VehicleVerdict

1998 Jeep Cherokee electrical system problems

The 1998 Jeep Cherokee has 49 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

49

Electrical System complaints

9%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Cherokee electrical system complaints by model year539 complaints1987: 5 complaints1988: 19 complaints1989: 16 complaints1990: 10 complaints1991: 11 complaints1992: 12 complaints1993: 40 complaints1994: 22 complaints1995: 49 complaints1996: 47 complaints1997: 31 complaints1998: 49 complaints1999: 34 complaints2000: 57 complaints2001: 22 complaints2006: 2 complaints2014: 539 complaints2015: 376 complaints2016: 325 complaints2017: 383 complaints2018: 206 complaints2019: 366 complaints2020: 35 complaints2021: 21 complaints2022: 8 complaints
Cherokee electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

08V056000Electrical SystemFebruary 6, 2008 · 107 units

Defect

U.S. DRIVE RIGHT IS RECALLING 107 MY 1994-1998 RIGHT HAND DRIVE, 4-WHEEL DRIVE JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, 'CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS;' NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT;' NO. 111, 'REARVIEW MIRROR;' NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION;' NO. 115, 'VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER;' NO. 118, 'POWER WINDOW SYSTEM;' NO. 120, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS;' NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION;' AND NO. 301, 'FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY.'

Consequence

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.

Remedy

U.S. DRIVE RIGHT WILL MAKE ALL THE REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS. A REPRESENTATIVE WILL TRAVEL TO THE CUSTOMER'S LOCATION AND MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS ON SITE. THE RECALL WILL BE PERFORMED ON A REGIONAL BASIS BEGINNING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT U.S. DRIVE RIGHT AT 1-888-632-5936.

What owners report

“HAD DRIVEN VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED. DID NOT SMELL ANYTHING AND HAD NO WARNING. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. AROUND 9:00 PM SMELLED SMOKE AND CHECKED VEHICLE. NOTICED VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. TRIED TO PUT FLAMES OUT AFTER CONTACTING FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FLAMES OUT, AND GAVE A POSSIBLE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · August 9, 2001 · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 1998 Jeep Cherokee have?

NHTSA has 49 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Cherokee electrical system — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1998 Jeep Cherokee electrical system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the electrical system: 08V056000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.