Used 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Consumer Reviews
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I love my Jeep!
I was a little leary of buying a used car, but I have had nothing but great experiences with my Jeep Cherokee. I love the way it handles on the road, the space my family has when traveling, and the extras it has. The only downs I have experienced are not great gas mileage, and it is a little too boxy for me (making it hard to dry when hand- washing it). Other than that, I love this vehicle!
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
Car has run strong all the way up to it's current 98,000 miles, even with aftermarket performance parts whose added power puts more strain on the drivetrain. Car has also been off- roaded a couple times and has had no repurcussions as result. Brakes seem underpowered and no improvement kits are offered in the aftermarket. Only major problems have been that the rear- axle had a serious malfunction at 70,000 miles and had to be replaced. Also, the seat warmers broke after just four years of sparse use. All said a well made and reliable vehicle.
- Laredo 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,500720 mi away
- TSi 4dr SUVMSRP: $2,999785 mi away
- Special Edition 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,995999 mi away
Dave's review
A fun vehicle to drive. Can go anywhere. I have over 130,000 miles on this one. With only routine maintenance expense
Back yard plant holder!
I have had other Jeeps out there and this one is the first one that ever fell apart so fast out of the three. Unlike other Jeeps I had I don't trust the 4by system in this Jeep. It came with a Select Trac that does get me stuck at times unless you like to creep in low! The ABS light comes one with long trips resulting in a loss of power brakes and steering! It does have it's up and downs and right now it's and an all time low. I would probally have gave this Jeep a better rating if I had bought it brand new. I bought it 4 yrs old w/ 100k! I will say this truck has tried to hold up with me. I've put 25k in 9 months until it died!
Best Vehicle I Ever Bought
This SUV was a gem. Not a single problem until 100,000 miles and that was only minor. Very capable off-road performance as well.
Good Buy
The only problem I have had is the AC, which was killed due to Florida heat. The seats are soft and the interior design is done well. The 4x4 works great. I bought it new and plan to buy another Jeep.
Unreliable
We hit lots and lots of problems nearibg 100k. Had to replace alternator, radiator, faulty wiring, brakes and then the big one...transmission. Mechanic said he would go out of business if it wasn't for Chrysler transmissions. Think again if you're looking for a used SUV.
ok for in city
I bought my Grand Cherokee when I was in college and thought the world of it. It has gotten me through some big snow storms -- I live in Minnesota, land of the cold and snow. One good thing so far is that I have not had to replace the battery and the Jeep is 7 years old, but I also have a block heater in it. I have been in 2 accidents with the Jeep, one I just nipped a car trying to do a tight parking, good thing -- not a scratch on the jeep; bad thing -- it did a lot of damage to the other car. The second accident was on the highway; busy one at that. The whole front of the Jeep had to be replaced. It was hit from the side too but the side didn't have a scratch on it.
I love my Jeep
I will never drive or own another type of vehicle. I have a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with the 5.2L V-8, and Quadra- Trac. I drive it hard both on and off- road, and it has never given me any problems. The Quadra-Trac fulltime 4wd system claws to snowy and icey roads like a wounded animal, and I highly reccomend it for people who live in that type of climate. Off-road is where this Jeep really shines, I have been places in this Jeep that I never thought it could or should be able to go, and even after an unmerciful flogging on the trail, the Jeep ready for more. Like I said before, I will never drive anything other than a Jeep.
Best vehicle I have ever owned
I purchased this vehicle for its style and functionality. I am a Photographer and Videographer. I needed a vehicle where I can carry my equipment without tearing up the interior of my vehicle. This vehicle has never been to dealership for any major repair other factory recalls. Easy to work on myself. I do my own oil changes,change belts, hoses,brakes,shocks,and tuneups. It has been very reliable and joy to drive. I can go pretty much wherever a 4 wheel drive vehicle can go. I travel to great Northwest up to Canada and back. I would never buy anything else but another Jeep.There is no equal
tsi jeep cherokee
good reliable vehicle,stops at every gas station.gets around great in snow and ice rear wiper has never worked properly.
