IllustrationFOR 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.
2002 Jeep Wrangler
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Jeep Wrangler are lower than the model-year median of 265.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
1225–50K
950–75K
1075–100K
12100–150K
13150K+
80 reports with mileage · 28 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports5 fire reports13 injury reports
Engine complaints
4 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE, LEAKING, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
VEHICLE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0, CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER TO PARK AND RIDE LOT AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF ASSUMING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. WAITED 15 MINUTES AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, WOULD NOT START. CHECKED OIL DIP STICK AND DISCOVERED ANTIFREEZE MIX, OPENED OIL CAP AND SAW COFFEE-COLORED MIX. DEALERSHIP I HAD I…
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VEHICLE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0, CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER TO PARK AND RIDE LOT AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF ASSUMING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. WAITED 15 MINUTES AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, WOULD NOT START. CHECKED OIL DIP STICK AND DISCOVERED ANTIFREEZE MIX, OPENED OIL CAP AND SAW COFFEE-COLORED MIX. DEALERSHIP I HAD IT TOWED TO AT THE TIME STATED AT CYLINDERS 3 & 4 HAD CRACKED, WAS NOT OWNERS FAULT AS THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH CYLINDERS HEADS WITH CASTING 0331. WOULD NOT REPAIR AS IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURE RECALL. MEANWHILE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE. I LOOKED UP THIS ISSUE AND IT I SEE OVER 500 RESPONSES FOR THE SAME VEHICLES 2000 YEAR AND UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SMOKED STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BY LIFTING THE HOOD, IT ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SMOKED STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BY LIFTING THE HOOD, IT ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 173,000.
Official recalls
202V104000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors
Apr 8, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.0L ENGINE ONLY, THE DESIGN OF THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS COULD ALLOW DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE AT THE #3 CYLINDER LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MANIFOLD SHIELD TO MODIFY THE AIR FLOW CHARACTERISTICS AND TO PREVENT THE ACCUMULATION OF DEBRIS IN THE AREA OF THE #3 CYLINDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
02V075000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 8, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER AND IMPURITIES CAN ENTER INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH A REDESIGNED SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.