VehicleVerdict

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission problems

The 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 461 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 34% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

461

Transmission complaints

34%

Share of year

126

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Grand Cherokee transmission complaints by model year473 complaints1989: 1 complaints1991: 1 complaints1992: 1 complaints1993: 120 complaints1994: 131 complaints1995: 280 complaints1996: 307 complaints1997: 292 complaints1998: 461 complaints1999: 464 complaints2000: 172 complaints2001: 109 complaints2002: 60 complaints2003: 37 complaints2004: 55 complaints2005: 256 complaints2006: 173 complaints2007: 196 complaints2008: 78 complaints2009: 23 complaints2010: 22 complaints2011: 90 complaints2012: 101 complaints2013: 54 complaints2014: 473 complaints2015: 350 complaints2016: 78 complaints2017: 87 complaints2018: 70 complaints2019: 44 complaints2020: 38 complaints2021: 55 complaints2022: 36 complaints2023: 35 complaints2024: 25 complaints2025: 9 complaints2026: 3 complaints
Grand Cherokee transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

02V053000TransmissionFebruary 15, 2002 · 1,620,000 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER HAS NOT PLACED THE SHIFTER LEVER FULLY INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AFTER SEEMING TO BE STABLE.

Consequence

INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY DETENT SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. DAIMLERCHRYSLER SENT INTERIM NOTICES TO OWNERS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM ON MARCH 22, 2002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

What owners report

“CONSUMER PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK IN DRIVEWAY. SHE STEPPED OUT AND WAS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED FORWARD DOWN DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER THEN JUMPED INTO VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO STOP IT, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO STEER IT AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND CHILDREN. BUT, IT WENT INTO A TREE WHICH…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 28, 2001 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?

NHTSA has 461 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission — 34% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 02V053000.

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.