BRAKE ALONG WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE TESTED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND IT IS THE SAME EACH TIME. THE DEALER JUST SAYS THEY ARE ADJUSTED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO STOPPING POWER!

WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED IT LEAKS DOWN OFF THE TOP OF THE TANK ONTO THE SKID PLATE. WITH THE MUFFLER NEXT TO THE GAS TANK THIS POSES A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THE GAUGES WORK INTERMITTENTLY, INCLUDES: TACH, SPEEDOMETER, TEMP, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL, AND AMP METER. WHEN THEY STOP WORKING THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WILLN'T WORK. THE ODOMETER LIGHTS UP BUT NO MILEAGE IS REGISTERED.

ENGINE HAD A CLATTER NOISE AND SHORT BLOCK WAS REPLACED. EVER SINCE, THERE HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHENEVER VEHICLE IS RUNNING - DOES NOT HAVE TO BE MOVING. PREVIOUS ENGINE DID NOT HAVE VIBRATION. OTHER VEHICLES TEST DRIVEN TO COMPARE DO NOT VIBRATE AS STRONGLY. DEALER STATES THIS IS A NORMAL VIBRATION AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. REAR AXLE HOUSING HAD OIL LEAK DUE TO AXLE TUBE NOT SEATED PROPERLY INTO CENTER HOUSING. COMPLETE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

TIRE RUBS ON LOWER CONTROL ARM ON FRONT PASSENAGER'S SIDE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30X9.5 )( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30X9.5 )( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30X9.5 )( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30X9.5 )

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. ALSO,PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, AND ANTENNA WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A CPV THAT BURNT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

I AM IN CANADA, HOWEVER THIS INFORMATION APPILIES TO ALL WRANGLERS AND YOUR REPLY BY PHONE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THE FRONT SEAT BELT, IN ITS UNUSED, RESTING STATE WITH NO PASSENGERS, OVERLAPS THE DORR STRIKER/ LATCH MECHANISM. IF YOU CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE VEHICLE, YOU SLAM THE SEAT BELT IN THE MECHANISM AND TEAR HOLES IN THE SEAT BELT. IT IF THE SAME FOR BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTS. I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALER, WHO HAS NOT YET REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS, WHICH ARE NOW TORN, AS THEY WOULD GET TORN AGAIN THE SECOND YOU CLOSED THE DOOR. THIS IS A VERY VERY MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT, AND IT IS AMAZING THAT IT HAS ACUTALLY HAPPENED. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT.. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE DEALER WILL COVER IT UP AND PEOPLE WILL DEFINETLY GET HURT FROM THIS. I KNOW THAT I'M IN CANADA, BUT PLEASE CALL ME ANYWAYS, COLLECT IF YOU HAVE TO. ALSO, DON'T GIVE MY NAME TO JEEP... I DON'T WANT THEM TO SOMEHOW BLACKLIST ME... JUST GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT ANY NEW WRANGLER AND YOU'LL BE SURPRISED. THANKS

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO FAULTY FUEL LINES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVER HIT A BERM OF ROCK/SAND AT APPROX. 30 MPH, RIGHT FRONT OF JEEP, THE SEAT BELT AROUND THE DRIVER'S WAIST HELD, BUT THE BELT OVER THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER DID NOT HOLD, THE DRIVER'S FACE HIT THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD AND BROKE THREE TEETH THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED.ALSO, AIRBAG'S DID NOT DEPLOY.

CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN SHORTED OUT ALSO, ENGINE CONTROLLER, AND HORN FAILURE.ALSO AIR BAG AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON.

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. THE DASH AND THE GAUGES (SPEEDOMETER, RPM, ETC.) STOPPED WORKING. DEALER CONTACTED TO REPAIR WORK, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.