1998 Jeep Wrangler reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Jeep Wrangler — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 401
- 2 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 28 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 28 reported crashes · 19 injuries · 1 death · 9 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,313
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Jeep median
-107
median 508 across 163 Jeep records
Vs 1996-2000
+133
median 268 complaints in 623 records
Top component share
11%
Electrical System: 44 complaints
What owners report fails — 1998 Jeep Wrangler
- AIR BAGS 28
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH 23
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE 19
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Jeep Wrangler
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 Wrangler 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 Wrangler reliable?
NHTSA has 401 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Jeep Wrangler. The most-reported problem area is air bags (28 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Jeep Wrangler units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Jeep Wrangler?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (28), electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash (23), electrical system (21), engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (19). 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 Wrangler?
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.