VehicleVerdict

1998 Jeep Wrangler engine problems

The 1998 Jeep Wrangler has 58 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

58

Engine complaints

14%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Wrangler engine complaints by model year378 complaints1987: 9 complaints1988: 8 complaints1989: 13 complaints1990: 11 complaints1991: 14 complaints1992: 8 complaints1993: 19 complaints1994: 29 complaints1995: 39 complaints1997: 122 complaints1998: 58 complaints1999: 53 complaints2000: 28 complaints2001: 26 complaints2002: 8 complaints2003: 7 complaints2004: 13 complaints2005: 40 complaints2006: 29 complaints2007: 62 complaints2008: 48 complaints2009: 23 complaints2010: 52 complaints2011: 42 complaints2012: 178 complaints2013: 144 complaints2014: 330 complaints2015: 128 complaints2016: 92 complaints2017: 62 complaints2018: 100 complaints2019: 46 complaints2020: 53 complaints2021: 212 complaints2022: 86 complaints2023: 96 complaints2024: 378 complaints2025: 22 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Wrangler engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN/INOPERATIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL.THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTHS, BUT DEALER…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1998 Jeep Wrangler have?

NHTSA has 58 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler engine — 14% 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.