IllustrationWHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SOMEHOW THE VEHICLE HIT THE REAR OF A SCHOOL BUS. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER'S HEAD HIT THE DASHBOARD. NO ONE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH
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
What owners actually said
108 reportsI PURCHASED A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER FROM SHAKERS JEEP DEALER. SOUTH MAIN STREEET, WATERBURY, CT. AFTER HAVING THE JEEP FOR ONE MONTH THE WINDSHIELD PIITED INBETWEEN THE GLASSS.IT WAS ALSET TO HAVE PLYMOUTH GLASS TO INSTALL. THEN SHAKER JEEP WENT OUT OF BUISNESS! ALL THERE CUSTOMERS WHERE SENT TO BRADSHAW JEEP. TO MAKE A LONG STORY …
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I PURCHASED A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER FROM SHAKERS JEEP DEALER. SOUTH MAIN STREEET, WATERBURY, CT. AFTER HAVING THE JEEP FOR ONE MONTH THE WINDSHIELD PIITED INBETWEEN THE GLASSS.IT WAS ALSET TO HAVE PLYMOUTH GLASS TO INSTALL. THEN SHAKER JEEP WENT OUT OF BUISNESS! ALL THERE CUSTOMERS WHERE SENT TO BRADSHAW JEEP. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT WHEN THE SUN OR HEAD LIGHTS HIT THE WINSHILD IT IS BLINDING! IN OCTOBER I WENT TO BRADSHAW AND SPOKE TO DAIMLER/CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. FOR 2 MONTH'S I HAVE E-MAILED AND CALL BOTH WITH NO SUCCESS, SINCE THEN AT 4:30 A.M. A ONCOMING CAR HAD IT HIGH BEEMS ON AND I JUST TAP THE CORNER OF MY JEEP ON A BRANCH OF A TREE. IT HAS KNOW COST ME 250.00 FOR A RENTAL AND 650.00 FOR THE JEEP TO BE FIXXED. THE AUTO BODY SHOP TOLD ME IT WAS A CHEAP FACTORY INSTALLED WINDSHIELD!!!!M NOT LOOKING TO GET REINBURST FOR THE WORK BUT I STILL HAVE THE WINDSHIELD PROBLEM.. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP THANK YOU IN ANCE LIAM E. BEHR JR. *AK
DAUGHTER INVOLVED IN SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH 2002 JEEP WRANGLER ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES AND LANDED NOSE DOWN IN DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. COMPLAINT WAS ISSUED TO CHRYSLER, THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT END HAS TO BE HIT JUST RIGHT BEFORE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALMOST KILLED AND DON'T BELIEVE THAT STATEMEN…
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DAUGHTER INVOLVED IN SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH 2002 JEEP WRANGLER ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES AND LANDED NOSE DOWN IN DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. COMPLAINT WAS ISSUED TO CHRYSLER, THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT END HAS TO BE HIT JUST RIGHT BEFORE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALMOST KILLED AND DON'T BELIEVE THAT STATEMENT WAS TRUE. I FEEL IT IS IN FACT FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND AFTER READING THESE REPORTS , I FEEL THAT SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION IS DUE. MY DAUGHTER IS STILL SUFFERING BAD HEAD ACHES AND BACK PAINS. I ASKED FOR $50,000. AND WAS IGNORED. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 50/55 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, THEN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL VIBRATED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CENTER STEERING LINK PIN BREAKING.*AK
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
WATER LEAKS INTO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT FROM AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN HOLE IN FIREWALL. WATER SOAKS FRONT CARPET, AND THE DRAIN PLUG IN FLOOR MUST BE REMOVED TO ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN OUT OF VEHICLE. APPEARS FOAM SURROUNDING DRAIN HAS FAILED ALLOWING THE WATER INTO THE VEHICLE.*AK
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARSH ENGAGEMENT AND PRODUCES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS I HAVE HAD MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY. I AM TOLD CHRYSLER WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIRS OR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. T…
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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARSH ENGAGEMENT AND PRODUCES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS I HAVE HAD MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY. I AM TOLD CHRYSLER WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIRS OR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER FULL FACTORY WARRANTY, THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED IF IT CAN NOT BE REPAIRED.*AK
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
PROBLEMS WITH 2002 JEEP WRANGLER BRAKING SYSTEM.* MR THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE ABOUT PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE BRAKES, BOTH TIMES THEY HAVE FAILED TO FIX THEM. PLEASE RESPOND PROMPTLY IN FINDING A RESOLUTION TO BRAKE PROBLEM. *CB *JB
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
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.