1998 Jeep Cherokee reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Jeep Cherokee — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 553
- 2 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
- 42 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 42 reported crashes · 45 injuries · 1 death · 5 fires
What owners report fails — 1998 Jeep Cherokee
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR 42
- AIR BAGS 26
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 25
- FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 18
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH 17
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Jeep Cherokee
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Jeep Cherokee units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Jeep Cherokee reliable?
NHTSA has 553 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Jeep Cherokee. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (42 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Jeep Cherokee units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners most often report problems with: service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (42), air bags (26), power train:automatic transmission (25), fuel system, other (18). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1998 Jeep Cherokee?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.