Jeep Wrangler Complaints (1998)

265 consumer complaints on file.

#11505258February 2, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Frame started showing signs of rusted out frame in 2003 when the transmission skid weld nuts in the bottom of the frame rusted out as well as the body side step weld nuts in the frame. In 2010, 3 or the 4 rear axle control arms broke free from the frame causing brake lines to fail while driving. I was able to use parking brake and downshifting manual transmission to get home. I was lucky that the rear axle didn't completely separate or the failed brake cause a serious accident. The TJ frames are poorly designed with no drainage causing them to rust from the inside out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11408403April 16, 2021
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND SPEEDO AND TACH STOPS WORKING. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THIS IS OCCURING ON NUMEROUS JEEPS OF THIS YEAR. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL? IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE ABOUT THIS I WILL BE GETTING A LOT OF JEEP OWNERS TOGETHER AND FILING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!! IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ITS HAPPENING TO THE MAJORITY ON THIS YEARS WRANGLERS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11348467August 10, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
JEEP WRANGLER FRAMES RUST FROM INSIDE OUT DUE TO MOISTURE GETTING IN THROUGH UPPER PART OF FRAMES WHERE THEIR ARE HOLES AND SETTLING TO LOWER PART OF FRAME WHERE THEIR ARE NO DRAIN HOLES. THEIR MAY HAVE NOT BEEN AN ISSUE IF JEEP HAD JUST PUT IN DRAIN HOLES IN LOWER PART OF FRAME. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1997 THROUGH 2006 JEEP WRANGLERS. I HAVE THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11251841August 27, 2019
SUSPENSION
JEEP TJ FRAME SEPARATED AT THE TORSION BAR ON PASSENGER REAR WHEEL MAKING VEHICLE UNSTABLE AND UN- USABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246152August 24, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY FRAME IS ROTTING OUT FAST AND FURIOUS, I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE SECTIONS, THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROLS ARMS HAVE RIPPED OFF, THE BODY FELL THREW THE MOUNTS, PAID TO HAVE THAT FIXED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165433January 5, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. I'VE OWNED MY JEEP FOR 15 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. WE WERE CHANGING THE SHOCKS A FEW WEEKS AGO AND NOTICED SEVERE RUST DAMAGE. THE FRAME IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT'S SEVERE. YEARS BEFORE I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A 2 LAND RD AND HAD TO PRESS MY BRAKES HARDER THAN I USUALLY WOULD DUE TO A CAR PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ME. AT THAT MOMENT I BLEW A BRAKE LINE. I COULD NOT GET MY VEHICLE STOPPED. LUCKILY IT'S A 5 SPEED. I GEARED DOWN AS FAST AS I COULD AND MANAGED TO PULL IT OFF THE MAIN ROAD ONTO A HILL TO GET IT STOPPED. AFTER INSPECTING MY VEHICLE I FOUND SEVERE DAMAGE. THE MOTORS MOUNTS ARE BARELY THERE. THE PART WHERE THE FRAME MOUNTS TO THE BODY IS ACTUALLY MISSING ONE DUE TO RUSTING COMPLETELY OUT. EVERY SINGLE BOLT AND NUT IS RUSTED. EVERY SINGLE SQUARE INCH OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT JEEP POORLY DESIGNED THE FRAME WITH SIDE HOLES FOR WATER AND DIRT TO ENTER BUT DID NOT DESIGN IT WITH DRAINAGE HOLES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME. WATER AND DIRT ENTER AND NEVER LEAVE. IT'S EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11092357May 7, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
HAD TO REPLACE THE FRAME DUE TO LEFT REAR RUSTED THROUGH THE WHOLE FRAME, JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE FRAME WAS LEFT. OTHER AREAS HAD RUST EATING THREW THE FRAME, AND IN A MATTER OF TIME WOULD HAVE FAILED!!!.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056998December 27, 2017
SUSPENSION
"TJ WRANGLER FRAME RUST" - SEVERE RUST OCCURRED IN THE FRAME OF MY 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER PASS PA STATE INSPECTION. RUST WAS DUE TO NO DRAINAGE HOLE AND FRAME RUSTED FROM INSIDE OUT. RUST OCCURRED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR CONTROL ARMS AND EXTENDED FRONT TO THE TRANSFER CASE MOUNTING POINTS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT IS VERY COMMON AND MANY POOR JEEP OWNERS ARE PARTING OUT PERFECTLY GOOD JEEPS DUE TO THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTIONS - LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN HARMED DUE TO THIS FRAME DAMAGE THAT I AM AWARE OF - SOME VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET SHOW THE ENTIRE FRAME RUSTED AWAY! THIS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF JEEP AS THIS IS OBVIOUS A DESIGN FLAW AND OWNERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT OF HOW SEVERE THIS IS SIMPLE DO A GOOGLE SEARCH! TOYOTA TOOK CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11032619October 10, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST AND MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 150XXX MILES AND THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AND I AM WANTING TO KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS COULD DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT WANT TO RESALE BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO SELL IT IN THIS CONDITION AND I WANT TO KEEP IT BUT I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE'S A LOT OF LIFE LEFT IN THIS VEHICLE AND IT ONLY HAS 126XXX MILES SO I NEED HELP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013840August 9, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON MY 1998 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT, CHRYSLER PUT A HOLE IN THE FRAME TO ACCESS THE REAR SWAY ARM BOLT AND WHEN THEY DID THAT IT LET WATER , DIRT, SALT ETC INTO THE FRAME AND CAUSE THE FRAME TO ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME ONE I WANT TO PUT THE WORD OUT TO HAVE IT FIX BECAUSE IF IT WAS TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING YOUR JEEP IT CAN COST SOMEONE THERE LIFE. MINE HAS YET TO DO SO BECAUSE I SEEN IT IN TIME AND WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT A RECALL IS NEEDED TO FIX THE PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11005524July 16, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