Elect. Horrors
sun roof drains right unto fuse box of 5.9; causing horrendous electrical problems! dealer will not honor extended zero deductible warranty and I bought there!
a big fat brick
deffinatly the best 4x4 there is, have done immensly stupid stunts and have gone without a stratch or dent or any damage. But buying it, i didnt know the axels where F'd up so after the dealer wanting $2700 to fix, and not releasing the vehicle to me over a huge mess, i finaly got it down to my REAL mechanic and he fixed it for a mear $500 loosly rounded off. Also with 98,000 miles on it, it needed a new water pump. But new growing fears of the Tranny are making me nervious ill end up like the other 3 guys i know who had the problem, but the review i read on A4's arent good, nor any other AWD car, so any advice would be useful.
tom'sjeep
I find the Jeep fun to drive even on long trips( we've been coast to coast twice in it).
ConsumerReportsWasRight
I wish I had read Consumer Reports Before I bought my 98 Jeep...it's a troublesome vehicle...in the shop more than out. I bought it new, and within the first year I had replaced the sunroof, differencial, and brakes. Since then it's cost an average of $800 per year in maintenance "above" fair wear and tear to keep in on the road. I (and the Jeep dealer) can't get it to hold a tune-up, and therefore won't run right (cylinder misfiring issues every year) and needs air conditioning maintanence (not servicing) annually. MY ADVICE - DON'T BUY ONE!
Great Jeep
I Just purchased My 98 however I did have to rebuild the tranny, the previous owner neglected the tranny fluid and fried everything However since then I Love it no problems as of yet dont expect any.
Not bad for a Jeep
Other than the fact that it's a pure gas hog, I love this vehicle. I average about 13 or 14 mpg in the city and about 18 or 19 mpg on the highway. There's plenty of storage, which is nice, and the factory stereo system was so good that I kept it. That's a first for me. Usually, the first thing I do is yank out the factory stereo and pop in a high-powered sound machine. It's also very fun to drive. As far as comfort though, it's not the best car. It's a little cramped for me, plus the steering wheel is a little hard to turn. Other than that, it's fine.
Not too bad
I had a 96 and thought I would get another.Replaced waterpump, sway barlinks replaced 3 times and front end still clunks. It has great power 5.2 litre. I am thinking of getting rid of it with 74000 miles. I had electrical go out a few times also. An thinking of an expedition or tahoe. Need something larger.
JEEP?? or CHEEP??
I dont usually buy Domestic, and now I know why... While generally reliable, the gas mileage is poor,I am now inundated with repairs,9 At 105,000..and the fit out and comfort is not nearly as nice as the competitors at Toyota,or Nissan. IF I had to o it over again, the extra 5k for the Import is well worth it.
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Rocks!
I inherited this loved vehicle, it sat unused over a year. All it's needed is regular oil changes, brake pads, new tires,a battery, except for a inside door handle that broke, 125.00 est.repair.Use Jeep brake pads, others don't s fit right. Runs like a CHARM, very comfortable,fun to drive, great manueverability. Never taken off road. Towed a small uhaul once,great results. Like more rear space, my prefered cars vans,trucks, but sold other car to keep this one liked it so much. Only complaint is in putting the rear seats down you have to move the front seats up, could have been better design. And is this car RELIABLE, you betcha WOW!!!!
quality SUV
I have had great success with this SUV. Limited repair work and very reliable.
My so-so Jeep Cherokee
I've had my Jeep for over a year now, bought it with about 46,000 miles on it. I've had to replace my sway bar links, had to have a my exhaust manifold fixed, seal on the sunroof, replaced the drivers seat (heater didn't work) and have had to replace several speakers twice. Poor speakers for the quality of the stereo. Now while driving if I hit a bump the wrong way, my steering wheel goes crazy and I have to hold on for dear life until it decides to stop, haven't figured out what this problem is but I hope soon otherwise I may end up in a ditch because you can't stop the SUV while the steering wheel is shaking uncontrolably.
