1998 Jeep Wrangler Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE, AS IF AIR WAS ESCAPING THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10448812

Incident

Jun 5, 2009

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER PERTAINING TO THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND INELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PRIOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10445912

Incident

Jun 8, 2011

Mileage

95,000 mi

MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WATER PUMP LEAKED - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, GAS TANK SEAL LEAKED - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, SEATS RIPPED - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, SUCTION CUP MARKS ON WINDOW - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, FRONT STABILIZER SHOCK LEAKED - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, REAR WINDOW SEAL LEAKED - REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY TWO TIMES AND STILL LEAKS, INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILS - OUT OF WARRANTY NOT REPAIRED, RADIATOR FAILED - OUT OF WARRANTY FIXED AT MY COST, STABILIZER ARM FAILED BOTH SIDES TWICE - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE AND THE OUT OF WARRANTY FIXED AT MY COST, EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED - OUT OF WARRANTY - FIXED AT MY COST, CLUTCH FORK FAILED - OUT OF WARRANTY FIXED AT MY COST, LEAK UNDER THE DASH BOARD PASSENGER SIDE - FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. OF ALL THE PROBLEMS ABOVE... LOSS OF INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDLESS OF IN OR OUT OF WARRANTY. LOSS OF GAUGES IS A DRIVING DISTRACTION AND CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. JEEP NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS LONG AS THIS VEHICLE IS ON THE ROAD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10204168

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

Mileage

25,000 mi

MAIN EXHAUST HEADER FLANGE AT THE COLLECTOR CRACKED LEADING TO EXHAUST GASES ENTERING THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199314

Incident

Feb 7, 2006

Mileage

78,000 mi

1998 JEEP WRANGLER EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. CONTACTED DEALER TO CHECK ABOUT RECALL INFO AFTER REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS WAS COMMON IN 1997 AND 1998 WRANGLERS. NO SUCH LUCK. HAD IT WELDED AT MY EXPENSE AND HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161717

Incident

Mar 14, 2006

I HAVE A 98 TJ JEEP 2.5LT WITH ON IT 57,000 NOW. WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS A MAJOR POWER LOSS IN THE WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. THE SYMPTOMS WERE AS FOLLOWS. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE RPMS & SPEED WOULD RISE SLOWLY. I THOUGH MAYBE THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND DROVE IT BACK HOME . I NOTICED IT GOT WORSE AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING POORLY AT IDLE AND IF YOU GAVE IT GAS IT WOULD BOG DOWN AND DIE. I ALSO NOTICED STRONG EXHAUST FUMES AND VERY LITTLE PRESSURE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. SO I TOOK IT TO THE MUFFLER SHOP FOR A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE JEEP DEALER. BECAUSE IN CA THERE'S A FEDERAL RECALL LAW THAT STATES THAT THE DEALER MUST REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT NO COST TO THE OWNER IF IT FAILS BEFORE 80,000 MILES REGARDLESS IF YOU BOUGHT IT NEW OR NOT AND MINE HAD 56,000. SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A BRAND NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER FREE OF CHARGE AND LABOR. THE JEEPS RUNS GREAT AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY NICE .THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS ON THIS WITH CERTAIN MODELS. HOPE THIS HELPS. OH IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW IF THAT'S THE PROBLEM JUST DISCONNECT THE EXHAUST PIPE GOING UP TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REAL QUICK AND FIRE IT UP IF IT STARTS RIGHT UP AND HAS POWER THEN YOU KNOW THAT'S IT. BUT HOOK IT BACK UP DON'T DRIVE IT LIKE THAT. YOU MIGHT DAMAGE THE ENGINE. YOU'LL NEED A 14MM DEEP SOCKET AND SOME WD40 TO REMOVED THE 2 NUTS ON THE STUDS. THAT'S IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10073203

Incident

May 2, 2004

Mileage

56,000 mi

1998 4.0 JEEP WRANGLER (49K MI) WITH CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. HAVE REPLACED MANIFOLD TWICE, ONCE WITH OEM AND THE LAST TIME WITH BANKS HEADER W/LIFETIME GUARANTY. MOST 4.0 I KNOW HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADER WITHIN THE FIRST 100K MI. DESIGN SUCKS...*AK

NHTSA ID

10064338

Incident

Jan 5, 2004

Mileage

43,000 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059662

Incident

Feb 20, 2004

Mileage

58,000 mi

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE SNAPPING OFF IN THE BLOCK OF JEEP 2.5 4 CYL ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED BY CHRYSLER AS A DESIGN FAULT PROBLEM BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET BECAUSE CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER IT AND IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX THAT CAN'T BE AFFORDED AT THIS TIME. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXHAUST IS LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND HEAD AND COULD GET INTO THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED IN ABOUT JAN 02. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 54000 MILES ON IT. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAD A TOTAL CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE THAT WAS COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER, THE SAME WARRANTY, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART DESIGN AND NOT WEAR AN TEAR. CATALYTIC CONVERTER "IMPLODED" ALL THE INTERIOR COMPONENTS CAME LOOSE AND BEGAN TO RATTLE. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE 8 YEAR 80,000 EMISSIONS WARRANTY. SUPPOSEDLY A COMMON PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10069936

