Airbag light stays on while driving and the tachometer/ speedometer dropped to zero... All other gauges display properly and I had no power loss.....it was really tense because I did not know how fast I was going down the freeway.... I cannot get this repaired because there is not a code to check (check engine light does not come on) this has happen 5 times since october 2007.... After researching I found that I am not the only one having this problem.....
1998 Jeep Wrangler electrical complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 58, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Many problems with this vehicle. Water pump leaked - fixed under warranty, gas tank seal leaked - fixed under warranty, seats ripped - fixed under warranty, suction cup marks on window - fixed under warranty, front stabilizer shock leaked - fixed under warranty, rear window seal leaked - repaired under warranty two times and still leaks, instrument panel fails - out of warranty not repaired, radiator failed - out of warranty fixed at my cost, stabilizer arm failed both sides twice - fixed under warranty once and the out of warranty fixed at my cost, exhaust manifold failed - out of warranty - fixed at my cost, clutch fork failed - out of warranty fixed at my cost, leak under the dash board passenger side - fixed under warranty. Of all the problems above... Loss of instrument panel needs to be fixed by the manufacturer regardless of in or out of warranty. Loss of gauges is a driving distraction and can result in an accident. Jeep needs to address this manufacturing defect as long as this vehicle is on the road.
Several times the dash cluster quits working and air bag lights come on. Have heard of several other owners having same problem.
Since 1999 gauges dropped off intermittently , sometimes when hitting a bump, other times on its own. Tachometer and speedometer dropped to zero, airbag light came on. Sometimes stopping and restarting engine corrected the problem. Very sporadic when it happened. Also, lose mileage indicator. Seen so many complaints now from consumers, not to mention air bag non-deployment complaints. Multiple chrysler dealerships knew this was a common problem, but didn't seem to care. Why is this not a recall issue?? Will my airbag work? I didn't want to die to find out!!
Air bag warning light come on and all dash instruments and gauges fail to function.
My gauges on the dashboard consistently go to "0" while driving my 1998 jeep wrangler. My speedometer,tachometer, battery status, oil, and engine temp all go to the left and the red airbag light comes on. This especially occurs while driving over bumps. It is a huge safety concern because I never know how fast I am going, when I need gas, or if my air bag will deploy in my face or if it will deploy in the event of an accident. There have been so many other reports concerning this same issue that it is incumbent on the government or jeep/chrysler to rectify this situation!
When cold or damp or raining and with light throttle the engine stumbles/shuts off. The tachometer and speedometer register nothing. This is very frightening when amidst heavy traffic at 55 or 65 MPH. I searched the web and found other instances of the same problem, but no recall??? And no cure??? For this very unsafe condition.
The air bag light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. The interior gauges for the dashboard lights appeared on and remained on as well. The gasoline gauge and the speedometer were inoperable. This caused poor visibility to the driver. The consumer drove to the dealer and after inspecting the vehicle, the mechanic informed the consumer that the dashboard panel needed to be replaced and the clock spring for the air bag. Please provide additional information.
I own a 1998 jeep wrangler VIN number [xxx] I purchased new on apr 10, 1998 since feb. 1, 2003 the instrument panel has off and on not been working properly . This included all the gauges and air bag indicator. I have take my vehicle to a authorized dealer service shop for repair on 2-6-2003, 10-16-2003 and 5-19-2004. The first two times they said the the instrument panel had corrosion and they sprayed it. The last time they said it was to much corrosion and that I had to pay for replaceing it about $900.00 this vehicle as of this date has only 16076 miles on it. This is very dangerous because I have driven this vehicle when instructment and air bag indicator has stop working.*ak updated 07/25/2012 * js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
My 1998 jeep tj was purchased used in 2004 with only 47,000 miles. Ran great for about 5 months and then would die while driving at any given time. Then after sitting for 30mins would start back up and could be driven about 40 miles before it shut down again. No check engine light would come on. So distcap. Plugs, wires, rotor and ignition coil were changed and the problem persisited with intermitten problems. So a obii handheld scanner by innova was purchased to scan the system which finally caught a code in the jeep. The code was p0352 which was a result of the pick up coil inside the distributor going out. Was purchase from the dealer. Part# 56041030. Cost in ca is $57.85. Was changed and runs great however the jeep is now having new problems which have to be addressed and trouble shot. Hope this helps with the erractic itermitten ignition problems. Oh and to test the coil to see if it is bad you need a volt meter and set it to check resistance. The resistance from primary terminals to the high tension terminal should be 11.3 to 15.3 ohms on a diamond brand and 11.3 to 13.3 on a toyodenso brand. And when checking from primary to the other primary it should be 0.97 to 1.18 ohms on diamond and 0.95 to 1.20 ohms on a toyodenso brand. The primary is where the two wire connector from the harness plugs into.
