Is the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 43% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee

◆ Worse than typical

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than 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: 1,028
Recalls: 10
Investigations: 7
Top problem: Power train

Complaints per year

1998: 1,028 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1989	5
1990	5
1991	6
1992	3
1993	562
1994	609
1995	723
1996	893
1997	991
1998	1,028
1999	1,638
2000	1,447
2001	883
2002	1,476
2003	762
2004	1,295
2005	2,051
2006	1,280
2007	1,108
2008	734
2009	138
2010	118
2011	1,639
2012	1,644
2013	804
2014	2,378
2015	1,362
2016	310
2017	364
2018	854
2019	368
2020	240
2021	403
2022	261
2023	389
2024	243
2025	75
2026	22

Known problem areas

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

Power train

43% · 440 reports

Most commonly citing park/neutral start interlock switch and automatic transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Show complaint excerpts

Vehicle was in idle when it started to move backward. *mr consumer added vehicle was in the park position, but was dragged 40 feet while attempting to stop the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-07

Received recall #02V053000. Contacted dealership, and informed consumer no partsvailable. Contacted manufacturer, and informed consumer no recall issued to consumer. Was also informed parts not manufactered.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-12

Pulled into parking area & put vehicle in park. Reached in rear for bag & exited vehicle. Heard a crash. Noticed vehicle had hit compressor shield. Tried to get vehicle out of park. Button would not depress to release drive/reverse.

NHTSA ODI report, 1997-11-12

Service brakes

18% · 181 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Fuel system, gasoline

10% · 100 reports

Most commonly citing tank assembly and fuel pump.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Show complaint excerpts

S10 direct reply-letter to the white house from constituent requesting help to save families otherwise destined to burn to death in a Jeep because of an accident. Wh contact galen main (202) 456-2176- case: wh 02072013-296.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-02-19

Engine and engine cooling

7% · 73 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

FIREINJURY

Structure

7% · 69 reports

Most commonly citing body and door.

CRASHFIREDEATH

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

▮
1998Complaint volume 1,028 complaints filed for this model year.
R

1998-03-25Service brakes, hydraulic98V023000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2000-06-05Service brakes, hydraulic00V136000 Vehicle description: passenger and multi-purpose vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, new…

Remedy: Dealers will replace these rotors with rotors that are coated with a corrosion protection.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2001-06-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 2001-11-01 Inadvertent rollaway in reverse park
I
2001-11-01Engineering analysisClosed 2002-12-18 Roll-away in reverse when parked
I
2002-05-17Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-10-16 Hood latch
R

2002-09-23Power train02V053000 On certain sport utility vehicles, if a driver has not placed the shifter lever fully into the "Park" Position and leaves the vehicle running, the vehicle may unexpectedly move rearward after…

Remedy: Dealers will install a secondary detent system to the floor shifter assembly. Daimlerchrysler sent interim notices to owners concerning this problem on March 22, 2002. Owner notification began…

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2002-10-16Engineering analysisClosed 2004-02-10 Hood latch failure
R

2005-01-25Fuel system, gasoline06E011000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2006-03-20Service brakes, hydraulic06E022000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…

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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2008-01-15Visibility07E104000 Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as DOT-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and…

Remedy: Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and…

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

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.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2009-11-06Defect petitionClosed 2010-08-23 Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
I
2010-08-23Preliminary evaluationClosed 2012-06-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
I
2012-06-12Engineering analysisClosed 2014-11-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
R

2014-08-01Fuel system, gasoline, structure13V252000 Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage…

Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will…

Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Power train: 440 reports on file for this year.
Service brakes: 181 reports on file for this year.
Fuel system, gasoline: 100 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 98V023000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Recall 00V136000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Recall 02V053000 · Power train
Recall 06E011000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 07E104000 · Visibility
Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 13V252000 · Fuel system, gasoline, structure

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?: Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee?: The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 43% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?: 10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.