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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
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124,000 miles · Apr 27, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLING COMPONENT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLING COMPONENT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10398063

105,000 miles · Jun 9, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MARCH 2009: WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, HEAR A RATTLE NOISE, THEN THE SHIFT ON THE FLOOR SHAKES VIOLENTLY. PULL OVER, CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, TRAVEL HOME LESS THAN 50 MPH, FINE. FEW MORE TIMES, ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR DOES IT AGAIN. PUT IN FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER, CHANGE OIL, CLEAN ALL AROUND BATTERY. DOES NOT DO IT FOR A WEEK OR…

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MARCH 2009: WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, HEAR A RATTLE NOISE, THEN THE SHIFT ON THE FLOOR SHAKES VIOLENTLY. PULL OVER, CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, TRAVEL HOME LESS THAN 50 MPH, FINE. FEW MORE TIMES, ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR DOES IT AGAIN. PUT IN FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER, CHANGE OIL, CLEAN ALL AROUND BATTERY. DOES NOT DO IT FOR A WEEK OR TWO THEN DOES IT AGAIN. TOLD TO REPLACE CAMSHAFT SENSOR & CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. DID AND RAN FINE NO ISSUES FOR TWO WEEKS. 4/13/09 AFTER SITTING AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, PROCEEDED TO TURN RIGHT, ENGINE DIED. NO WARNING NO SOUND,NO DASH LIGHTS ON, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED UP & TRAVELED HOME. 4/15/09 AFTER SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, CAR DIED, NO SOUND,CHUGGING, NO DASH LIGHTS WE WENT TO JEEP IN FORT MYERS FLORIDA. THEY SAID WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR OIL, ADD A FUEL ADDITIVE, INJECTOR CLEANER & CLEAN OUR BATTERY IN ADDITION TO REPLACE ONE OF THE SENSORS. ALL OF THIS WAS ALREADY DONE. IF THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE, THEN IT IS OUR IGNITION SWITCH. COST TO US FOR THIS DIAGNOSIS $110.19. 4/27/09 TOWED JEEP WITH RV TO MAINEWENT TO JEEP DEALER MACDONALD MOTORS BRIDGTON MAINE. 5/04/09 CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING TO THE APPOINTMENT, THIS TIME 45-50MPH. WANTED TO REPLACE CRANK SENSOR WITH A ?MOPAR? BRAND, EVEN THOUGH WE TOLD HIM IT WAS JUST DONE. ALSO WANTED TO COMPLETE COMBUSTION CHAMBER CLEANER FROM BULLETIN 09-003-03. DECLINED. COST $55.81 5/18/09 TOOK CAR INTO MACDONALDS MOTORS FOR BULLETIN 09-003-03 TO BE DONE & ASKED THEM TO CHECK GROUNDING MOUNTS. REC'D CALL THAT THEY PERFORMED FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING & NEED A NEW CRANK SENSOR. WE SPOKE TO THE MANAGER, BECAUSE THE WORK WE REQUESTED WAS NOT PERFORMED, AND OTHER ITEMS WERE. HE ASSURED US THE BULLETIN WOULD BE PERFORMED THE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED, NO REPAIR WAS NEEDED AND THE GROUNDING MOUNTS WERE FINE AND THE COMPUTER NO LONGER TELLS THEM IT NEEDS A CRANK SENSOR. THIS VEHICLE HAS DIED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEIR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273183

140 miles · Oct 8, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury

WHILE EXITING THE OFFRAMP FROM A HIGHWAY, I DOWNSHIFTED MY JEEP WRANGLER. THE CLUTCH WENT ON ME, AND I PROCEEDED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. BEFORE I COULD STOP THE VEHICLE, AN EXTREMELY QUICK FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE ENGINE, AND SPREAD TO THE CAB, COMPLETELY PLACING MYSELF AND GIRLFRIEND IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. WITHIN …

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WHILE EXITING THE OFFRAMP FROM A HIGHWAY, I DOWNSHIFTED MY JEEP WRANGLER. THE CLUTCH WENT ON ME, AND I PROCEEDED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. BEFORE I COULD STOP THE VEHICLE, AN EXTREMELY QUICK FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE ENGINE, AND SPREAD TO THE CAB, COMPLETELY PLACING MYSELF AND GIRLFRIEND IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. WITHIN MINUTES, THE ENTIRE JEEP WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, WITH US BARELY ESCAPING. HAVE HAD NO COOPERATION FROM THE DEALER, OR CHRYSLER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A MECHANICAL ERROR. CHRYSLER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT, BUT HAS YET TO EXPLAIN WHAT ACTUALLY WAS THE CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244884

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHRYSLER ORIGINALLY OFFERED TO REIMBURSE FERRY FARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CAR IN FOR A SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE SUBMITTED RECEIPTS AND CHRYSLER HAS NOW REFUSED TO MAKE THE REIMBURSEMENT. CHRYSLER'S REFERENCE CODE IS 11552946. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10039105

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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