Vehicle was experiencing an erratic instrument cluster, and air bag light operation. Intermittently while driving instrument cluster, speedometer and tachometer rolled back to zero, and the air bag warning light came on. Also, at 82,000 miles left turn signal engaged when the brake pedal was depressed, and at 78,000 miles when driver's side door was opened while the truck was still running the defroster light came on. Dealership had not been contacted. *ak consumer took vehicle to two jeep dealers and said that they're aware of the problem and many customers have experienced the same problem. Also, they said that it was a defective electrical connector.
While driving at any speed operating instruments on the dashboard do not work. Also, air bag warning light stays on all the time, and speedometer is inoperable. Manufacturer and dealer had been informed of the problem.*ak while this condition persist the odometer does not record mileage and the air bags may be inoperative in a crash.
1998 jeep wrangler, 4.0l. These two issues are on service bulletins, but should be recalls. The first issue occurred as my wife was driving when the valve springs snapped, stopping the car in the middle of the interstate. Discussed in detail on service bulletin 182298, initially issued before I even purchased my car. It was very frustrating to find out that jeep was aware of such a dangerous issue and did nothing to prevent such failures from occurring. The second is a very widespread and documented problem when the main instrument cluster spontaneously stops working, including the speedometer, odometer, air bag indicator, fuel gage, oil gage, etc... Discussed on service bulletins, 081599 I believe. You cannot tell your speed, how much gas you have, etc... Another implication is that the odometer is incorrect on many jeeps.
Consumer stated the fuel tank had a cracked which caused fluid to leak out. The dealer was notified. *ak the fuel tank had leaked since the owner purchased the vehicle at 39k miles. The fuel tank overflowed when filled in hot weather. Both the fuel tank nut replacement tank were difficult to obtain due to shortage. The tachometer and speedometer had become inoperative. The service dealer found a poor connection behind the cluster. The throttle sensor did not have a good seal in which moisture had gotten into it. The fuel tank corroded badly and the new tank nut was useless. The consumer replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, and the gas tank. The consumer requested reimbursement. *scc also the water pump serpentine belt, and battery were replaced.
Electrical system failure.
Periodically the dashboard gauges cut out and do not function. At the same time the air bag light goes on. Per discussion with a dealer, if the airbag light is on the airbag will not properly function.
Dashboard instrument panel failure.
1998 jeep wrangler 4.0l, exhaust manifold crack at 30,000 miles. Jeep/chrysler refused to fix, stating only catalytic converter covered under warranty. Crack occurred in a weld joining the two pipe, almost 3/4 of the way around the pipe, causing cosiderable noise, and loss of power. Guages fail periodically, but come back on there own, after a few minutes. Air conditioner drains onto floor inside vehicle on long drives and can even short out the radio. The steering column also sqeals like an old door when its cold outside.
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.
Instrument panel gauges and lights go off intermittently when using turn signal. Blower power failed altogether (mechanic found burned out wiring harness under dashboard.) air conditioner failed --evaporator and compressor. Water leaks on passenger side from front windshield (windshield was replaced twice at dealer but failed to fix problem.) rear center break light wire failed. Hood latch broke off.
