MYRModel Year Report

1998 Jeep Cherokee

● Typical for this model
1998 Jeep Cherokee
BUILT 2026-09-02

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.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Jeep Cherokee Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1998 highlighted. 1980: 1 complaints 1980 1981: 1 complaints 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 0 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 17 complaints 1985 1986: 21 complaints 1987: 57 complaints 1988: 98 complaints 1989: 191 complaints 1990: 275 complaints 1990 1991: 234 complaints 1992: 114 complaints 1993: 418 complaints 1994: 522 complaints 1995: 610 complaints 1995 1996: 447 complaints 1997: 390 complaints 1998: 399 complaints 1998 1999: 366 complaints 2000: 369 complaints 2000 2001: 229 complaints 2006: 17 complaints 2014: 2642 complaints 2015: 1784 complaints 2016: 1404 complaints 2016 2017: 1328 complaints 2018: 682 complaints 2019: 1618 complaints 2020: 282 complaints 2021: 153 complaints 2021 2022: 48 complaints 2023: 3 complaints 2026: 3 complaints 2026
1998: 399 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19801
19811
19820
19830
19847
198517
198621
198757
198898
1989191
1990275
1991234
1992114
1993418
1994522
1995610
1996447
1997390
1998399
1999366
2000369
2001229
200617
20142642
20151784
20161404
20171328
2018682
20191618
2020282
2021153
202248
20233
20263

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

SERVICE BRAKES 23%

23% of complaints: service brakes — 93 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASH INJURY
POWER TRAIN 18%

18% of complaints: power train — 70 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20140707

Also filed under VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

AIR BAGS 13%

13% of complaints: air bags — 52 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HIT A DEER, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20030204

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE T BONEED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20020826

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%

12% of complaints: electrical system — 48 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing interior/under dash and fuses and circuit breakers.

FIRE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 8%

8% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 33 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tank assembly and fuel pump.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19980325 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

R 19980406 — seat belts

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

R 20000515 — air bags

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

R 20000605 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

R 20050125 — fuel system, gasoline

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

R 20060320 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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

R 20060731 — exterior lighting

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

R 20080312 — electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, visibility

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

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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

I 20120612 — EA (closed 20141114)

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1998 Jeep Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (93 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (70 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (52 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.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2022 ▲ 1987 ▲ 1988

WORST YEARS

■ 2014 ■ 2015 ■ 2019

See all years ranked →

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, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1998 Jeep Cherokee have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.