NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
108 reportsMileage unknown · Feb 28, 2022
StructureSuspension
Frame is rotted out. Vehicle is well maintained and it is upsetting. After spending good money for a reputable brand, the frame did not last. It is not drivable and is unsafe to be on the road. It is not safe to travel with my family. Everyone I know that has these years wrangler TJ model has this problem. Lower and upper contr…
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Frame is rotted out. Vehicle is well maintained and it is upsetting. After spending good money for a reputable brand, the frame did not last. It is not drivable and is unsafe to be on the road. It is not safe to travel with my family. Everyone I know that has these years wrangler TJ model has this problem. Lower and upper control arms need to be welded back because they rotted off.
NHTSA ODI #11454402
148,868 miles · Mar 25, 2021
SteeringStructureSuspension
PURCHASED A 2002 JEEP FROM TWIN RIVERS AUTO SALES, I DID NOT RECEIVE A VEHICLE DISCLOSURE REPORT AND IT WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A CONTROL ARM BRACKET THAT WAS DAMAGED WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRAME WHICH MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO FRAME WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE OTHER'AND MYSELF EXTREME HARM OR DEATH. I W…
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PURCHASED A 2002 JEEP FROM TWIN RIVERS AUTO SALES, I DID NOT RECEIVE A VEHICLE DISCLOSURE REPORT AND IT WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A CONTROL ARM BRACKET THAT WAS DAMAGED WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRAME WHICH MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO FRAME WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE OTHER'AND MYSELF EXTREME HARM OR DEATH. I WAS NOT INFORMED OF ANY PROBLEM WITH FRAME, AFTER PURCHASE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ZIEBART AND IT WOULD BE UNDERCOATED FOR FREE, THEY TRIED TO COVER UP WITH THE UNDERCOATING WHERE THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET BECAME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME ALONG WITH OTHER DEFECTS IN THE FRAME I WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE THE JEEP FROM DEALERSHIP TO ZIEBARTS FOR THE UNDERCOATING AND THEN HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO MY HOUSE DUE TO THE STABILIZER LINK BREAKING BECAUSE OF THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET BREAKING AWAY FROM FRAME DUE TO RUST, . I'VE TRIED CALL THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES WITH NO REPLY. I AM THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR DEAD IF THIS WOULD'VE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HWY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS 6700.00 AND THEN ADDITIONAL 5 NEW TIRES 600.00 AND TWO LEAKING AND BENT RIMS AT 75.00 FOR A TOTAL OF 7375.00 ON A UNSAFE VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP NEW ABOUT . I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED, AND FRUSTRATED WITH THIS SITUATION. I NEED HELP GETTING THIS RESOLVED BUT THEY WILL NOT RERUN MY CALLS AND HAVE HUNG UP ON ME I HAVE PHOTOS AND A INSPECTION SAYING THAT IT WAS SAFE WHEN FAR FROM BEING SAFE POINT BLANK THIS DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A VEHICLE THAT WAS U SAFE FOR OTHERS AND MYSELF TO BE ON THE ROAD SO NOW I AM OUT ALL OF THIS MONEY AND I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION SO THAT THEY CAN NOT DUE BUSINESS IN THIS MANNER AND I CAN RESOLVE THIS WITH EITHER GIVING ME BACK MY COST OF THE JEEP AND TIRES AND RIMS . I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO OR WHO TO CONTACT IN TRYING TO GET MY MONEY BACK IT IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR A JEEP I CAN'T DRIVE
NHTSA ODI #11404830
200,000 miles · Feb 18, 2020
StructureVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED SEVERE RUST FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEAF SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED SEVERE RUST FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEAF SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED A 60% FRACTURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #11309977
186,000 miles · Dec 27, 2019
EngineSuspensionUnknown Or Other
FOR A POPULAR ON AND OFF ROAD VEHICLE WHICH HAS A REPUTATION FOR STRENGTH AND DURABILITY, WHY WOULD THE FRAME, THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, BE SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUSTING OUT AND MAKING SAID VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NOT COOL , JEEP, NOT COOL.
