Problems · by component

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee structure problems

91 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee cite structure, 6% of all 1,429 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
91
6% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TAKATA RECALL. SINCE OWNING MY 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4.0, I'VE REPLACED NEARLY EVERY SINGLE PART ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ON THIS VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED JUST TRYING TO DRIVE IT. THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE FINE 1 MINUTE, THE NEXT IT IS PUTTING ITSELF IN NEUTRAL OR DRIVE AND I'VE NEARLY DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOW, THE JEEP IS CODING MORE CODES THAN EVER. ALSO, AS OF FEW DAYS AGO, I HAVE NO REVERSE IN IT. I NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR TRYING TO BACK OUT OF A SPACE AT THE HOSPITAL WHEN REVERSE DECIDED TO NO LONGER WORK. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THESE ISSUES AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT'S HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE MODELS. ALSO, MY BACK PASSENGER DOORS HAVE DECIDED THEY WON'T OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. YOU CAN ONLY OPEN THEM FROM INSIDE. WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND I WAS TRAPPED, NOBODY COULD GET IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER BACK 2 DOORS BECAUSE THEY WON'T OPEN. AS FAR AS TRANSMISSION, MAYBE I'LL LIVE THROUGH ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH TRANSMISSION CHANGING GEARS ON IT'S OWN, BUT MAYBE I WON'T EITHER. THANK YOU.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2018Power train, Structure, Vehicle speed controlODI 11091735
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS FOR CHRYSLER'S BUY BACK PROGRAM DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S REFUSAL. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COMPLETE THE BUY BACK PROGRAM DUE TO THE CAMPAIGN'S EXPIRATION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER FROM THE VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVES WITH WHICH HE SPOKE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2017Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 10980388
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM; GASOLINE, STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000. UPDATED 07/13/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BACK UP LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. UPDATED 07/20/16”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2016Fuel system, gasoline, Exterior lighting, StructureODI 10873395
“LETTER FROM CONSUMER REGARDING A SAFETY RECALL ON TWO OF HIS VEHICLES (1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1995 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE) ; RESPONSE EXPECTED. *SMD THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED CORROSION ON THE LEFT FRAME RAIL, BUT NOT THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $3,00 TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRAME RAIL. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2016Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 10850568
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE , STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO RECONNECT THE ORIGINAL CABLE TO THE NEW DESIGNED TOW HITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2015Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10808111
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EXPOSED DUE TO THE TRAILER HITCH BEING REMOVED AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2015Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10783506

Showing 6 of 91 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.