It started with the lights turning off when I hit a bump. The whole jeep would go dark. Instrument panel, overhead lights, driving lights, all of them! Then after parking the jeep, day or night, the alarm system would go off all by itself. The door switches locking and unlocking while I was driving down the road. Then there was the radio that would turn on and off by itself. Then the windows decided to stop going up and down. When I would start the jeep the instrument panel gauges wouldn't move, turn on. So, I would turn off the jeep and restart it. Some of the gauges, would turn on but others, would not, like the fuel tank gage, speedometer gage. During the summer months, there would be a puddle of water on the passenger side floor board. I still to this day don't know what caused it to happen every day and each time it was turned on. Then there is the transmission and rear end that started having problems. It started to slip out of gear and the rear end made a noise. I had all the oil levels checked out, but still it would happen. I do recall getting a flyer in the mail, regarding a recall, but it also said that the dealer, did not have the parts to fix the problem. Why would you send out a flyer that you have no way of fixing because you can't get the part's? ! And are you even concerned about the worry you put me through? It became another reason to park the jeep. How could you do.this, to so many people? With all these strange things happening to the jeep, I had to do what was best for my safety, as well as, those who were on the road driving around me. I just couldn't live with myself, knowing that I could have cost someone or myself injury or death, by having the jeep on the road knowing it was having so many problems. It has now been close to three-years since the last time I drove it.
1998 Jeep Cherokee: headlights failing or too dim
11 of the 398 complaints about the 1998 Jeep Cherokee describe headlights failing or too dim.
- owner complaints
- 11
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- recalls
- 0
Headlights failing or too dim by model year
What owners say
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.*ak consumer states at times,the instrument panel cluster fails to activate upon starting the engine.
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 indication of an electrical short on driver's side, behind the headlights.
When driving the vehicle in the rain headlights get dim. Also, when consumer puts the heat on and when vehicle gets warm, headlights go dim.
While driving on the road at night headlights dimmed, and consumer was affected by the low lighting on the road.
Whenever the air conditioner is turned on, the head lamps would go dim. Have taken to dealer & problem could not be found. It only happens when air conditioner is in use. Taking vehicle to another dealer.
Headlights dim when air conditioning compressor cycles.
Headlight flicker constantly when defroster, A/C, heater are on causing poor visibility.
On hot days the front brakes lock up and would not release, causing linings to smoke. When the air conditioner is on, the compressor kicks in at night while driving with the headlights on. When filling the gas tank, the filler pipe makes a slurping sound, causing the gasoline to slush back and forth in the gas tank.
Headlights flicker when defroster is on. Dealer claims this is normal operation.
When rolling window on both driver's and passenger's sides, mounting will roll under the window. Also when running defroster, headlights will begin to flicker and begin to dim or brighten up intermittently. Dealer claims this normal.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 1998 Jeep Cherokee headlights
Is headlights failing or too dim a common problem on the 1998 Jeep Cherokee?
11 of 398 owner complaints about the 1998 Jeep Cherokee (3%) mention headlights failing or too dim. The model year with the most reports is 2015.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1998 Jeep Cherokee?
There are 0 recalls and 2 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1998 Jeep Cherokee
Airbag light 28Fuel gauge 25Stalling 13No deployment 8Brake failure 7Slipping 6Tire blowout 6Grinding brakes 5Fuel pump 5Loss of power 5
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