I LIKE IT
THE 5.9 IS VERY TORKY IT REVS ONLY 4500RPM. IF IT COULD WIND UP A LITTLE MORE IT WOULD BE A HOT ROD. eVERY THING WORKS GOOD I HAVE AN ACURA LEGEND WITH 52000 MILES AND I WOULD TAKE THE JEEP.
Grand Cherokee not for me!
Buyers beware of problems with drivetrain. Transmission hesitates in reverse, and suddenly upshifts/downshifts from 2nd to 3rd (always has since 45000 miles). Also, bearings in differential are prone to go bad - apparently this is a common problem according to local dealer - manufacturing tolerances were too tight. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. Chrysler really should do something about their problematic transmissions. I hate to say this, since I enjoyed the Wrangler that I previously owned, but it had a manual tranny, instead of automatic. I'm now lookind at Toyota 4runners, based on their good history.
A Comfortable SUV
Overall, I have greatly enjoyed my 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee. There are a few annoyances, but it has been fairly reliable and it is extremely comfortable.
Like a member of the family
We bought this Jeep for the wife and kid, used it for a year and then #2 showed up, so we went to a minivan. That's when I took over. This truck has been used for beach driving, mountain 4-wheeling, daily commuter and at one point I used it for carpentry work and it was loaded down with a compressor, saws, nail guns, etc. I've carried 6x6s from Home Depot in it, 10 sheets of plywood on the roof; this truck just won't stop. Gas mileage is now getting to me, but I just can't let go of it, it's like family. Change the oil, keep it clean and it will run forever.
I like Jeeps
This is my 2nd jeep. I bought is used with 30k miles. I have had to replace the water pump, power steering pump, brakes, radiator. I love my car but the repairs bother me. I have 100,500K now and have to consider the next car I will buy. I feel very safe in this Jeep on the highway. I feel if I was hit I would stand a chance of living and this is what separates the Jeep from the Jeep wannabes.
Jeep
I love my Jjeep - as a college student I need a reliable car with lots of space to move my stuff up and back. This gives me all of that with a nice interior and all the features I could want.
this is a tough vehicle
I'm the 2nd owner. Overall a good vehicle. The only major issue has been front and rear axle bearings; also ABS is touchy. The performance of the Jeep has more than made up for its mechanical shortcomings. This thing is a beast in the mud and snow. I've taken it into some very sticky situations and it has never let me down. Also, it was rear-ended by a 2001 Jimmy. It came out with relatively minor damage, while the Jimmy was trashed. I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a vehicle that will stand up to its reputation: a bit quirky mechanically, but great off road.
steady and reliable
My '98 had 2 miles when I first sat in it; it now has 131k. I have not put a penny into engine work yet and she still starts on the first try. I am just this year being plagued by some undercarriage rusting and mechanical difficulties. This has been by far the most steady and reliable car I've ever owned. I cringe at the thought of selling her.
Reliable once bugs are fixed
Spent money on fixing brake system ($1000), cooling system ($500) and electric wiring system ($300) first 4 years, but it was due to poor maintenance. I have everything fixed and it's been driving well.
My Jeep
I recently bought my Jeep at the beginning of 2006 and what can I say about it besides it is unstoppable! Theres nothing this Jeep hasn't seen and been through that I'm sure that other SUV's couldn't have gone through. This is the best vehicle I have ever owned and I would buy another if I see another in the near future that I want.
Crim's Jeep
Bought this Jeep in March of this year with 184k miles on it. Great in rain or snow. Very good brakes for size of vehicle. I love being able to stop it on a dime. So far reliable. Recomend this year to anyone
Transmission
I really like my Jeep. It is roomy and a good solid ride. The only problem that I have is when shifting from reverse to drive it takes about 2 seconds for the transmission to engage. If you forget to wait the motor races and it slams into gear.
