1998 Jeep Cherokee Electrical Problems

JEEP DEVELOPED COMMUNICATION ISSUES, DASH DISPLAYED "NO BUS." ONE MORNING I STARTED THE JEEP AND WENT TO SHIFT TO GEAR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TOOK IT UP THE ROAD AND BACK THINKING I HAD A COMMUNICATION ISSUE TO DIAGNOSE, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED TURNING ON MY ROAD. SEEMED TO HAPPEN WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE.I LEARNED ABOUT THE RECALL CORROSION IN AIR BAG MODULE MAY LEAD TO INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT. I DROPPED MY VEHICLE OFF TO NYE DODGE JEEP RAM IN ONEIDA NY. REPAIR ORDER WAS MADE NOV 14TH 2019. I WAS GIVEN A 1-800 NUMBER TO CALL, PLACED 4 CALLS BEFORE MY CASE WAS ESCALATED CORRECTLY. MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO THE 800 NUMBER AND EVENTUALLY ON 12/5 MAYBE 12/6 AN INSPECTOR CAME AND INSPECTED MY VEHICLE. WITH BASICALLY NO PROGRESS AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE. WITH A COUPLE MORE CALLS TO THE 800 NUMBER AND BEING TOLD WERE "ON HOLD" WITH CHRYSLERS END MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT FIXED AND THE 800 NUMBER CALLS ALL END WITH WELL LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE WITH YOUR CASE TO CALL YOU, THEY HAVE YET TO CALL GOING ON 3 WEEKS. I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM CHRYSLER. LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION OR TO AT LEAST GET THE MODULE INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT LOCATION AND ILL SOURCE AIRBAGS. IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TO NOT HAVE ANY ANSWERS AND MY RECALL NOT COMPLETED.

NHTSA ID

11292524

Incident

Nov 13, 2019

Mileage

230,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE, THE CHECK ENGINE, MULTIPLE GAUGES, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10956533

Incident

Feb 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO WORK DUE TO THE GAUGES NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V105000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PASS A VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10818697

Incident

Sep 7, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SOFTWARE HAD A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

NHTSA ID

10788286

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

198,000 mi

IT STARTED WITH THE LIGHTS TURNING OFF WHEN I HIT A BUMP. THE WHOLE JEEP WOULD GO DARK. INSTRUMENT PANEL, OVERHEAD LIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS, ALL OF THEM! THEN AFTER PARKING THE JEEP, DAY OR NIGHT, THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD GO OFF ALL BY ITSELF. THE DOOR SWITCHES LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEN THERE WAS THE RADIO THAT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. THEN THE WINDOWS DECIDED TO STOP GOING UP AND DOWN. WHEN I WOULD START THE JEEP THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WOULDN'T MOVE, TURN ON. SO, I WOULD TURN OFF THE JEEP AND RESTART IT. SOME OF THE GAUGES, WOULD TURN ON BUT OTHERS, WOULD NOT, LIKE THE FUEL TANK GAGE, SPEEDOMETER GAGE. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THERE WOULD BE A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. I STILL TO THIS DAY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN EVERY DAY AND EACH TIME IT WAS TURNED ON. THEN THERE IS THE TRANSMISSION AND REAR END THAT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. IT STARTED TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND THE REAR END MADE A NOISE. I HAD ALL THE OIL LEVELS CHECKED OUT, BUT STILL IT WOULD HAPPEN. I DO RECALL GETTING A FLYER IN THE MAIL, REGARDING A RECALL, BUT IT ALSO SAID THAT THE DEALER, DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHY WOULD YOU SEND OUT A FLYER THAT YOU HAVE NO WAY OF FIXING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET THE PART'S? ! AND ARE YOU EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORRY YOU PUT ME THROUGH? IT BECAME ANOTHER REASON TO PARK THE JEEP. HOW COULD YOU DO.THIS, TO SO MANY PEOPLE? WITH ALL THESE STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING TO THE JEEP, I HAD TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR MY SAFETY, AS WELL AS, THOSE WHO WERE ON THE ROAD DRIVING AROUND ME. I JUST COULDN'T LIVE WITH MYSELF, KNOWING THAT I COULD HAVE COST SOMEONE OR MYSELF INJURY OR DEATH, BY HAVING THE JEEP ON THE ROAD KNOWING IT WAS HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS. IT HAS NOW BEEN CLOSE TO THREE-YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT.