NHTSA ODI #11291532
150,000 miles · Dec 24, 2019
Power TrainSuspension
FRAME RUSTING OUT
NHTSA ODI #11291090
150,000 miles · Dec 21, 2019
Suspension
FRAME IS ROTTEN. THIS HAS TOOK DRIVING IT SAFELY AWAY
NHTSA ODI #11290476
170,000 miles · Nov 8, 2019
Suspension
COMPLETE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND CANNOT BE DROVE SAFELY.
NHTSA ODI #11278889
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2019
Structure
THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE FRAME WAS FAULTY FROM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE WHERE WATER AND DIRT CAN ENTER THE FRAME BUT NO WAY TO EXIT THEREFORE BECOMING TRAPPED TO ALLOW RUST TO FORM FROM THE INSIDE OF FRAME. THIS NOT ONLY PROMOTES BUT ALLOWS THE LIFE OF THE FRAME TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY WEAK AND IF IN A ACCIDENT NOT TO WITH STAND A I…
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THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE FRAME WAS FAULTY FROM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE WHERE WATER AND DIRT CAN ENTER THE FRAME BUT NO WAY TO EXIT THEREFORE BECOMING TRAPPED TO ALLOW RUST TO FORM FROM THE INSIDE OF FRAME. THIS NOT ONLY PROMOTES BUT ALLOWS THE LIFE OF THE FRAME TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY WEAK AND IF IN A ACCIDENT NOT TO WITH STAND A IMPACT AND CREATE A SITUATION WHERE LIFE OR HARM TO PERSONS INCREASE.
NHTSA ODI #11246518
123,000 miles · Aug 8, 2019
SuspensionUnknown Or OtherCrash
MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER TJ X, FRAME RAILS ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT ON BOTH THE SIDES AND REAR CURVE UP OF THE FRAME. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS ROTTING BECAUSE IT ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. WHILE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME LOOKS PERFECTLY FINE AND PAINT WAS STILL WELL COATED, IT WAS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE. THE PR…
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MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER TJ X, FRAME RAILS ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT ON BOTH THE SIDES AND REAR CURVE UP OF THE FRAME. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS ROTTING BECAUSE IT ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. WHILE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME LOOKS PERFECTLY FINE AND PAINT WAS STILL WELL COATED, IT WAS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE. THE PROBLEM DID NOT DISCLOSE ITSELF UNTIL THE BRACKET GOT THE SPRING ARE THE AXLE ATTACHES TO THE FRAME BROKE OFF WHEN THE ROT FROM THE INSIDE MADE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. WHEN IT BROKE OFF, IT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CRASH. THERE WAS NO FORETELLING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE ROT FROM THE INSIDE WAS INVISIBLE AND NOT ABLE TO BE DETECTED. MYSELF I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH FLAW THAT SHOULD BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. MY JEEP WAS TREATED LIKE MY BABY. I TOOK EXTREMELY WELL GOOD CARE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE INSIDE AND OUT. INSPECTING THE FRAME AND BODY EVERY YEAR IN THE SPRING TO MAKE SURE IT ALL PAINT WAS TOUCHED UP AND FRAME PARTS WERE KEPT COATED WITH PAINT. NOWADAYS PRETTY MUCH UNHEARD OF FOR ONLY A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. WHEN PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2002 AT A COST OF $21,000, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT ONLY TO LAST FOR 12 YEARS IS A HIGH PRICE TO PAY. I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST THAT A RECALL RULING BE MADE FOR ALL 2002 AND OTHER YEARS THAT HAS THE INTERNAL ROTTING OF THE FRAME RAIL. EITHER NEW PATCH FRAME RAILS BE INSTALLED, OR A NOMINAL AMOUNT A MONEY BE COMPENSATED FOR THE COST OF A ENTIRE NEW FRAME, FOR THOSE WISHING TO REPLACE THE FRAME ENTIRELY. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE NHTSA FAILS TO MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, COULD INCUR FUTURE ACCIDENTS THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO DETECT THE ROTTING OF THE RAIL FROM THE INSIDE.
NHTSA ODI #11242713
200,000 miles · Aug 6, 2019
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WATERMARK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (LOCATED AT 1055 CROSSING PL, MADISONVILLE, KY 42431, (270) 875-4432), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #11242098