TAKATA RECALL REPORTING THIS IN HOPES OF HAVING THE ISSUE RESOLVED BY NHTSA OR CHRYSLER... I HAVE A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER AND LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, MINE HAS DEVELOPED MAJOR FRAME RUST. I KNOW THIS ISNT GOING TO BE RESOLVED ANYTIME SOON, BUT I NEED TO GET MINE FIXED NOW. HOPEFULLY IF THERE IS EVER A RECALL I CAN STILL BE APART OF IT EVEN AFTER MINE IS REPAIRED. IM GOING TO BE HAVING IT PATCHED FOR NOW AS A FRAME REPLACEMENT WILL COST WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME AT THE MOMENT. MYSELF, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS WOULD GREATLY BENIFIT FROM THIS BEING RECALLED. THERE ARE A LOT OF JEEPS OUT THERE DRIVING ON REPAIRED FRAMES. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEING AS THERE ARE SO MANY WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10897011August 18, 2016
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS DO NOT GRAB WHEN PULLED RAPIDLY, MOST OF THE TIME. THE CENTRIFUGAL PAWLS SEEM TO NOT BE FREELY MOVING OUTWARD AND HOLDING THE BELT FROM FREELY PLAYING OUT, WHEN THEY SHOULD. I MADE THE TEST WHILE PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND OFF, AND ALSO WHILE IN MOTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10840221March 7, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE SPEED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10765254September 18, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DESIGN FLAW WHICH ALLOWS WATER IN BUT NOT OUT CAUSES WATER AND DIRT TO COLLECT INSIDE OF CHASSIS FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762100September 8, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL SPEED INCREASED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO SHUTTING OFF SPEED CONTROL OR BY HITTING THE BRAKES CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED ONLY PUSHING IN CLUTCH WHILE THE ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY AND PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE ONTO SIDE OF ROAD TURNING OFF KEY STOPPED THIS . WHEN STARTED BACK UP ENGINE STILL RACING. SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO NEVER USED SPEED CONTROL AGAIN UNTIL THIS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731857July 3, 2015
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE RUST IS SO BAD ON THE JEEPS IT'S RIDICULOUS IT'S NOT SAFE YOUR GOING TO KILL SOMEONE WHEN THERE REAR AXLE SHOOTS OUT FROM UNDER THEM THIS IS A ISSUE YOU SHOULD FIX NOT THE CONSUMER I WILL NOT BE BUYING THIS PRODUCT AGAIN IF IT IS MY FIXED. 98 TJ JEEP WRANGLER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716253May 13, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE REPLACING SHOCKS I FOUND MULTIPLE ROT SPOTS IN THE FRAME OF THE JEEP. THESE ROT SPOTS WERE SO BADLY ROTTED THAT I COULD POKE THROUGH WITH MY INDEX FINGER WITH MINIMAL FORCE. HAD TO SEND IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO REPAIR THE FRAME IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713501April 29, 2015
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROT THAT IS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE, WHILE TRAVELING I HIT A BUMP AND SNAPPED MY DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM. THIS CONSEQUENTLY MADE FOR A DANGEROUS RIDE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR IT I NOTICED HOW BAD THE FRAME WAS ROTTED, BUT UNLIKE NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE WOULD HAVE EQUAL CORROSION. THE INSIDE WAS ROTTED MUCH WORSE, AND PARTS OF THE FRAME EASILY CRUMBLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10702408March 29, 2015
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
PURCHASED A USED 1998 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT ON DECEMBER 27 2014. HAD IT IN A SHOP FOR NEW TIRES WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE FRAME WAS ROTTED AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM INSPECTED IT AND SURE ENOUGH, ROTTED FRAME AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY AGREED TO PAY 1700 DOLLARS TOWARDS THE COST OF A FRAME SWAP AND IT COST ME 1000 DOLLARS MORE FOR A TOTAL OF 2700 DOLLARS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REAL ISSUE WITH JEEPS BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 97 TO 04, I MAY BE WRONG ON THE EXACT YEARS BUT THERE IS A DEFINITE PATTERN OF BAD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES/BAD QUALITY STEEL TO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS FRAME ROT. IS CHRYSLER WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? BIG CORPORATIONS AND POLITICS MEET TO SCREW THE GENERAL PUBLIC ONCE AGAIN? CHRYSLER, TAKE A LESSON FROM TOYOTA AND FIX THESE FRAMES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND THEIR FRAME BREAKS. MY JEEP WAS TOTALLY BONE STOCK WHEN THIS WAS DISCOVERED. I'M NOT TRYING TO GET A DOLLAR BACK FOR WHAT I PAID, JUST TRYING TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS AS HAVE MANY OTHERS. JEEPERS LOVER THEIR JEEPS NO DOUBT AND ARE VERY LOYAL TO THE BRAND. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS AND DO THE RIGHT THING. I HOPE MANY MORE COME FORWARD AND STEPS ARE TAKEN TO RIGHT THIS WRONG BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. CHRYSLER CAN BLAME IT ON ROAD SALT OR SEA AIR OR WHATEVER, BUT THERE ARE OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURERS WITH CARS STILL ON THE ROAD FROM THE 60'S AND 70'S AND EARLIER ERAS WITH NO FRAME PROBLEMS AT ALL. BIG CORPORATIONS HIDE BEHIND BAD POLITICS AND THEY WORK HAND IN HAND TO NOT TAKE BLAME FOR THINGS LIKE THIS. ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH POLITICS IN AMERICA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10702422March 29, 2015
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME AROUND THE CONTROL ARMS ARE RUSTING, THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED AND THERE ARE MORE 97-06 WRANGLERS WITH RUSTED FRAMES THAN NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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