NHTSA ID

10746163

Incident

Mar 12, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE IGNITION SWITCH STICKS, PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS DOORS WHEN OPENED AND CLOSED, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FRONT AND BACK WILL NOT GO DOWN ALL THE TIME AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL.

NHTSA ID

10723068

Incident

Jun 26, 2014

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL GAUGES STOP WORKING-- PRESSING HARD ON THE FACE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER OR SMACKING THE TOP OF THE DASH RESTORES EVERYTHING.. OWNED IT FOR 4 YEARS AND PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THEY EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE ME.. NOW IT HAS STARTED A NEW ADDITIONAL PROBLEM, "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT COMES ON AND VOLT METER PEGS TO THE RIGHT AT 19 VOLTS. SMACKING DOESN'T HELP THIS, IT JUST GOES AWAY IN A FEW MILES... *TR

NHTSA ID

10640634

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

217,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD ONLY OPERATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND/OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 05/16/11

NHTSA ID

10395142

Incident

Apr 7, 2009

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY 1998 CHEROKEE CLASSIC IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. THE ISSUES INVOLVE THE SPEED AND TACH GAUGES DROPPING TO ZERO, THE REST OF THE DASH GAUGES NOT RESPONDING FROM WHATEVER POSITION THEY ARE IN WHEN REST OF GAUGES GO SOUTH, THE "IDIOT" LIGHTS DON'T WORK, AND THE WRETCHED AIRBAG LIGHT LUMINATES THE WHOLE TIME ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IS GOING ON. THE SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, EVEN WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE. IT CAN HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE TO SEVERAL TIMES IN A MILE, CUTTING IN AND OUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON EVEN LONGER THAN WHAT I LISTED. FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR IS WHEN IT STARTED BEING MORE THAN A ONCE IN A WHILE, SPORADIC ISSUE. BEFORE THEN, IT HAPPENED LESS THAN 10 TIMES, SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE LATE 2007. *TR

NHTSA ID

10380861

Incident

Feb 15, 2010

INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT RESPONDING AFTER PASSING SELF DIAGNOSTIC TEST ALL FUSES WERE CHANGED AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374013

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

Mileage

222,360 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER GO TO ZERO SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310222

Incident

Feb 9, 2010

Mileage

121,345 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE OTHER GAUGES WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND THE OTHER GAUGES WORKED PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 9/13/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10166693

Incident

Aug 28, 2006

Mileage

60,300 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED A FAULTY CLOCK SWITCH CAUSED THE HORN FAILURE. THE DEALER ORDERED A REPLACEMENT CLOCK SWITCH AND WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE WHEN IT ARRIVES.

NHTSA ID

10152941

Incident

Mar 16, 2006

Mileage

130,248 mi

I OWN A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. I NOTICED RECENTLY A WIRING PROBLEM TO BOTH THE FRONT DOOR SPEAKERS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS COMMON FOR THERE TO BE SHORTS IN THE WIRES THAT GO FROM THE BODY INTO THE DOOR. THEY SAID THEY USUALLY SEE THE FAILURES IN THE DOOR LOCK WIRING OR THE POWER WINDOW WIRING. THE SPEAKER WIRING TRAVELS THE SAME ROUTE INTO THE DOOR. I REALIZE THAT THE POWER IN A SPEAKER WIRE WONT PROBABLY CAUSE A FIRE, BUT THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IS 25 AMPS AND IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE IN THE WIRING IF SHORTED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE COST TO REPLACE JUST THE SPEAKER WIRING WOULD BE $140 PER DOOR IN LABOR ALONE. IF THERE WERE EVER SOMETHING THAT RECALLS WERE MEANT FOR, THIS IS IT. I AM HAVING THE SPEAKER WIRING REPLACED AT AN AUDIO STORE, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE POWER WINDOWS OR DOOR LOCKS AT THIS POINT. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. I JUST CANT AFFORD TO DO IT ON MY DIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10086085

