1998 Jeep Cherokee
This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1983 | 0 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1985 | 17 |
| 1986 | 21 |
| 1987 | 57 |
| 1988 | 97 |
| 1989 | 191 |
| 1990 | 270 |
| 1991 | 233 |
| 1992 | 113 |
| 1993 | 418 |
| 1994 | 519 |
| 1995 | 608 |
| 1996 | 447 |
| 1997 | 390 |
| 1998 | 399 |
| 1999 | 366 |
| 2000 | 369 |
| 2001 | 229 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2014 | 2636 |
| 2015 | 1776 |
| 2016 | 1398 |
| 2017 | 1323 |
| 2018 | 678 |
| 2019 | 1582 |
| 2020 | 258 |
| 2021 | 136 |
| 2022 | 44 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
11% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 42 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow complaint excerpts
BRAKES FAILED AT 20 MPH. REAR-ENDED VOLVO STATION WAGON. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT I NEEDED BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED. CHEROKEE HAD LESS THAN 14,000 MILES ON IT. FIVE MONTHS LATER JEEP RECALLED ROTORS. BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ORIGINAL OEM PARTS (IE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20030422
7% of complaints: air bags — 26 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow complaint excerpts
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, RAN INTO A DEER AND TREE HEAD-ON, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI report, 19981119
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, WE FIND A RECALL THAT IS OPEN AND ACTIVE. BRIGHT VEHICLE TO YAKLIN FOR REPAIR AND THEY DECLINED THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
NHTSA ODI report, 20210412
JEEP DEVELOPED COMMUNICATION ISSUES, DASH DISPLAYED "NO BUS." ONE MORNING I STARTED THE JEEP AND WENT TO SHIFT TO GEAR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.
NHTSA ODI report, 20200102
6% of complaints: power train — 25 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow complaint excerpts
CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE AND PUT TRANSMISSION PAWL IN PARK, THEN SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO CLOSE THE GAS TANK DOOR AND STARTED ROLLING ON A LEVEL SURFACE, AND RAN OVER HER FOOT.
NHTSA ODI report, 19980729
4% of complaints: fuel system, other — 17 distinct reports on file.
4% of complaints: electrical system — 17 distinct reports on file.
FIRESAFETY TIMELINE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR DIAPHRAGM CAN SPLIT OR TEAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE BOOSTER DATE CODE AND ANY BOOSTERS WITH THE SUSPECT MANUFACTURING DATE RANGE WILL BE REPLACED.
Campaign 98V023000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE FRONT SEAT BELT SHOULDER TURNING LOOP ANCHORS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND ARE NOT PROPERLY HARDENED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELT TURNING LOOP ON THESE VEHICLES.
Campaign 98V048000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. WATER AND/OR ROAD SALT IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE COULD LEAD TO CORROSION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND LOCATE THE NEW MODULE ON THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL.
Campaign 00V105000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMP
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ROTORS WITH ROTORS THAT ARE COATED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION.
Campaign 00V136000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET AIRTEX ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN 1997-2004 JEEP WRANGLER; 1997-2001 JEEP CHEROKEE; 1997-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE; AND 2000-2003 DOD
Remedy: 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 1-800-880-305
Campaign 06E011000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAN
Remedy: 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 1-800-32
Campaign 06E022000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE
Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
Campaign 06E065000 — check if this car was fixed
U.S. DRIVE RIGHT IS RECALLING 107 MY 1994-1998 RIGHT HAND DRIVE, 4-WHEEL DRIVE JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, 'CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS;' N
Remedy: U.S. DRIVE RIGHT WILL MAKE ALL THE REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS. A REPRESENTATIVE WILL TRAVEL TO THE CUSTOMER'S LOCATION AND MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS ON SITE. THE RECALL WILL BE PERFORMED ON A REGIONAL BASI
Campaign 08V056000 — check if this car was fixed
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1998 Jeep Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (42 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (26 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for power train issues (25 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 98V023000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 98V048000 (seat belts) has been completed.
- Verify recall 00V105000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 00V136000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E011000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E022000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E065000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 08V056000 (electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
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FAQ
Is the 1998 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Jeep Cherokee is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Jeep Cherokee?
The most-reported component is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor, accounting for 11% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Jeep Cherokee have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.