1998 Jeep Wrangler electrical problems

Filed Apr 16, 2021 · Airbags, Electrical · MD

Airbag light come on and speedo and tach stops working. Vehicle has not been in an accident and this is occuring on numerous jeeps of this year. Why has there not been a recall? If something isn't done about this I will be getting a lot of jeep owners together and filing a class action lawsuit!! It is a serious safety problem. I just purchased the vehicle and after researching this its happening to the majority on this years wranglers

Filed Mar 7, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 124,000 miles · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 jeep wrangler. While driving at an unknown speed, the speedometer failed to display the speed intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

Filed Feb 23, 2015 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · WA

All of a sudden the speedometer and tachometer go dead, and the airbag and engine light come on. Seems to happen during the summer months. I have to hit the dash a couple of times and everything starts working again. Doesn't happen in the winter when it's cold. It's a little unnerving when the speedometer stops working.

Filed Dec 9, 2014 · Electrical · 125,000 miles · OK

I was driving and running the heater and noticed a burning smell. I immediately shut down the HVAC unit and smell subsided. I pulled the HVAC head unit out and had a vacuum line and it's insulation melted. This could have caused a fire. The heat and AC now only work on the highest setting.

Filed Dec 5, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 138,000 miles · WA

I have had numerous times that my gauges just stop working and then one day I went to drive it and I had no turn signals or brake lights. It is in the mechanic shop as we speak. They have found the electrical connector under the left side of the dash has completely melted and all the wires have fused together. I was very lucky that it didn't catch on fire. Now the other problem is finding the part my mechanic has tried everywhere to fin it. So now my jeep is just sitting in the shop going on three days now until a part can be found. Why is there no recall on this as I see on here and other sites that it is dangerous and many have had the same issues??

Filed Nov 26, 2011 · Electrical · 72,000 miles · KS · fire · 1 injury

Purchased my jeep new in 1998 and I only drove it about 5000 miles per year..in about 2009 I began to have some trouble with the gauges/speedometer..they would stop functioning for periods of time...in about 2010 I there was an odor coming from the vents when I used my heater or AC..each time I took it to the dealer where I purchased the vehicle and the last time I had it checked was the end of september 2011. On november 21, 2011 I was driving to the grocery store with the heater on and smoke started coming out of the vents..I turned off the heater & blower & then saw fire coming out from under the dash on the passenger side. I stopped & tried to put out the flames with my jacket. A lady stopped to help & called 911. While waiting for the fire department (just a few minutes) and I was sitting in the lady's car...I watched my jeep start moving to the right (even though the ignition was turned off & the jeep was in gear)...it went into a grass field, burst into flames and was a total loss. I only had minor burns on my fingers & hands (from trying to put out the fire). I am extremely upset!

Filed Jul 14, 2011 · Electrical · 75,000 miles · AR · fire

Ac controls and resistor wiring harness has melted cant get replacement parts from a dealer or salvage yards what am I supposed to do . I think the jeep wrangler needs to atleast make a replacement part or fix it on a recall.

Filed Mar 11, 2011 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · OR

Intermittently airbag light comes on RPM and speedometer gauges fail sometimes all gauges fail.... Sometimes when I honk my horn they "come back up"... This has been going on for years... Very dangerous because I do not know how fast I am going... Took it to the mechanic replaced my ignition switch...2 days ago and last night the problem appeared again.. Doesn't matter what speed I am going gauges will fail.

Filed Aug 20, 2009 · Airbags, Electrical · 29,250 miles · TN

Instrument cluster goes out - speedometer and tach, or all other gauges go out, airbag light comes on. Appears to be many documented cases of this same failure with the wiring harness/instrument cluster problem since 1998. Numerous service bulletins but no recalls! What can be done to prevent the problem and is there a recall for this?

Filed Aug 18, 2008 · Electrical · 70,600 miles · UT

Instrument cluster/gauges intermittently stop functioning while driving and the airbag light also comes on. There is no warning, just a shut down of all gauges. I have read several reports of this same problem occurring on this same year and model of wrangler. I have also read that the airbag will not function when this problem occurs. This appears to be a wide spread problem and a serious safety hazard. What would be the reason that there has been no recall to correct this?