1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH · data through 07/14/2026

286Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch complaints

27.8%Of all 1,028 complaints

#1Most-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:park/neutral start interlock switch ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH286 · 27.8%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR87 · 8.5%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION67 · 6.5%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE50 · 4.9%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM42 · 4.1%

Share of the 1,028 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee overview page.

What owners report

“IDLING VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND RAN DOWN DRIVEWAY STRIKING A MAILBOX, JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO TREES IN NEIGHBOR'S LOT.”NHTSA complaint 705226 — filed 04/02/1999

“VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR FROM PARK INTO REVERSE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO TREE, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *NLM”NHTSA complaint 830402 — filed 11/09/1998

“TRUCK WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING ON A FLAT INCLINE, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND THE TRUCK ROLLED BACKWARD AND HIT…”NHTSA complaint 824400 — filed 06/17/1998

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

Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee have power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch is the most-reported problem area on the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 286 of 1,028 complaints on file (27.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

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

1,028 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 172 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 112 reported injuries, and 24 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH 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.