VehicleVerdict

1998 Jeep Cherokee transmission problems

The 1998 Jeep Cherokee has 74 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 13% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

74

Transmission complaints

13%

Share of year

9

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Cherokee transmission complaints by model year1,461 complaints1985: 2 complaints1987: 4 complaints1988: 8 complaints1989: 9 complaints1990: 17 complaints1991: 14 complaints1992: 16 complaints1993: 50 complaints1994: 40 complaints1995: 48 complaints1996: 66 complaints1997: 51 complaints1998: 74 complaints1999: 58 complaints2000: 32 complaints2001: 24 complaints2006: 2 complaints2014: 1,461 complaints2015: 998 complaints2016: 626 complaints2017: 641 complaints2018: 289 complaints2019: 750 complaints2020: 139 complaints2021: 71 complaints2022: 22 complaints2023: 2 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Cherokee transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“MY VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IN PARK; WHILE IN PARK FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WENT FROM PARK TO REVERSE; VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A TREE. NOW MY TRUNK IS DAMAGED, AND MY POWER LOCKS DON'T WORK; IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION GOING ON WITH MY PARTICULAR BRAND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 10, 2001 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1998 Jeep Cherokee have?

NHTSA has 74 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Cherokee transmission — 13% of all complaints filed for that model year.

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.