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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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

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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

1 reports
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53,846 miles · Jun 19, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemFire

THE 2002 JEEP WRANGLER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I270 AROUND ST LOUIS AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. COMPLETE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FIRE. R.A. BOTT, SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR JEEP, CLAIMED NO MALFUNCTION BY JEEP. THIS WAS A FUEL LINE EXP…

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THE 2002 JEEP WRANGLER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I270 AROUND ST LOUIS AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. COMPLETE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FIRE. R.A. BOTT, SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR JEEP, CLAIMED NO MALFUNCTION BY JEEP. THIS WAS A FUEL LINE EXPLOSION IN THAT THE FUEL LINE ENDED UP WITH A PIN HOLE LEAK AND SPRAYED FUEL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE WRANGLER CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW UP MINUTES AFTER I GOT OFF THE ROAD. THANK YOU TO A VEHICLE THAT ALERTED ME TO THE FIRE COMING OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AS I WAS DRIVING. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462215

Recall campaigns

2

02V104000 · 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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

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