Satisfied
Great SUV love it. Comfortable realiable and powerful even with I-6. Unstoppable in winter and off-road situations.
Mommy vehicle
I love my jeep. It has been a great car. No problems until 120,000 miles. Had to replace Transmission at 130,000. Brakes now are replaced every other year. Radiator blew at 155,000 and just lost my steering pump. Would buy another. lost the A/C at 125,000 and still problematic.
It's a Monster.
173,000 miles and still going strong. I can't say enough good about it. The 5.9ci v8 is an absolute monster. End of.
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stay away from jeeps
stay away from grand cherokee's. They are unreliable and porly built
98 Grand Cherokee is grrreeat!
Well, I have owned this vehicle for a little over a year it has been wonderful. I have had little to no problems. It is essential for driving in snow. Particularly in the wondrous Rocky's in Aspen, Colorado. I would also say any logical person after some dope in snowy conditions would be perfectly fine traveling in the up coming snow shower. (not even a snow storm(lots of emphasis on shower)).
Premature Failures
33000 miles- The fuel pump failed. 35000 miles- The power steering pump failed. 46000 miles the sway bar disconnected. 52000 miles the IPS sensor failed. 70000 miles the tramsmision pump and torque converter failed. The remote control memory, door locks, power mirrors and seat controls have failed roughly 4 times. What really got me is when the repair facility was familiar with the failure mode each time. You mean it's normal to loose a fuel pump at 33,000 miles? Oh, and the "certified" service department local to me is a joke. 3 transmission repairs, and 2 of them returned a vehicle with loose transfer case bolts?
beast
electrical gremblins, heater a/c fan works only when it wants to. Im a big guy 6'2" and driving it is hell so I gave it to my wife and drive a 98 Lumina.
It's true Virginia, 5 stars are a myth
Dealership incompetence and arrogance made a bad braking situation into a safety nightmare -with unpredictable failure of braking power twice narrowly escaping hitting a pedestrian. All the while over 9 months dealership claimed an inability to duplicate problem. The customer is stupid-- stupid. Finally the chip assembly for ABS was grudgingly replaced and problem resolved. Vehicle was essentially out of service for over 9 months due to fear of killing someone. This - from a five star dealer! Three years later I'm still furious at the lousy treatment.
168K -One owner
This is the 4WD, 4.0L straight six. Performed well and reliably since I bought new, and I have taken it off-road a few times. I believe in preventive maintenance. It has served me well with this truck. The only premature failure was the power steering pump at 86K ($500). Other issues - rear output speed sensor @103K, harmonic balance wheel @ 116K, steering damper & cat converter @121K. Exhaust manifold leak at 140K. Transmission was rebuilt at 152K and transfer case rebuilt at 168K, but these repairs are to be expected. I may keep this to 250K miles or more.
Wonderful Jeep
I have enjoyed ownership of my 1998 Grand Cherokee. It has a wonderful ride. The seats are as comfortable as a recliner. It has been almost problem- free. The cost of ownership has been approximately $250 above the purchase price and maintenance. Fuel economy has been 15/24 mpg with an average highway mileage of 22.5 mpg. This is my second Cherokee. I plan to purchase another soon.
miss transgender 98 Grand Cherokee.
i've had the vehicle 2 months and its one of the best things i've ever bought my self ever comfort is great i replaced the factory sound system am fm cassette to a nice cd system replace all speaker and added two on the dash i added a full dvd system i wash and wax here ever day got a closed in car port for her to sleep at night this is one slam up jeep i've got the 4.0 straight six lots of power and torque ever thing power in her rear pop up glass factory alloy wheels she great she my girl.
All conquering 5.9
215,000+ miles and no smoke, no oil consumption. Still can out accelerate 90% of the cars /trucks off a light to 40mph. Only problem is its a pig gas consumption wise similar to a big block; 12 - 15 the latter if you are lucky.
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Please stay away!
Stay away from this vehicle. Wonderful lemon.