IllustrationDUE TO A POOR DESIGN OF SIDE HOLES BUT NO BOTTOM DRAIN HOLES, WATER AND DIRT, ETC COLLECTED INSIDE THE REAR FRAME SECTION AND RUSTED IT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
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
Structure complaints
26 reports"RUSTED FRAME" I BOUGHT A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME IN THE MIDDLE WHERE THE SKID PLATE BOLTS IN TO THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT PRETTY BAD AND I HAVE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN FOR SAFETY. WELL I DIDN'T FIND THIS PROBLEM BUT I THOUGHT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS CAUSING MY BAD SHAKE WHEN I PULLED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT O…
Read full complaint
"RUSTED FRAME" I BOUGHT A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME IN THE MIDDLE WHERE THE SKID PLATE BOLTS IN TO THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT PRETTY BAD AND I HAVE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN FOR SAFETY. WELL I DIDN'T FIND THIS PROBLEM BUT I THOUGHT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS CAUSING MY BAD SHAKE WHEN I PULLED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT OUT I NOTICED THAT PROBLEM. ITS A 14 YEAR OLD VEHICLE BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME SHOULD BE RUSTED LIKE THIS. PLEASE FIX MY PROBLEM.. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY
TAKATA RECALL- DRIVING DOWN A DARK COUNTY ROAD- LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT OFF ROAD AND HIT A TREE- UPON IMPACT THE JEEP BURST INTO FLAMES- THE DRIVER WAS PULLED OUT BECAUSE SHE WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE BURNING JEEP- THE JEEP WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE FIRE
JEEP FRAME HAS RUSTED IN HALF IN SEVERAL PLACES COSTING$3,000.00 IN REPAIRS LUCKILY IT BROKE AT A LOW SPEED WITHOUT HARM TO ANYONE IF THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHO KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED.
MY FRAME AND SUSPENSION HAVE ROTTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. ITS COSTING ME OVER $6,000 TO REPLACE EVERYTHING.
FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY FROM INSIDE OUT, HOLES ARE STARTING TO APPEAR AROUND FRONT MOST DRIVER SIDE BODY MOUNT. RUST CHUNKS CAN BE SEEN AND REMOVED THRU HOLE WITHIN THE FRAME. 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE IS TOO SOON TO HAVE A FRAME RUSTING OUT. CHRYSLER SHOULD DO AS TOYOTA HAS DONE WITH THEIR FRAME RUST ISSUE OF THE NORTH EAST USA AS WELL…
Read full complaint
FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY FROM INSIDE OUT, HOLES ARE STARTING TO APPEAR AROUND FRONT MOST DRIVER SIDE BODY MOUNT. RUST CHUNKS CAN BE SEEN AND REMOVED THRU HOLE WITHIN THE FRAME. 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE IS TOO SOON TO HAVE A FRAME RUSTING OUT. CHRYSLER SHOULD DO AS TOYOTA HAS DONE WITH THEIR FRAME RUST ISSUE OF THE NORTH EAST USA AS WELL AS FOR ALL JEEP OWNERS THAT ROAD SALT HAS AFFECTED THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLES FRAME AND BODY WAY TOO SOON. *TR
THE FRAME IS DEVELOPING SEVERE RUSTING PREMATURELY AS COMPARATIVE TO OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS AGE OF MANUFACUTURE, MILEAGE, DRIVING CONDITIONS AND LOCATION OF OPERATION. *TR
FRAME RUST MAINLY INTERNAL WITH FRAME FAILURE ALONG TRANSMISSION MOUNT ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE. *TR
PURCHASED A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA WITH 4 MILES ON IT. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ROUTINELY. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND WAS STRICTLY A DAILY DRIVER AVERAGING 12K MILES PER YEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC BROUGHT ME INTO THE GARAGE TO SHOW ME THE FRAME WAS ALM…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA WITH 4 MILES ON IT. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ROUTINELY. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND WAS STRICTLY A DAILY DRIVER AVERAGING 12K MILES PER YEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC BROUGHT ME INTO THE GARAGE TO SHOW ME THE FRAME WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH NEAR THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE FRAME WHERE THE CROSS BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION IN PLACE HAS ALSO ROTTED. THE BOLTS IN THE BRACKET HAVE NOTHING TO HOLD ONTO BECAUSE THE FRAME HAS ROTTED THROUGH. THE MECHANIC STATED, "YOU ARE ONE POT HOLE AWAY FROM A MAJOR ACCIDENT". I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO STATED "THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK AND I WOULD NOT SUGGEST DRIVING IT." OTHER THAN THE FRAME ROTTING OUT, THE VEHICLE IS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER WITH NORMAL WEAR. I CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS IF INTERESTED. *JS
THE 2002 JEEP WRANGLER HAS APPROX. 85000 MILES ON IT. NEVER USED OFF ROAD - JUST TO AND FROM WORK. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR WORK ON CLUTCH AND REPAIR SHOP STATES THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH AND NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE TRANSMISSION IS ABLE TO BE REMOVED. FRONT FENDERS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH IN SAME SPOT ON EACH SIDE…
Read full complaint
THE 2002 JEEP WRANGLER HAS APPROX. 85000 MILES ON IT. NEVER USED OFF ROAD - JUST TO AND FROM WORK. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR WORK ON CLUTCH AND REPAIR SHOP STATES THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH AND NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE TRANSMISSION IS ABLE TO BE REMOVED. FRONT FENDERS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH IN SAME SPOT ON EACH SIDE. *TR
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.