1998 Jeep Wrangler: fire, smoke or burning smell

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 May 27, 2003 · Electrical · 83,000 miles · CA · fire

After parking our 1998 wrangler at the hospital to visit my mother my car was reported on fire. The firemen stated and wrote a report it was an electrical fire. The wrangler is totaled and the insurance company will not pay the vehicle off. We are short $3,000 of the pay off. My immediate concern is I was glad I was not driving at the time of the fire and did this happen to other owners of a wrangler. This car is only going into 5 years old and has had the rear end replaced at our expense and the gauges go on and off and this was fixed once. What caused this electrical fire? I want jeep to respond to why this happened.

Filed May 22, 2000 · Body · UT · fire

Under body fire on vehicle after driving unimproved road in brush. Debris packed into skid plate under transfer case and caught fire. Redesign of skid plate is necessary to prevent the fire situation.

Filed May 4, 1999 · Electrical · CA · fire

The jeep was brought into two different jeep dealers on three occasions for the same electricalproblems. On may 2, 1999 after being parked on the street for over 10 hours, the car caught on fire and was destroyed. The source of the fire according tot he

Filed Oct 27, 1998 · Fuel system · TX · fire

After the vehicle was parked in the garage for several hours the vehicle caught on fire within the engine compartment due to faulty fuel lines. Please give any further details.