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT. DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER 12 TIMES FOR RUST MARKS ON THE VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALER DESCRIBED AS FALL OUT AND THEY INSISTED IT WAS SOMETHING THE CONSUMER HAD DONE TO CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN SO SOON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ALL THE GAUGES WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, THE AIR CONDITION AND RADIO WERE INOPERATIVE AND STILL IS, THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE WHICH WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE ROTORS WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10003851

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, RUST MARKS APPEARED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNTIONED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE RADIO. THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE ROTORS THAT WAS FIXED BUT THE NOISE STILL REMAINS. *JG

NHTSA ID

10001367

THE DASH FUNCTIONS ARE INOPERATIVE (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TACHOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, ETC.). AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER HAS RUN OUT OF GAS ON 3 OCCASIONS AND RECEIVED TWO SPEEDING TICKETS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID

8022176

Incident

Oct 29, 2002

RECALL 00V136000 REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE RECALL PROBLEM. ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE FIRST TAKEN INTO DEALER FOR RECALL. *AK BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. DASH GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO CLUSTER HARNESS FAILURE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. FOG LAMP SWITCH FAILED. THE FRONT PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING. THE BUCKLE FOR REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BROKE. *YH

NHTSA ID

8011077

Incident

May 2, 2002

THE FOG LAMPS STOPPED WORKING. WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. CONTACTED DEALER THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RE-CALL ON THIS. SIX MONTHS LATER WHEN THEY WERE REPLACING THE ROTORS ON RE-CALL,I SAID SOMETHING TO THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE LIGHTS. HE STATED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE ASKED IF I EVER USED THE POWER OUTLET FOR A PHONE. I STATED YES! HE SAID THAT WHEN USING THE OUTLET IT WAS MELTING THE WIRES TO THE FOG LAMP SWITCH MAKING IT UNOPERABLE. STILL THE SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. I'MNOT THE ONLY PERSON HERE AT WORK THAT HAS THAT PROBLEM. ANOTHER FIRE FIGHTERS LAMPS STOPPED WORKING JUST AFTER HIS WARRANTY WAS UP,AND HIS WAS NEVER REPLACED EITHER. *AK .

NHTSA ID

760392

Incident

Dec 20, 2000

ELECTRICAL SYSYEM WILL GO ON AND OFF AT TIMES. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING FOG LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8000738

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

HAD DRIVEN VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED. DID NOT SMELL ANYTHING AND HAD NO WARNING. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. AROUND 9:00 PM SMELLED SMOKE AND CHECKED VEHICLE. NOTICED VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. TRIED TO PUT FLAMES OUT AFTER CONTACTING FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FLAMES OUT, AND GAVE A POSSIBLE INDICATION OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT ON DRIVER'S SIDE, BEHIND THE HEADLIGHTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

894126

Incident

Aug 9, 2001

THREE DAYS AFTER A 60000 MILES SERVICE ( DONE AT 58000 ) MY JEEP CUT-OFF AND LOCKED UP MY STEERING COMPLETELY. MY JEEP HAD TO BE TOWED OR DRAG ON THE TOWING TRUCK. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS MY BOLTS KEEPS COMING LOOSE, SECOND TIME ,TRANSMISSION AND A CRACKING NOISE AS A RESULT. DIAMLIERCHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID, VERY RUDE MS SHAY, MAYBE ROAD CONDITION..WHAT HOG WASH. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR MY JEEP TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND COMPLETELY LOCKING MY STEERING ? I WROTE THE COMPANY WITH OUT ANY RESPONSE. WOULD MY JEEP START FALLING APART AT 60000 MILES? THIS 58000 MILES SERICE PLUS WHATEVER CAUSE THE NEXT PROBLEM COST ME $1200 IN 5 DAYS. HELP !!!

NHTSA ID

741738

Incident

Feb 10, 2001

BRAKE PEDAL PAD FELL OFF. *MJS

NHTSA ID

553752

Incident

Feb 3, 1998

TRANSMISSION CLUNCKS SEVERELY WHILE SHIFTING GEAR. YH

NHTSA ID

551041

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING A/C & RADIO TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. *YC

NHTSA ID

608583

Incident

Jun 1, 1998