1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 893 | 1,028 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 92 | 90 |
| Investigations | 8 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 135 | 172 |
| Fire reports | 23 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–16 | 13–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 134,000 mi | 105,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 280 | 426 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 105 | 152 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 102 | 99 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 88 | 69 |
| Structure | 85 | 68 |
| Electrical System | 65 | 60 |
| Steering | 67 | 40 |
| Suspension | 50 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 79 | 98 |
| Vibration / shaking | 33 | 48 |
| Rust / corrosion | 31 | 21 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 10 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 7 |
| Steering problems | 9 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 0 |
| Overheating | 7 | 0 |
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Compare all Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Jeep Grand Cherokee years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.