1998 Jeep Wrangler Brakes Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11165433

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

69,000 mi

I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND APPROXIMATELY 3 CAR LENGTHS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE ALREADY STOPPED AT THE LIGHT I BEGAN BRAKING AND HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD AND WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE AT ALL. I LIFTED THE BRAKE PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR AND REAPPLIED IT AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP UNTIL IT RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE UP REALLY HIGH AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO DRIVE ITSELF. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK PEDAL AND AFTER I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND PULLED THE EMERGENCY BREAK THE VEHICLE STOPPED IDLING UP HIGH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177441

Incident

Dec 31, 2006

Mileage

97,061 mi

DT: NO REAR BRAKES AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE TROUBLE TAKES PLACE MOSTLY WHEN IT SNOWS OR WHEN IT IS SLIPPERY. THE BACK BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED. DEALER CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, EXCEPT THE MASTER CYLINDER. INSPECTOR FROM JEEP CAME ,. AND WORKED ON IT. THEN, THEY SAID THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES. PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED INCLUDED THREE SETS OF BRAKE SHOES/TWO REAR BRAKE DRUMS/TWO SETS OF REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PROPORTIONAL VALVE/ABS COMPUTER FOR BRAKE SYSTEM, AND TWO BRAKE LINES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10122238

Incident

Jan 3, 1998

Mileage

1,800 mi

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD DISENGAGE WHILE PARKED. CONSUMER ROLLED OVER ON ONE OCCASION. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8018114

Incident

Sep 2, 2002

BRAKES HAD FALLEN OUT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007749

Incident

Apr 7, 2002

WHILE PARKING AND PULLING EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKEUP, IT BROKE.*AK

NHTSA ID

889756

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

WHILE GOING IN REVERSE REAR BRAKES DIN'T LOCK UP. DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. BRAND NEW HUBS & BRAKE SHOES, AND IT CHANGED NOTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

879652

Incident

Jan 4, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED ON AN INCLINE WITH EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS TIGHTENED CABLE, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ID

879135

BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE RE-FINISHED AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES. I QUESTION THE QUALITY OF MATERIALS CHRYSLER IS USING. STEERING WHEEL RUBBING: STEERING COLUMN WOULD MAKE A RUBBING NOISE EVERY TIME IT WAS TURNED. DID THIS EVEN ON THE INITIAL TEST DRIVE NEW OFF THE LOT. THEY SAID IT WAS A SIMPLE LUBRICATION ISSUE. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE NOISE WAS BACK. I BROUGHT IT IN A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY RESOLVED, APPARENTLY WITH SOME NEW SUPER SLICK POLYMER AND ONLY AFTER I PERSONALLY CALLED THE FACTORY TO GET ADVICE. OTHER ISSUES: DRIVER'S SEAT CREAKS LIKE AN OLD TRACTOR. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAUGES ON MY DASH GOING OFF. THEY KNEW WHAT THAT WAS AND DIXED IT. EXHAUST MANIFOLD WENT AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES (MORE SUBSTANDARD PARTS USED BY CHRYSLER). THIS IS WHY I HESITATE TO BUY AMERICAN.

NHTSA ID

722404

Incident

Sep 21, 1998

THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED AN ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING ANITFREEZE. 3 DIFFERENT TRIPS TO MAKE REPAIRS, NO ACTION ON FIRST TRIP, SECOND TRIP, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THIRD TRIP, DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR. VEHICLE STILL HAS ODOR AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON RIGHT HAND SIDE AND ONCE ON LEFT HAND SIDE DUE TO BELTS GETTING PINCHED IN HARDTOP DOORS AND DAMAGING BELTS. BELT ON RIGHT HAND HAS HAD FAILURE OF SEAT BELT INERTIA LOCK DURING HARD STOP. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED MOMENTARILY. FIX WAS TO CLEAN AND GREASE CONNECTORS. SYSTEM IS STARTING TO REPEAT SAME PROBLEM, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. STEERING COLUMN LOWER BUSHING HAS DEVELOPED NOISE, AFTER RAIN OR ONSET OF COLD WEATHER. DEALER STATES FIX IS TO LUBE BUSHING, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS AFTER 4 DEALER VISITS. REAR AXLE SEALS ON LEFT HAND AND RIGHT HAND WERE LEAKING, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCKUP WITH MODERATE BRAKE APPLICATION ON DAMP PAVEMENT OR SANDY ROAD SURFACES. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEALS, BUT NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT POSSIBLE BRAKE LINING CONTAMINATION OR CLEANING. VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED WATER LEAKAGE FROM AROUND WINDSHIELD ON LEFT AND RIGHT HAND SIDES, RIGHT HAND HARDTOP DOOR HINGE ATTACH BOLTS, THRU SEALS ON COWL AND AROUND DOORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALL SEALS, RTV'D GAPS, AND INSTALLED UPDATED DOOR SEALS, BUT VEHICLE STILL LEAKS. ALSO, CARPETS WERE WATER DAMAGED IN FRONT PASSENGER AREA DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE FROM VEHICLE BODY AND AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT FOR UP TO TWO DAYS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR WATER LEAKS AND MULTIPLE REPAIR COMPLAINTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