I have had numerous problems with my jeep wrangler 1998. This is a partial list I sent to chrysler: I bought my jeep with just 3600 miles on it from a dealer in 1999. From day one I started experiencing problems. Many of them I returned to the service department. Some they were able to fix, others, after many return trips, they were 'unable to duplicate the problem'. 1. Gauges would stop working while driving - I brought the vehicle in 5 times before they were able to duplicate and finally fix the problem. 2. This was also true of the blinkers that not always worked - or worked all at the same time. 3. My hazards still do not work every time. 4. The air conditioner goes out when driving,very uncomfortable when it is hot and raining. 5. The sound bar has never worked properly - first it would only come in some times - now never. 6. Headers are cracked - bad. They have been welded several times. When I went to have them welded it was found they were welded before my purchase - at 3600 mil! They are still cracked, welding does not hold. I can not get anyone to replace them because even exhaust specialists say it is too cumbersome. The dealer charges way more than I have considering the number of repairs and the price of gas - at 12 mpg. 7. Drivers seat belt locks tightly with any amount of pressure on the brakes - it has now gotten to the point it locks just while driving. 8. Windows - the zippers broke almost immediately - I paid alot to have these replaced. The back window now has a cut in it and is very difficult to see through. 9. The top has never quite fit right; it has always leaked and been extremely noisy - more so than anyone else's that I know. It has also come apart at the seams. The dealership has not been of any help. They wanted to charge outrageous amounts just for diagnostics, even when I had the best warranty. I've also had problems with the door molding coming out immediately, grinding in the steering wheel, grinding while trying to put it in reverse and more.
Wiring harness for dash, both hazard-blinker-headlights, burning plastic smell, could not locate, ended with smoke rolling out of steering column when when we started the engine, luckily, we pulled the fuse that powered it out of fuse box to enable us to return home--70 miles away, with no lights, blinkers, etc. Called dealer, wanted $400.00+ to look at it, and asked about the erratic dash odometer activity. We took it to a local repair shop, and was told that it would have damaged the complete electrical system in dash had we not removed the power to the harness. Melted harness nearly completely. Erratic gauge operation still a problem, if you hit a bump they come back on. They still want 400+ dollars to look at it at the dealer. This is only one of many problems (converter replaced by dealer 2 times already in 1 and half year, brakes don't engage properly-had brake lines checked repeatedly, etc). Ts
I want jeep to issue a recall on this dangerous problem, not charge me 400.00 to fix it. No safety defect listed.
All dash gauges are malfunctioning, including speedometer and tackometer, causing engine to cut off.
Problem 1: instrument panel shuts down and airbag light comes on. Problem 2: when turning the steering wheel it makes a sqeaking or grinding like noise.
No gauges are working and air bag light comes on contacted dealer said they had the same problem with three other jeeps already!
Airbag light intermittently is illuminated on dash, causing all gauges to return to zero while driving. Dealer has been contacted. *ak dealer can not duplicate problem, they say the fix a ground wire, however the problem never is corrected, this usually happens when starting up and usually lasts about 10-45 seconds.
As I have read mentioned by others at this website, about a year after I bought the jeep, my dash gauges would go down to zero and the airbag light would go on. This problem is a winter and wet-whether related problem. If I pound on the dashboard with my fist, sometimes the gauges will recover temporarily. If they do recover, they almost immediately go back down to zero. I spoke with a dealership about the problem. They acted surprised. I see from other peoples comments that their are numerous other occasions of this problem. I thought I was alone with this problem until earlier today when a mechanic friend of a friend mentioned someone else with the 1998 jeep wrangler has the exact same problem. I need a response from the government. Has there been a recall issued on this? I have also had my catalytic converter "crumble to pieces" according to a local garage. He seemd to think that there was a recall on the catalytic converters. I am at a loss as to how to find out if there indeed has been a recall. Please contact me.
Since date of purchase instrument panel becomes inoperable, and airbag light comes on intermittently. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further details.
Failure of instrument cluster (dealer says due to faulty design of harness. Manufacturer has noticed and redesigned for new vehicles, service bulletin issued by manufacturer. However, since my vehicle is out of warrenty (>3yrs ownership) I will have to pay for replacement of wiring harness (despite fact that manufacturer has admitted harness failure was due to improper design) - I am not very happy about this and intend to follow-up.
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