2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Part of Generation 2 (WJ) — 1999–2004.

20012003
Complaints
1,770
Crashes
98
Fires
23
Injuries
131
Fatalities
9
Recalls
2

Worst 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1467 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:125,650 mi
Crash-related:24
#295 complaints

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor

Avg mileage:21,948 mi
Crash-related:1
#395 complaints

Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System

Avg mileage:74,466 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Airbags
467
complaints
Crashes
24
Fires
Avg Miles
125,650
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
95
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
21,948
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
95
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
74,466
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor
81
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,024
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
70
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
68,602
Electrical Faults
66
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Avg Miles
112,781
Seat-Related Issues
65
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
114,202
Visibility
57
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
91,133
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
56
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,928
Unintended Acceleration
33
complaints
Crashes
19
Fires
Avg Miles
105,501
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
64,455
Hydraulic Brakes
28
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
42,874
Engine Problems
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
148,326
Automatic Transmission
25
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
70,089
Engine & Cooling
24
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
88,912
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler
24
complaints
Crashes
Fires
6
Avg Miles
69,758
Transmission / Drivetrain
21
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
94,502
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
60,398
Steering Defects
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
84,326
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
71,318
Fuel System
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
133,202
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
25,814
Seat Belt Issues
16
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
120,695
Brakes
14
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Avg Miles
139,938
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,313
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,671
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
78,698
Suspension Failures
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
104,613
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
32,520

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,497,466 vehicles.

15V046000Air Bags:frontal
~752,644 affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

12V527000Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive · Airbags
~744,822 affected

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Other Jeep Grand Cherokee Years

2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee has 1,770 NHTSA complaints, 98 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 467 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Top reported problems: Airbags (467 complaints, avg 125,650 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor (95 complaints, avg 21,948 mi); Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System (95 complaints, avg 74,466 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 92,772 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee include 98 crash-related reports, 23 fire reports, 131 injuries, and 9 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,497,466 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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