10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,412 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Jeep Cherokee electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Jeep Cherokee Owner Comments

problem #17

Jun 012000

Cherokee 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

All gauges and lights, including speedometer, on instrument panel quit working. Airbag light comes on. Intermittent failures.

- Marion, OH, USA

problem #16

Feb 052005

Cherokee

  • miles
I purchased a used 1998 Jeep Cherokee an the turn signals don't cut off after going around corners because the multifunction switch and clock spring are bad and the dealer said that I need to fix this because they have been known to short out and deploy the airbag while driving.

- Crossville , TN, USA

problem #15

Nov 032003

Cherokee

  • 126,000 miles
While driving at any speed most of the dashboard lights stop functioning. Also, air bag light comes on and stays on. After a few minutes everything will return to normal and work again. Dealer informed consumer that the wiring harness under dash needed to be replaced.

- Ridgway, CO, USA

problem #14

Aug 222003

Cherokee

  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Instrument panel does not work properly like the speedometer. Also, gasoline/oil pressure gauge are not working, and air bag light is on. Dealer notified.

- Washington, IL, USA

problem #13

Jul 192003

Cherokee 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
On going problem with several people I know including my son. Their 1998. 1999 Jeep Cherokee's while lose all instrument operation. At the same time the air bag light comes on. Failure may continue for a couple of minutes or several hours. The dealer says there is no reports of the problem and have found nothing wrong. My brother in law called this morning and gave me the same symptoms he is having with his Jeep. It seams to be a large scale problem. It may be temperature related but all that I know of are in Cherokee. My brother's is a 97, son's is a 98, one of his friends is A19 99 and my brother in law's is also a 99. Son's friends is also a 1998.

- West Valley City, UT, USA

problem #12

Nov 192002

(reported on)

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Recall for '97 xj's regarding gas gauge. '98 now having same problem.

- Fountain Valley, CA, USA

problem #11

Jun 012002

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Instrument cluster intermittent failure, allowed vehicle to overheat without warning cracking the engine block and cylinder head, air bag possibly affected.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #10

Apr 012002

Cherokee 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
When turning on headlights, consumer has to wiggle switch to get headlights to come on. Sometimes it takes a few minutes before headlights come on, vehicle has not been examined by dealer. Consumer states at times, the instrument panel cluster fails to activate upon starting the engine.

- Deerborn, MI, USA

problem #9

Apr 221999

Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
At 13,395 miles cluster gauge on dash went out. No way to tell how fast vehicle was going because instruments on dash stopped working. Consumer took vehicle to dealer. Dealer cleaned connectors/ added electro lights, and reconnected plugs. However, same problem reoccurred. Consumer felt there was problem with connector. Tsb 08298 deals with problems consumer is experiencing, however on the second failure, consumer was charged for repairs. Both inner front axle seals were replaced because they were leaking.

- Albuqueque, NM, USA

problem #8

Feb 282001

Cherokee

  • miles
I have had soooooo many factory repairs on this Jeep cherokke!!!! now that the warranty has run out (within 10 days) the electric window won't work....it's all one unit and so the motor and all the controlling devices have to be replaced. They have a plastic componment around the whole unit..and it breaks and so the whole unit must be replaced. Why put a piece of plastic over it, unless you hoped/planned it would break"????"

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #7

Jan 182001

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Front defrost has broken 4 times, dealer fix each time, cannot discover root of problem. Electrical system required 3 visits to dealer.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #6

Jun 012000

Cherokee

  • miles
Intermittently vehicle would lose its power to instruments panel, causing failure to all gauges and loss of air bag. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that this vehicle was not covered under a recall or considered a safety concern. Please feel free to provide any further details.

- Silverspring, MD, USA

problem #5

Jul 122000

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
While driving home the instrument panel quit working on our Jeep. As soon as this happened I contacted the dealer from my cell phone. On the way home it started to work again. Dealer said in order for them to look at it the panel could not be working call if it happened again. Second time the gas gauge quit and then started working again. The brakes make a funny noise and they have been replaced one time already. We have only had this Jeep for about 6 weeks the first two weeks it was in the shop.

- Cardington, OH, USA

problem #4

Apr 242000

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
All gauges stop working and airbag light comes on, dealer claims it's a dust issue with connectors.

- Northampton, PA, USA

problem #3

Jan 192000

Cherokee

  • miles
Speedometer/odometer and tachometer went out, and airbag light came on while driving. Consumer feels this is because of a faulty switch behind the dashboard.

- Hammond, LA, USA

problem #2

May 011999

Cherokee 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle caught fire behind the dash panel underneath the engine compartment. Problems with A/C units etc.

- Brook Park, OH, USA

problem #1

Apr 181998

Cherokee 4WD

  • miles
Instrument cluster module failed.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

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