Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
46
Latest Apr 16, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 265 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 46 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming airbag
The 25 most recent of 46, in the owner's own words
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
NHTSA ID
11408403
Incident
Apr 10, 2021
Airbags
Filed Apr 5, 2012
Crash reported1 death reported
MY SON WAS KILLED WHEN THE 98 JEEP WRANGLER LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 1998. MANY COMPLAINTS SINCE THE YEAR OF 1998 AND NO RECALL OR FIX? *TR
NHTSA ID
10454229
Incident
Mar 17, 2012
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Aug 20, 2009
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES OUT - SPEEDOMETER AND TACH, OR ALL OTHER GAUGES GO OUT, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. APPEARS TO BE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS SAME FAILURE WITH THE WIRING HARNESS/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEM SINCE 1998. NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS BUT NO RECALLS! WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM AND IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? *TR
NHTSA ID
10281261
Incident
Aug 15, 2009
Mileage
29,250 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 16, 2008
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE TACHOMETER/ SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO... ALL OTHER GAUGES DISPLAY PROPERLY AND I HAD NO POWER LOSS.....IT WAS REALLY TENSE BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY.... I CANNOT GET THIS REPAIRED BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A CODE TO CHECK (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON) THIS HAS HAPPEN 5 TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 2007.... AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM..... *TR
NHTSA ID
10215169
Incident
Oct 10, 2007
Mileage
92,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 14, 2007
SEVERAL TIMES THE DASH CLUSTER QUITS WORKING AND AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON. HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10193370
Incident
Jun 12, 2007
Mileage
53,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Dec 30, 2006
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND ALL DASH INSTRUMENTS AND GAUGES FAIL TO FUNCTION. *NM
NHTSA ID
10177379
Incident
Jun 1, 2006
Mileage
29,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jul 20, 2006
MY GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD CONSISTENTLY GO TO "0" WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. MY SPEEDOMETER,TACHOMETER, BATTERY STATUS, OIL, AND ENGINE TEMP ALL GO TO THE LEFT AND THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. THIS ESPECIALLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING, WHEN I NEED GAS, OR IF MY AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN MY FACE OR IF IT WILL DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY OTHER REPORTS CONCERNING THIS SAME ISSUE THAT IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE GOVERNMENT OR JEEP/CHRYSLER TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION! *NM
NHTSA ID
10162936
Incident
Mar 8, 2006
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Feb 6, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE TACHOMETER SHOWED NO READING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN MOTION FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO THE CLOCK SPRING, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A LOCAL DEALER. THE TURN SIGANL WOULD NOT CNACEL, THE DEALER REPALCED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. UYPDATED 03/28/06. *JB
NHTSA ID
10149515
Incident
Feb 1, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Nov 22, 2004
THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE INTERIOR GAUGES FOR THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS APPEARED ON AND REMAINED ON AS WELL. THE GASOLINE GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER WERE INOPERABLE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE DASHBOARD PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CLOCK SPRING FOR THE AIR BAG. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10101529
Incident
Nov 22, 2004
Airbags
Filed Aug 24, 2004
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS BEING TOO SHORT. *AK
NHTSA ID
10089653
Incident
Aug 19, 2004
Mileage
34,455 mi
AirbagsElectricalFuel system
Filed Jul 9, 2004
I OWN A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER VIN NUMBER [XXX] I PURCHASED NEW ON APR 10, 1998 SINCE FEB. 1, 2003 THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS OFF AND ON NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY . THIS INCLUDED ALL THE GAUGES AND AIR BAG INDICATOR. I HAVE TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER SERVICE SHOP FOR REPAIR ON 2-6-2003, 10-16-2003 AND 5-19-2004. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THEY SAID THE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD CORROSION AND THEY SPRAYED IT. THE LAST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS TO MUCH CORROSION AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEING IT ABOUT $900.00 THIS VEHICLE AS OF THIS DATE HAS ONLY 16076 MILES ON IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE WHEN INSTRUCTMENT AND AIR BAG INDICATOR HAS STOP WORKING.*AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 * JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ID
