1998 Jeep Cherokee Interior & seats Problems

A DRIVERS SEAT FRAME WELD HAS FAILED, CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566109

Incident

Feb 12, 2013

I NOTICED MY SEAT LEANING TO THE SIDE. LOOKING UNDER THE SEAT, I SAW WHERE THE METAL RAILS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT, WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR MOUNT, TO HAVE COMPLETELY BROKEN AWAY FROM THE BOLTS. I NOW HAVE A ROCKING DRIVERS CHAIR. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE LAYING ON YOUR BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504857

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

1998 JEEP CHEROKEE SE 2-DOOR - FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE AT THE FRONT-LEFT POINT WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE RAILS ASSEMBLY. THE SEAT HAD BECOME A LITTLE WOBBLY IN BUMPY/UNEVEN AREAS ON THE ROAD (I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF HILLS AND THE ROADS ARE NOT FLAT AND SMOOTH) AND ONE DAY, COMING OVER THE BUMP AT THE END OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE THE SEAT MADE A POPPING NOISE AND I WAS JARRED TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR. NOW THE SEAT TOTTERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE DEPENDING ON WHAT WAY I AM TURNING OR THE ANGLE OF THE ROAD/BUMPS. TO CORRECT THIS I WILL EITHER HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW SEAT, WHICH WILL BE PRETTY DIFFICULT CONSIDERING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDE-SPREAD SO THERE ARE BASICALLY NONE OF THESE SEATS AVAILABLE, OR I WILL HAVE TO WELD THE SEAT FRAME BACK TOGETHER WHERE IT BROKE. THE LAST ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO PURCHASE AN AFTERMARKET SEAT, WHICH IS A LITTLE PRICEY AT $250USD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359873

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

HOOD LATCHES ON 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT ARE CORRODED AND HOOD WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED, HAD ONE REPLACED ALREADY, NOW THE ONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE IS ACTING UP CAUSING BOTH TO MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A SEVERE HAZARD. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243435

Incident

Sep 24, 2008

Mileage

151,843 mi

ALL GAUGES AND LIGHTS, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, ON INSTRUMENT PANEL QUIT WORKING. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. INTERMITTENT FAILURES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10140480

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

Mileage

30,000 mi

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE AN THE TURN SIGNALS DON'T CUT OFF AFTER GOING AROUND CORNERS BECAUSE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND CLOCK SPRING ARE BAD AND THE DEALER SAID THAT I NEED TO FIX THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SHORT OUT AND DEPLOY THE AIRBAG WHILE DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109913

Incident

Feb 5, 2005

WHILE DRIVING FUEL GAGE FLUCTUATES LEAVING THE CONSUMER WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE GAS TANK. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE DOORS MALFUNCTIONED. UPON USING THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON, IT WILL NOT LOCK UNLESS CONSUMER GETS OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND USES THE KEY. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS TO USE THE KEY TO LOCK THE TAILGATE. *AK THE CONSUMER SITED THE RECALL FOR THE FUELGAGE NEEDED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *TC

NHTSA ID

10089825

Incident

Apr 1, 2004

Mileage

98,000 mi

CONSUMER HAS HAD THE DRIVER'S SEAT REPAIRED THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE ANCHORAGE BROKE. ALSO, PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT BROKE. MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE SEAT THE FIRST TIME. THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES CONSUMER REPAIRED THE SEAT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10083237

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

96,500 mi

I SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND IT PITCHED BACK SO BAD I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO LAND IN THE BACK SEAT. I CHECKED A FEW JEEP CHEROKEE GOUPS ON THE WEB AND FOUND OUT SEAT FRAMES HAD A TENDANCY TO BREAK. I THEN CALLED MY JEEP DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL. THE SERVICE WRITER RESEARCHED IT AND TOLD ME JEEP HAD NO HISTORY OF SEAT PROBLEMS AND HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM. I REMOVED THE SEAT AND INSPECTED IT. AT FIRST IT LOOKED LIKE THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN ON THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER. I REMOVED THE SEAT BACK, FABRIC AND PADDING TO REPAIR THE FRAME, AND FOUND THAT THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN NEAR EVERY WELD.

NHTSA ID

10056153

Incident

Jan 22, 2004

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED MOST OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STOP FUNCTIONING. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES EVERYTHING WILL RETURN TO NORMAL AND WORK AGAIN. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10048296

Incident

Nov 3, 2003

Mileage

126,000 mi

INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER. ALSO, GASOLINE/OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING, AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10034412

Incident

Aug 22, 2003

Mileage

106,000 mi

ON GOING PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW INCLUDING MY SON. THEIR 1998. 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE'S WHILE LOSE ALL INSTRUMENT OPERATION. AT THE SAME TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. FAILURE MAY CONTINUE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES OR SEVERAL HOURS. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. MY BROTHER IN LAW CALLED THIS MORNING AND GAVE ME THE SAME SYMPTOMS HE IS HAVING WITH HIS JEEP. IT SEAMS TO BE A LARGE SCALE PROBLEM. IT MAY BE TEMPERATURE RELATED BUT ALL THAT I KNOW OF ARE IN CHEROKEES. MY BROTHER'S IS A 97, SON'S IS A 98, ONE OF HIS FRIENDS IS A19 99 AND MY BROTHER IN LAW'S IS ALSO A 99. SON'S FRIENDS IS ALSO A 1998. *AK