717525

Incident

Dec 16, 1998

THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE. WHEN YOU BACK UP ON ANY SURFACE AND APPLY THE BRAKES THE FRONT BRAKES [DISC] LOCK UP AND THE BACK WHEELS JUST KEEP ROLLING. THEY PROVIDE NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

716581

Incident

Jan 2, 1998

EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM 60-62 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT RESULTED IN REAR OF VEHICLE TO BEGIN SLIDING AROUND TO THE LEFT. THE FOUR SHEEL ABS SYSTEM HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHECKED FOLLOWING A TIRE LOCK-UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER PERFORMED DRB TEST AND CHECK FOR CODES, NONE FOUND AND ABS OPERATING AT THIS TIME. DEALER AGREED THAT ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLE SHOULDN'T RESPOND IN THIS FASHION. OWNER REQUESTED FOLLOW-UP BY CHRYSLER REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

707395

Incident

May 1, 1999

EXPERIENCED WHEEL LOCK-UP DURING A PANIC STOP FROM 60 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER TESTED ABS SYSTEM WITH DRBIII. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. INFOMED CONSUMER THAT DRUM BRAKES WILL PERFORM DIFFERENTLY THAN FRONT ABS BRAKES. REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK WHEN ABS IS ACTIVATED. WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND SHORT WHEEL BASE, VEHICLE WILL FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS SKIDDING WHEN IT IS NOT. THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION OF THIS VEHICLE, NO FIX ATTEMPTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

707351

Incident

Jul 1, 1998

BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR CAP LEAKS BRAKE FLUID, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN BRAKE FLUID AT THE DESIGN LEVEL. DEALERSHIP PROVIDED ME WITH A NEW CAP WHICH ALSO LEAKED. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A LOSS OF BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

705680

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP, BUT THE REAR WHEELS CONTINUE TO TURN, WHICH IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DURING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT PROBLEM BY REPLACING DRUMS AND VALVE, BUT THAT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOW ORDERED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER. WE ARE HOPING THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER CURES THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THERE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

704824

FRONT BRAKES / ROTORS / BRAKE PADS EXPERIENCED FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ID

607186

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

606777

Incident

Sep 1, 1997

2/10/98 - 1046 MILES: REAR WINDOW LEAKED, AND BOTH BRAKELIGHT HOUSINGS LEAKED. THE RADIO ALSO STOPPED WORKING. 7/30/98 8988 MILES: THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING. 12/30/98 15,000 MILES - FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT STOPPED RETRACTING.

NHTSA ID

701768

Incident

Feb 10, 1998

THE REAR BRAKES DON'T PROVIDE ANY STOPPING ASSISTANCE,THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP ON GRAVEL AND THE REAR WHEELS NEVER SLIDE OR PROVIDE ANY STOPPING POWER. WHEN YOU BACK UP ON GRAVEL OR ANY SLICK SURFACE THE FRONT WHEELS ALWAYS SLIDE EVEN ON LEVEL GROUND. WHEN BACKING DOWN A HILL ON GRAVEL OR A SLICK SURFACE THE JEEP WONT STOP UNLESS I USE THE HAND BRAKE ALONG WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE TESTED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND IT IS THE SAME EACH TIME. THE DEALER JUST SAYS THEY ARE ADJUSTED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO STOPPING POWER!

NHTSA ID

700875

Incident

Jun 14, 1998

DRUM WILL NOT KEEP ITS SHAPE. DEALER NOFITIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

822625

Incident

Apr 17, 1998