1998 Jeep Wrangler Transmission Problems

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

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

THE CONSUMER STATE THE HIS SON HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION STAYING IN GEAR. THE CONSUMER(S) ARE REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. SCC

NHTSA ID

10003772

Incident

Mar 31, 2002

Mileage

56,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION STAYING IN GEAR---FINALLY THE JEEP JUST STOPPED---REPLACED TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

566339

Incident

Mar 31, 2002

THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *MR *JB

NHTSA ID

8020870

Incident

Apr 18, 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

CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE PARTIALLY ON. ENGINE WAS RUNNING. PASSENGER GOT OUT AND CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS CRASHING INTO A BUIDLING SMASHING THE WALLS AND WINDOWS.

NHTSA ID

758184

Incident

Feb 13, 2002

THE CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TECHNICAL BULLETINS THAT DESCRIBE THIS AS A CONTINOUS PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

758027

Incident

Jan 30, 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

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, DURING IDLING AND STARTED ACCELERATING IN REVERSE, VEHICLE MOVED 20 FEET BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP ALL MOVEMENT. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND SHE STEPPED OUT BRIEFLY WITH DOOR OPENED, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO REVERSE AT HIGH IDLE.*SLC

NHTSA ID

898135

Incident

Aug 27, 2001

THE JEEP WAS IN PARK WHEN I GOT OUT TO MAIL A LETTER. I LEFT MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPEN. THE JEEP SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND KNOCKED ME DOWN. NEXT , THE OPEN DOOR SMASHED OUR MAILBOX INTO ME. THE JEEP PROCEEDED UP THE STREET, WHERE I COLLECTED MYSELF AND RAN AFTER IT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN AND STOP IT, AND NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. THE DOOR WAS COMPLETELY WRAPPED AROUND TO THE QUARTER PANEL BECAUSE OF HITTING THE MAILBOX.*AK

NHTSA ID

752773

Incident

Sep 15, 1998

DEALER BUILT TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES AND IT'S GOING IN FORE THE 3RD TIME ON9/11/01 WHATS THE PROBLEM ( CHRYSLER ?). *AK

NHTSA ID

751885

Incident

Jan 18, 2001

CONSUMER STATES RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP FAILED.*JB

NHTSA ID

561776

Incident

Jan 26, 2001

SEE ATTACHED LETTER TO DAIMERCHRYSLER - WILL BE SENT VIA MAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

747105

Incident

Jan 26, 2001

1. THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED JUMPING IN AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR IN THE 32 TO 50 MPH RANGE. BUBBLES ARE PRESENT IN THE FLUID INDICATING A SEAL IS FAILING. REPAIR ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME IS OVER $1000. THIS FAILURE IN SNOWY DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSES VEHICLE CONTROL PROBLEMS.2. PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTS INTERMITTENTLY. THE PASSENGER WILL LEAN FORWARD AND BACK MAY NOT NOTICE THE SEATBELT HAS NOT RETRACTED. THIS CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. 3. SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT IDLE. VEHICLE IDLE WILL JUMP FROM 1.5K TO 3K WITHOUT WARNING. OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. 4. ANTI-SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE. THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST INSIDIOUS FAILURE. THE STABILIZER BAR LINK BALL WILL CORRODE IN THE SOCKET AND CAUSE IT TO SEPARATE. THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND IT COVERS THE FAILURE. WHEN AN EMERGENCY TURN IS REQUIRED, THE JEEP WILL SWAY VIOLENTLY. I TALKED TO THE CHRYSLER PARTS ATTENDANT AND HE SAID HE SELLS ABOUT 12 A WEEK TO THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE FAILURE. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT NOTICE THIS, IT IS A TIME BOMB. THE PARTS ATTENDANT TOLD ME I WOULD BE BACK SOON TO REPLACE MORE. WHAT HE SAID IS TRUE.

NHTSA ID

736981

Incident

May 24, 2000

WATERLEAKS ON PASSENGER SIDE, DEALER CAN NOT FIX.....GEARS GRIND GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND...AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INTSRUMENT PANEL FAILS, DEALER HAS FIXED ONCE

NHTSA ID

714410

Incident

May 1, 1998

FIRST OFF, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN THE GAUGES WOULD SHUT DOWN. I TOOK THE JEEP IN ONCE, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS AND COULDN'T FIX IT IF THEY DIDN'T SEE IT. NEXT, I WAS DRIVING THE JEEP, HAD STOPPED TO GET GAS, THEN STARTED TO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY, THE JEEP NO LONGER WOULD MOVE. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SMELL, AND I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AT 9 P.M, 6 HOURS FROM HOME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP, AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL BE THROUGH WITH IT!!

NHTSA ID

712299

Incident

Sep 26, 1999

MY WIFE WAS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND THE STICK SHIFT SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR HARD. WHEN WE CALLED JIM MARSH JEEP MY WIFE TOLD THEM THE STICK SHIFT CAME OFF AND THE PERSON SAID "YOU MUST HAVE A WRANGLER". THIS HAS TO BE MORE THAN AN ISOLATED INCEDENT. HAD WE BEEN 4 WHEELING SOME WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

711370

Incident

Jul 10, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

706888

Incident

Nov 1, 1997

WHEELS LOCKED UP WHILE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IN ICE CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

543925

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

607186

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO GEAR IT WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY INTO GEAR. ALSO, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE, THE GEARS MESH TOGETHER IMPROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

824510

WHEN SIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION EITHER GRINDS THE GEARS OR IS DIFFICULT TO GET INTO GEAR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, AND CANNOT BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS.

NHTSA ID

531345

Incident

Aug 8, 1997

TRANSMISSION GRINDS GEARS WHEN ENGAGING SECOND GEAR ON ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID

529163

Incident

Aug 8, 1997