NHTSA ID

10028636

Incident

Jul 19, 2003

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HAS BECOME UNSAFE DUE TO BOLT SECURING FRONT LEFT OF SEAT TO VEHICLE BEING TOO SMALL FOR HOLE AND EVENTUALLY WORE THROUGH. NOW DUE TO STRESS FAILURE FROM POOR DESIGN THE SEAT IS UNREPAIRABLE. BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, IT APPEARS FRUITLESS TO ASK DEALER FOR APPROPRIATE REPAIRS AT NO COST. THIS POOR DESIGN SHOULD NOT HAVE RESULTED IN ADDED EXPENSE TO OWNER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018933

Incident

Apr 30, 2003

DRIVERS SEAT OF 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE CLASSIC FAILED. LEFT FRONT ATTACHMENT RAIL NUT WORKED IT'S WAY THROUGH THE RAILING CAUSING FRONT LEFT PART OF SEAT TO DISLODGE ITSELF FROM SEAT TRACK, WHICH ALLOWED SEAT TO FALL BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. NUTS WHICH ATTACH SEAT TO TRACK ARE SMALLER THAN BOLT HOLES CAUSING NUTS TO WORK THROUGH BOLT HOLES RESULTING IN SEAT TRACK AND SEAT BASE FAILURE. I EXPLAINED TO DEALER THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. DEALER DID NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF A NEW BASE, WHICH COST $350.00. THE NEW BASE INCLUDED LARGER ATTACHMENT NUTS WITH A NOTE STATING DO NOT USE OLD ATTACHMENT NUTS. THE NOTE AND LARGER ATTACHMENT NUTS REINFORCES THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THESE ATTACHMENT BOLTS, BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR REIMBURSE CONSUMERS FOR THEIR EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018550

Incident

Mar 5, 2003

Mileage

56,500 mi

RECALL FOR '97 XJ'S REGARDING GAS GAUGE. '98 NOW HAVING SAME PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ID

769900

THE SEAT FRAME ON THE FRONT DRIVE SIDE IS CONSTANTLY MOVING. THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO MANUEVER WITH A UNSTABLE SEAT TO SIT IN. THE SEAT TRACK WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED. THE DEALER IS AWARE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID

8013248

Incident

May 1, 2002

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENT FAILURE,ALLOWED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WITHOUT WARNING CRACKING THE ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD, AIR BAG POSSIBLY AFFECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

763805

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

WHEN TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS, CONSUMER HAS TO WIGGLE SWITCH TO GET HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES BEFORE HEADLIGHTS COME ON, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK CONSUMER STATES AT TIMES,THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILS TO ACTIVATE UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8013116

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

LEFT FRONT ATTACHMENT OF DRIVER'S SEAT TORE LOOSE. HOLE FOR ATTACHMENT BOLT WAS VERY NEAR EDGE OF PART ALLOWING (STARTING?) TEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

753142

Incident

Oct 11, 2001

AT 13,395 MILES CLUSTER GAUGE ON DASH WENT OUT. NO WAY TO TELL HOW FAST VEHICLE WAS GOING BECAUSE INSTRUMENTS ON DASH STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER CLEANED CONNECTORS/ ADDED ELECTRO LIGHTS, AND RECONNECTED PLUGS. HOWEVER, SAME PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CONSUMER FELT THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH CONNECTOR. *AK TSB 08298 DEALS WITH PROBLEMS CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING, HOWEVER ON THE SECOND FAILURE, CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR REPAIRS. BOTH INNER FRONT AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

891033

Incident

Apr 22, 1999

: FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BOLT HAS CAME THROUGH THE LEFT PART OF THE FRAME OF THE SEAT WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO FALL BACK AND TO THE RIGHT, CONSUMER STRONGLY BELIEVES THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, CUST TOOK VEH TO DLR, DLR STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO ANOTHER JEEP I SAW IN THIS SITE. CONSUMER SEEKS TO HAVE THE SEAT REPAIRED AT NO COST AS THIS IS CLEARLY UNSAFE IF VEH WAS TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

747001

Incident

May 7, 2001

I HAVE HAD SOOOOOO MANY FACTORY REPAIRS ON THIS JEEP CHEROKKE!!!! NOW THAT THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT (WITHIN 10 DAYS) THE ELECTRIC WINDOW WON'T WORK....IT'S ALL ONE UNIT AND SO THE MOTOR AND ALL THE CONTROLLING DEVICES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY HAVE A PLASTIC COMPONMENT AROUND THE WHOLE UNIT..AND IT BREAKS AND SO THE WHOLE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED. WHY PUT A PIECE OF PLASTIC OVER IT, UNLESS YOU HOPED/PLANNED IT WOULD BREAK??????*AK

NHTSA ID

741899

Incident

Feb 28, 2001

FRONT DEFROST HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES, DEALER FIX EACH TIME, CANNOT DISCOVER ROOT OF PROBLEM. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REQUIRED 3 VISITS TO DEALER.

NHTSA ID

739699

Incident

Jan 18, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ITS POWER TO INSTRUMENTS PANEL, CAUSING FAILURE TO ALL GAUGES AND LOSS OF AIR BAG. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL OR CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

874062

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH HOOD FLEW UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHICH OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

873468

Incident

Oct 16, 2000