1998 Jeep Cherokee Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026

25Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints

6.3%Of all 399 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR42 · 10.5%

AIR BAGS26 · 6.5%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION25 · 6.3%

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER18 · 4.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH17 · 4.3%

Share of the 399 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1998 Jeep Cherokee overview page.

What owners report

“TRANSMISSION GRINDS EXCESSIVELY FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.”NHTSA complaint 849733 — filed 10/04/1999

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Jeep Cherokee have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1998 Jeep Cherokee: 25 of 399 complaints on file (6.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1998 Jeep Cherokee have in total?

399 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 34 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 31 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.