1998 Jeep TJ sport from North America - Comments

Radiator fell apart, inside door latches broke leaving you unable to get out of jeep, rubber hood latches broke causing passing vehicle wind gusts to bend hood, gauges go dead, fuel gauge sometimes dosent work, O2 sensor failed, blower motor relay issues causing melted wiring, seat belts won't retract so they get stuck in door constantly.

Yes it's a jeep I realize. Once a indestructible American Icon, now an American joke. never intended to ride nice or be quiet, nor were the other 5 I've owned. What has Chrysler done to the Jeep name? To think your supposed to trust this thing miles away from help or civilization? not a chance, the buzzards would pick your bones clean before you got out. great car if you like a good project and like being broke.

Update, POS dana 35 blew apart destroying carrier bearings and spider gears.

Dana35 is an OK rear end if you run tires no bigger than 31"

If you was running 33's or 35's that's the reason you had rear end problems.

I'm a fan of Jeep, but no Chrysler fan (I think they have cheapened the make) - even so - this sounds like an abused Jeep to me.

Jeep always stood for just essential equipable parts, so maybe if you lower your expectations a little you wouldn't be so disappointed. It's not like we are talking about a $100,000 custom 4x4 here.

I own a 1998 Jeep TJ 4.0 Sport, and it is probably bang for my buck the best factory built 4x4 I have ever driven. Of course it has problems too, some of which you have mentioned like the seat belts and the oxygen sensor, but including the tires I have $7500 into it and it doesn't skip a beat for me.

And to the remark about the quality going down hill PLEASE! My grandpa owned a few Jeeps in his time, some of which I worked on and 4 wheeled in, his last being a J20 and if my memory serves me correctly it had a Dodge tranny, Ford ignition, new process transfer case and corprate diffs. Still they have new process t-case, the axles are stronger now than the 2 piece garbage in the cj's, the leaf spring suspension of old can't hold a candle to the TJ suspension, and if you broke your centre section, perhaps you should upgrade your diffs to dana 44; the 35's and 30's are meant for driving on a plowed road to the ski hill or picking up some groceries in the snow.

23:02

I would take an AMC designed YJ to the Chrysler designed TJ any day.

I've owned both, and the Chrysler designed Jeeps, while more "civilized", simply are not as well-built, nor as reliable as the older Jeeps. Sorry.

The YJ, although slightly more stout, has older technology, and the suspension has to be modified to have any travel at all, so if you don't have a locker in at least the rear axle, it is a true 2 wheel drive.

And this whole thing about Chrysler vs AMC is baseless really considering 2 things.

#1 Chrysler has been selling parts to AMC forever

#2 Chrysler has owned AMC since 1987, and I remember some pretty weak setups before 87.

AMC was purchased by Chrysler, but has remained its own division bringing expertise from AMC to the Chrysler name.

If strength is the name of the game, then the YJ wins over the base TJ, however, the Rubicon TJ is another story all together. The suspension of the TJ is far superior and allows the driver to not have to hit things so hard, in turn not putting so much stress on the weak points of the system.

The YJ is stronger but it has to be otherwise it would break parts all day long. Hands down the Rubicon TJ is better and stronger than any stock YJ on earth.

"Hands down the Rubicon TJ is better and stronger than any stock YJ on earth."

Sure, with Chrysler's VooDoo electronics and a dash that looks like it came out of a Caravan.

Have you looked at any of the big 3 interiors lately, they all look like some bad rave party experiment, and the electrical system malfunctions are usually just a simple ground problem. Source, ground, connections. If you really think we should go back in time to old analog switching and basic electronics, then you could always strip a TJ and put in the old AMC stuff.

"all the big 3 Interiors look like some bad rave party experiment"

What company isn't loving euro these days. I'm tired of seeing little micro machine cars with flimsy plastic crap hanging off everywhere. Smart car what?

10:08

I would rather just find a nice YJ.