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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.

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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

Seat Belts complaints

5 reports
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30,000 miles · Sep 27, 2006
Seat Belts

I OWN A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUTTON STICKS..USUALLY IN COLDER MONTHS AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO FASTEN THE BELT (AS IT WILL NOT GO INTO THE SLOT). NOT SURE IF THIS IS COVERED AS I BELIEVE ITS DEFECTIVE. DOESN'T' DO IN SUMMER, JUST WINTER. MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, I HAVE APPROX 45K MILES ON THE JEEP.…

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I OWN A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUTTON STICKS..USUALLY IN COLDER MONTHS AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO FASTEN THE BELT (AS IT WILL NOT GO INTO THE SLOT). NOT SURE IF THIS IS COVERED AS I BELIEVE ITS DEFECTIVE. DOESN'T' DO IN SUMMER, JUST WINTER. MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, I HAVE APPROX 45K MILES ON THE JEEP. HOW DO I PROCEED? DO I JUST HAVE DEALER FIX & SHOULD IT BE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM FOLKS WHO OWN THE SAME MODEL/YEAR? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169429

12,500 miles · Aug 25, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN OCTOBER 2002 WITH MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER X. I HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME GOING ABOUT 40MPH, AND WAS THEN HIT FROM BEHIND. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, NOR DID THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEARING WHEEL. I TRIED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND WAS TOLD SINCE MY VEHI…

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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN OCTOBER 2002 WITH MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER X. I HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME GOING ABOUT 40MPH, AND WAS THEN HIT FROM BEHIND. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, NOR DID THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEARING WHEEL. I TRIED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND WAS TOLD SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY BEING WORKED ON THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT. I WAS IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT AUGUST 8, 2003. SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HIT HIM GOING ABOUT 55 MPH. THE AIRBAGS AGAIN DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM TRYING TO GET AN ANSWER OUT OF DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AGAIN AND THEY KEEP GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10033427

12,000 miles · Aug 15, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, AirCrashInjury

2002 JEEP WRANGLER COLLIDED WITH REAR OF PASSENGER VAN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 -35 MPH. WHEELS BRAKED AND RELEASED ON WET PAVEMENT. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD. DRIVER'S FACE HIT WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN BROKEN NOSE. FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CRUSHED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10032908

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2003
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BELT FOLDED OVER IN THE SPADE PORTION OF THE BUCKLE. IT WAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10029694

12,300 miles · Jan 24, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A ROLL OVER, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. POLICE REPORT TAKEN. *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10004604

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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