10080720
Incident
May 15, 2004
Mileage
15,745 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 23, 2004
THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. ALL THE OTHER DASHBOARD INDICATORS DO NOT WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA ID
10079726
Incident
Jun 23, 2004
Mileage
58,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Apr 1, 2004
VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN ERRATIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND AIR BAG LIGHT OPERATION. INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ROLLED BACK TO ZERO, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, AT 82,000 MILES LEFT TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AND AT 78,000 MILES WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED WHILE THE TRUCK WAS STILL RUNNING THE DEFROSTER LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO JEEP DEALERS AND SAID THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. *LA
NHTSA ID
10061182
Incident
Feb 24, 2004
Mileage
78,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jul 28, 2003
PERIODICALLY THE DASHBOARD GAUGES CUT OUT AND DO NOT FUNCTION. AT THE SAME TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON. PER DISCUSSION WITH A DEALER, IF THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAG WILL NOT PROPERLY FUNCTION.*AK
NHTSA ID
10030228
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Airbags
Filed Sep 23, 2002
Crash reported
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HIT A METAL POLE TO AVOID A BYSTANDER. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
NHTSA ID
8019201
Incident
Sep 20, 2002
AirbagsInterior & seatsSteering+1 more
Filed Jun 20, 2002
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND KNOCKED OUT DIGITAL CONSOLE READINGS. BOTH DOORS BULKED IN HALF DUE TO COLD WEATHER, FAILING TO LATCH SHUT. STEERING BOX IS LEAKING DUE TO A CRACK. LAST ITEM WAS REPLACED THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO RECURRING FAILURE. *AK TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER WERE REPAIRED DUE TO LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES. *SLC
NHTSA ID
8012222
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Feb 18, 2002
PROBLEM 1: INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUTS DOWN AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. PROBLEM 2: WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT MAKES A SQEAKING OR GRINDING LIKE NOISE.*AK
NHTSA ID
758409
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 12, 2001
GAUGES DROP OFF INTERMITTENTLY (SOMETIMES WHEN HIT A BUMP, OTHER TIMES ON IT'S OWN). TACH AND SPEEDOMETER DROP TO ZERO, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. TAPPING ON PANEL, LIGHTS WILL GO OFF, THEN COME BACK ON. VERY SPORADIC WHEN IT HAPPENS--EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK OR TWO, THEN NOTHING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN FOR 3 DAYS, ETC., ETC. ALSO LOSE MILEAGE INDICATOR (HOW MANY MILES WERE REALLY ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW?!?!?!) SEEN SO MANY COMPLIANTS NOW FROM CONSUMERS, WOULD LIKE A RECALL!!! WILL MY AIRBAG WORK? DON'T WANT TO KILL ANYONE TO FIND OUT!!*AK
NHTSA ID
755547
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Oct 9, 2001
NO GAUGES ARE WORKING AND AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON CONTACTED DEALER SAID THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THREE OTHER JEEPS ALREADY!*AK
NHTSA ID
753035
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Sep 10, 2001
AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY IS ILLUMINATED ON DASH, CAUSING ALL GAUGES TO RETURN TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, THEY SAY THE FIX A GROUND WIRE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM NEVER IS CORRECTED, THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN STARTING UP AND USUALLY LASTS ABOUT 10-45 SECONDS. *SLC
NHTSA ID
896088
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 10, 2001
SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECOMES INOPERABLE, AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
894013
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed May 31, 2001
CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS SPORADICALLY SHUT DOWN AND AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ID
746182
Incident
Dec 22, 2000
Airbags
Filed Apr 2, 2001
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM AND ALL GAUGES DROP TO ZERO!*AK
NHTSA ID
743435
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Airbags
Filed Mar 28, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
FRONT CRASH AT 30-40 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ID
884473
Incident
Mar 27, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2001
IRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAUGES GO TO ZERO INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. THEY SOMETIMES COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP. *AK
NHTSA ID
741252
Incident
Feb 10, 2001
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own