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1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Fuel tank recall parts and repair delays.” Jeep vehicles use the Oil Change Indicator system to signal when oil is due. Wrangler and Gladiator owners who actually use 4WD off-road should treat the schedule below as Schedule A (severe) — water crossings, sand, and rock crawling demand differential and transfer case service at half the published intervals. Grand Cherokee and Cherokee follow the standard Mopar schedule.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Reported to NHTSA

Fuel tank recall parts and repair delays

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE

80 NHTSA complaints · 2013-02 → 2017-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS FOR CHRYSLER'S BUY BACK PROGRAM DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S REFUSAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10980388
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10621531
“MY NEPHEW DIED IN A FIRE AFTER HE WAS IMPACTED FROM THE REAR WHILE AVOIDING DEBRIS/PEOPLE IN THE HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10553515

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling without warning

ENGINE

33 NHTSA complaints · 2011-01 → 2024-03

“VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE MOVING AT ANY SPEED. PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR FIXES THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NO ERROR CODES ARE BEING GENERATED . REPLACED O2 SENSORS AND THIS REMAINS AN ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11102239
“ENGINE STALLS/CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ON CITY STREETS AND SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR ALMOST A YEAR. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10884054
“CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED, FROM 70 ON THE HIGHWAY TO 5 MPH ON OUR ROAD. NO WARNING. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATED MANY JEEP OWNERS WITH SAME SAFETY ISSUE AND NO PERMANENT FIXES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10490898

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front-end death wobble at highway speed

STEERING

16 NHTSA complaints · 2011-09 → 2022-07

“MY JEEP HAS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN HITTING A BUMP (BRIDGE, POTHOLE, ETC.) GOING DOWN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END STARTS TO BOUNCE AROUND AND BECOMES UNSTABLE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN TOWING A TRAILER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10871027
“I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD GRANDCHILD IN THE BACK WHEN MY CAR STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DIE! IT LITERALLY FELT LIKE THE WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL WERE GOING TO ALL FALL OFF!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11204239
“DEATH WOBBLE: STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE FRONT OF CAR SHAKES OR OSCILLATES VERY BADLY WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 50 MPH AND HITTING A BUMP OR RUT IN THE ROAD. THIS VIOLENT SHAKING CONTINUES UNTIL THE SPEED IS REDUCED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10461542

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dash gauge and electrical system malfunction

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING

9 NHTSA complaints · 2011-04 → 2016-12

“ALL OF MY DASH GAUGES GO OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THERE WILL BE A BEEP AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL THE REST DO NOT REGISTER. THE CK ENGINE LIGHT WILL BE ON AND THE FUEL LIGHT. THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT GO DOWN, THE AC WILL NOT WORK, RADIO, AND NOW HEAD LIGHTS ARE BEING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10622639
“IT STARTED WITH THE LIGHTS TURNING OFF WHEN I HIT A BUMP. THE WHOLE JEEP WOULD GO DARK. INSTRUMENT PANEL, OVERHEAD LIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS, ALL OF THEM! THEN AFTER PARKING THE JEEP, DAY OR NIGHT, THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD GO OFF ALL BY ITSELF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10746163
“AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL GAUGES STOP WORKING-- PRESSING HARD ON THE FACE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER OR SMACKING THE TOP OF THE DASH RESTORES EVERYTHING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10640634

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light and non-deployment

AIR BAGS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2011-09 → 2021-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10919288
“TL* THE DRIVER OWNED A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED WHEN HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10423973
“GOT IN THE VEHICLE TO GO TO AN APPOINTMENT, AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, I NO LONGER HAVE CRUISE CONTROL, OR THE USE OF THE HORN. I WAS TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT THERE MAY BE A FUTURE RECALL ON THE CLOCKSPRING MECHANISM THAT CONTROLS THESE ITEMS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10721233

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Service brake pedal failure

SERVICE BRAKES

5 NHTSA complaints · 2013-06 → 2016-08

“DURING NORMAL DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROAD, BREAK PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ATTEMPTS MAKE TO PUMP BREAK WITH NO EFFECT. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED WITH NO EFFECT. VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO ROCK WALL AND THEN LANDED INTO A 10+ FOOT RAVINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10895469
“I THINK MY JEEP IS REMOTELY BUGGED SOMEHOW, ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND MY BRAKES WORK, ABS LIGHT GOES OUT AND MY BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND PEDAL GOES DOWN FURTHER LIKE I HAVE NO BRAKES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10759591
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES HESITATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10664643

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 8,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: SAE 0W-20 every 8,000 miles. Wrangler 392 6.4L HEMI: SAE 5W-20 every 8,000 miles. EcoDiesel 3.0L: 10,000 miles. 4xe plug-in hybrid: 8,000 miles or annually.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate tires every 8,000 miles. Wrangler with 33+ inch off-road tires: rotate every 5,000 miles to prevent uneven wear from solid axles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 8,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake every 8,000 miles. Wrangler and Gladiator pads wear faster than Grand Cherokee due to higher curb weight per axle.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Front Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Replace front differential fluid every 60,000 miles. Wrangler off-road use (water crossings, sand): inspect every 30,000 miles for water contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Rear axle fluid every 60,000 miles. Limited-slip differentials require Mopar friction modifier. Wrangler Rubicon with locking differentials: same schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 60,000 mi

Replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Mopar ATF+4 for NV3500 and NV245. Wrangler Rock-Trac: 60,000 mi normal, 30,000 mi with regular off-road use.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 2 years regardless of mileage. Wrangler off-road use accelerates moisture intake — annual fluid testing recommended.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid (ZF 8HP)

Every 60,000 mi

Severe service: ZF 8HP fluid every 60,000 miles. Normal: 120,000 miles. Use Mopar ATF+4 — never substitute.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Wrangler driven in dust or sand: inspect at every oil change and replace early.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: 16 spark plugs total, replace at 100,000 miles. Wrangler 392 6.4L HEMI: 16 plugs at 100,000 miles. EcoDiesel: glow plug inspection only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Mopar HOAT Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Mopar HOAT (purple) for gas engines: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Do not mix with green or orange coolants.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Compass: behind the glove box. Wrangler/Gladiator: optional cabin filter on later models only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

908 crashes 1990–2024

How the 908 occupant deaths break down

694

driver deaths

213

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

908

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1997 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

213

complaints mentioning a crash

18

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee reflects Jeep's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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