Incident

Jan 15, 2002

Mileage

45,000 mi

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. THE FIRST MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES. SECOND MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT WITH JEEP WRANGLER 4.0L YEARS 1997-1998. *LA

NHTSA ID

10052342

Incident

Jan 4, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043591

Incident

Oct 25, 2003

1998 JEEP WRANGLER, 4.0L. THESE TWO ISSUES ARE ON SERVICE BULLETINS, BUT SHOULD BE RECALLS. THE FIRST ISSUE OCCURRED AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VALVE SPRINGS SNAPPED, STOPPING THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. DISCUSSED IN DETAIL ON SERVICE BULLETIN 182298, INITIALLY ISSUED BEFORE I EVEN PURCHASED MY CAR. IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING TO FIND OUT THAT JEEP WAS AWARE OF SUCH A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND DID NOTHING TO PREVENT SUCH FAILURES FROM OCCURRING. THE SECOND IS A VERY WIDESPREAD AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WHEN THE MAIN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SPONTANEOUSLY STOPS WORKING, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AIR BAG INDICATOR, FUEL GAGE, OIL GAGE, ETC... DISCUSSED ON SERVICE BULLETINS, 081599 I BELIEVE. YOU CANNOT TELL YOUR SPEED, HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE, ETC... ANOTHER IMPLICATION IS THAT THE ODOMETER IS INCORRECT ON MANY JEEPS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10042973

Incident

Aug 2, 2003

AIR-CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILURE AIR-CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR COIL FAILURE AIR-CONDITIONING REFRIGERANT LEAKS AND ODORS

NHTSA ID

10038720

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL TANK HAD A CRACKED WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE FUEL TANK HAD LEAKED SINCE THE OWNER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT 39K MILES. THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED WHEN FILLED IN HOT WEATHER. BOTH THE FUEL TANK NUT REPLACEMENT TANK WERE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN DUE TO SHORTAGE. THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND A POOR CONNECTION BEHIND THE CLUSTER. THE THROTTLE SENSOR DID NOT HAVE A GOOD SEAL IN WHICH MOISTURE HAD GOTTEN INTO IT. THE FUEL TANK CORRODED BADLY AND THE NEW TANK NUT WAS USELESS. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND THE GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SCC ALSO THE WATER PUMP SERPENTINE BELT, AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10031245

Incident

Jul 22, 2003

1998 JEEP WRANGLER 4.0L, EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK AT 30,000 MILES. JEEP/CHRYSLER REFUSED TO FIX, STATING ONLY CATALYTIC CONVERTER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CRACK OCCURRED IN A WELD JOINING THE TWO PIPE, ALMOST 3/4 OF THE WAY AROUND THE PIPE, CAUSING COSIDERABLE NOISE, AND LOSS OF POWER. GUAGES FAIL PERIODICALLY, BUT COME BACK ON THERE OWN, AFTER A FEW MINUTES. AIR CONDITIONER DRAINS ONTO FLOOR INSIDE VEHICLE ON LONG DRIVES AND CAN EVEN SHORT OUT THE RADIO. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO SQEALS LIKE AN OLD DOOR WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029193

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

Mileage

30,000 mi

A CRACKED EXHAUST HEADER CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015895

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY JEEP WRANGLER 1998. THIS IS A PARTIAL LIST I SENT TO CHRYSLER: I BOUGHT MY JEEP WITH JUST 3600 MILES ON IT FROM A DEALER IN 1999. FROM DAY ONE I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. MANY OF THEM I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SOME THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX, OTHERS, AFTER MANY RETURN TRIPS, THEY WERE 'UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM'. 1. GAUGES WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING - I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 5 TIMES BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE AND FINALLY FIX THE PROBLEM. 2. THIS WAS ALSO TRUE OF THE BLINKERS THAT NOT ALWAYS WORKED - OR WORKED ALL AT THE SAME TIME. 3. MY HAZARDS STILL DO NOT WORK EVERY TIME. 4. THE AIR CONDITIONER GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING,VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN IT IS HOT AND RAINING. 5. THE SOUND BAR HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY - FIRST IT WOULD ONLY COME IN SOME TIMES - NOW NEVER. 6. HEADERS ARE CRACKED - BAD. THEY HAVE BEEN WELDED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN I WENT TO HAVE THEM WELDED IT WAS FOUND THEY WERE WELDED BEFORE MY PURCHASE - AT 3600 MIL! THEY ARE STILL CRACKED, WELDING DOES NOT HOLD. I CAN NOT GET ANYONE TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE EVEN EXHAUST SPECIALISTS SAY IT IS TOO CUMBERSOME. THE DEALER CHARGES WAY MORE THAN I HAVE CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF REPAIRS AND THE PRICE OF GAS - AT 12 MPG. 7. DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKS TIGHTLY WITH ANY AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES - IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT IT LOCKS JUST WHILE DRIVING. 8. WINDOWS - THE ZIPPERS BROKE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY - I PAID ALOT TO HAVE THESE REPLACED. THE BACK WINDOW NOW HAS A CUT IN IT AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH. 9. THE TOP HAS NEVER QUITE FIT RIGHT; IT HAS ALWAYS LEAKED AND BEEN EXTREMELY NOISY - MORE SO THAN ANYONE ELSE'S THAT I KNOW. IT HAS ALSO COME APART AT THE SEAMS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN OF ANY HELP. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS JUST FOR DIAGNOSTICS, EVEN WHEN I HAD THE BEST WARRANTY. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR MOLDING COMING OUT IMMEDIATELY, GRINDING IN THE STEERING WHEEL, GRINDING WHILE TRYING TO PUT IT IN REVERSE AND MORE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10013662

Incident

Mar 29, 2003

EXHAUST HEADER CRACKED & BROKE IN TWO WILL NOT PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION OR EMISSION

NHTSA ID

10010989

Incident

Jun 4, 2002

Mileage

56,000 mi

CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CRACK COULD HAVE RESULTED IN CARBON MONOXIDE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. REPAIR FACILITY REPORTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN 1997 AND 1998 JEEP WRANGLERS. MANUFACURER PAID FOR PARTS. DT

NHTSA ID

769213

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

THE MANNIFOLD HAS CRACKED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, JEEP FIXED IT, STATING THERE WAS A "DESIGN FLAW". NOW, APPROX. TWO YEARS LATER, AND ANOTHER 32,000 MILES(ROUGHLY) THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT, DUE TO MILEAGE. HOWEVER, I FEEL AS IF THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY 30,000 MILES OR SO, SOMEONE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ATTEMPT TO CORRECT IT. I JUST HAD IT FIXED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE COST WAS $600.00. NLM

NHTSA ID

767644

A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH EXHAUST LEAKS ON WRANGLERS. NLM

NHTSA ID

767643

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. $900 REPAIR. DATABASE SHOWS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT KNOW SINCE 1997. SHOULD BE COVERED WARRANTY REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

765624

Incident

Jun 22, 2002

EXHAUST HEADER SPLIT OPEN AT HEAT EFFECTED ZONE OF WELD.*AK

NHTSA ID

763865

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED NEAR THE FLANGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

759223

Incident

Feb 25, 2002

I TOOK THE JEEP LAST YEAR TO GET THE RATTLE FIXED. THEY FIXED IT, BUT ON THE 1/12/02 I TOOK IT BACK FOR THE SAME RATTLE. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY FIXED IT, JUST TIGHTENED THE LINKAGE UP. MY WIFE AND I SPENT 7 HOURS AT LANDERS WITHOUT ANYONE CONTACTING US ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY ALSO BROKE A BOLT OFF IN THE BLOCK THAT HOLDS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON, AGAIN WE WEREN'T INFORMED. OUR WARRENTY COVERED THE EXHAUST PROBLEM, BUT LANDERS SAID THAT THE LINKAGE WASN'T COVERED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD WORKED ON THE LINKAGE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO COVER ANY REPAIRS THEY MAKE FOR A YEAR, BUT THEY DIDN'T HONOR THIS. WE SPENT 7 HOURS WAITING FOR THE JEEP TO BE REPAIRED. THEY OFFERED US A RENTAL TO GET US HOME, BUT DIDN'T OFFER ANY GAS MONEY OR ANYTHING FOR OUR INCOVIENCE ABOUT DRIVING 150 MILES (ONE WAY). I'M A GUNSMITH AND MAKE $30 A HOUR AND I WAS AWAY FROM MY WORK FOR 20 HOURS BECAUSE OF LANDERS NOT INFORMING ME OF HOW LONG THE REPAIRS WOULD TAKE. NOW I'M BEHIND WITH MY WORK AND HAVING TO WORK16 HOURS A DAY TO CATCH UP. I WOULD LIKE SOME COMP. FOR MY TIME LOST. ALSO MY WIFE WENT WITH ME TO LANDERS AND SAT THROUGH THEIR LIES, AND SHE LOST WORK TIME ALSO. LANDERS IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FIVE STAR RATING TOWARD THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE WERE TREATED LIKE UNWANTED STEP-CHILDREN. LANDERS DIDN'T OFFER TO SUPPLY US WITH TRANSPORT TO GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT, INFORM US OF THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR JEEP, AND CHARGED US 69.97 FOR LABOR AND 24.97 FOR PARTS, THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE WORN OUT AFTER 27,100 MILES UNLESS THEY DAMAGED WHEN THEY 'FIXED' THE LINKAGES THE FIRST TIME. I KNOW I'M NOT IMPROTANT TO THEM, BUT I BELIEVE THEY DESTROYED THE BUSHINGS THE FIRST TIME THEY WORKED ON THEM, AND BROKE THE MANIFOLD BOLT TRYING TO TIGHTEN IT DOWN CAUSING THEM TO HAVE TO PULL THE HEAD OFF THE MOTOR HEAD OFF THE ENGINE TO GET TO.*AK

NHTSA ID

756782

Incident

Apr 12, 1999