Most common 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Share of the 1,476 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Grand Cherokee complaints by model year
Best Grand Cherokee years: 2016, 2020, 2017. Years to avoid: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2024, 2023. Compare all years →
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls (10)
Air bags › Frontal
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.
Remedy: Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527…
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall by interim letter in January 2013.
Seats › Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler
Chrysler is recalling 103,409 my 2001-2004 Jeep grand cherokee vehicles with heated seats and with Chrysler recall no. 06v-197 completed (03-04 my) or seat heater elements service replacement (01-02 my). The front seat electric heater elements could overheat.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front seat heater elements free of charge. The recall began on November 23, 2009. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
On certain sport utility vehicles, the plastic blades of the electric motor driven cooling fan May separate and penetrate the shroud.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the electric cooling fan modules free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2006. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Injectors
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal
On certain sport utility vehicles, the passenger air bag wiring harness was improperly manufactured.
Remedy: Dealers will add a wiring jumper to the existing circuitry to correct this condition. Owner notification began April 29, 2002.
Show 4 more recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with a fuel tank brush guard fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity." the onboard refueling vapor recovery (orvr) control valve can become detached during a crash, allowing fuel leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will either replace the fuel tank brush guard with a skid plate or reinforce the existing fuel tank brush guard with a reinforcement bracket. Owner notification will begin March 4, 2002.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The fuel inlet check valve could stick in the partially open position. This condition could cause fuel to spill out of the filler tube during refueling.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel inlet check valve. Vehicles found to have a sticking fuel inlet check valve will have the fuel tank assembly replaced. Owner notification began December 24, 2001.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The onboard vapor recovery system vent hose May have been misrouted. This could allow water to enter the canister which can cause fuel to spill out of the filler tube when refueling the tank.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect (and reposition as necessary) the vent hose. If the vent hose is found in the bent down position, and the vehicle has been driven more than 20 miles, the canister assembly will be replaced.
Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles are being recalled for a software error in the instrument cluster microprocessor. Under certain conditions, the cluster, with the majority of its gauges, illumination, and warning lamps, could become inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will re-flash the cluster software to correct the condition. Owner notification began October 8, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 7 possible defects involving the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee:
Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of inadvertent air bag deployments (IABD) occurring after the recall remedy for NHTSA recall 12V-527 had been installed on recalled model year (MY ) 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty and MY 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).The recall was in response to the Office of Defects…
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
NHTSA has conducted extensive analysis of the data regarding fuel tank integrity for the model year (MY) 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (JGC). As a result of that work, the agency has decided to upgrade its safety defect investigation to an Engineering Analysis and to expand the scope of vehicles included in the investigation.
Engine cooling fan blade failure
This investigation was opened on July 13, 2005, based on four odi consumer reports.odi contacted all of those complainants and each of them reported that pieces of the broken fan blade had damaged the radiator and penetrated through the protective fan shroud.since opening the investigation, odi has received 12 new consumer reports.in its response to odi's preliminary evaluation information request daimlerchrysler…
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
ODI has completed an extensive analysis of rear crash fuel tank system integrity data for the subject Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles (SVs).As of June 2013, ODI knew of 56 post-collision fatal fires, 28 non-fatal fires, and 6 fuel leak incidents (totaling 90 incidents, 75 fatalities and 58 injuries) involving the SVs.Based on this analysis, ODI issued a Recall Request Letter (RRL) on June 3, 2013…
Fan blade failure (engine cooling fan)
Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (06V199) of certain Jeep grand cherokee vehicles to replace the engine's electric motor driven cooling fan. The 182,875 vehicles included in the recall are model year (my) 2002 equipped with 4.0 liter (six cylinder) engines manufactured from February 4, 2002 through June 17, 2002; and my 2000 equipped with either the 4.0…
Roll-away in reverse when parked
Daimlerchrysler has recalled the zj models to incorporate a secondary detent spring into the shifter.even though the wj 6 cyl. Vehicles use the same manual detent lever that as the vehicles in the recall population, odi believes that the wj redesigned shifter, which improves floor shifter functionality and ergonomics, helps to provide feedback to the driver to indicate whether ?park? Has or has not been…
Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
In a letter dated October 2, 2009, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned NHTSA to open a defect investigation and recall model year 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees.CAS alleged that the subject vehicles have defective fuel tank storage systems that present a fire hazard in crashes.
What 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners say
Air bags all 486 →
The contact owns a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V046000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The local dealer was contacted several times and advised the contact that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was awaiting a response from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 137,849. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact became aware of the recall for NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V046000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated since she purchased the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 314,900. Parts distribution disconnect.
A/C & heater all 246 →
Tl contact owns a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle always swayed back and forth as if it were off balanced. While driving approximately 30 MPH, she noticed that the engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument control panel. Smoke appeared from the vehicle. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the radiator fan cracked and caused the failure. The belt, radiator fan, thermostat, and water pump were repaired at the cost of $1,000. The manufacturer informed her of NHTSA campaign id number 06V199000 (engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan); however, the contact never received a recall notice. The manufacturer only covered the expense of the fan, which was $265. The engine warning light is still illuminated on the instrument control panel and the air conditioning system does not work. The failure mileage was 91,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While parked, the contact noticed the heating function was not working within the front driver's side seat. The contact disassembled the seat and noticed that the wires within the seat were melted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 09V117000 (seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000. Updated 01/24/12 the consumer was informed by a Chrysler investigator, hisvehicle was not included in the recall and there were defects with the seat. Updated 03/13/12
Brakes all 179 →
One Monday the 6th driving north. It was raining. So, I had full 4wheel drive engaged. A car cut me off. I was on the transition from the 5 n to the 55n. A car from the left lane cut into my lane to try and exit onto 4th street. To avoid an accident I slammed on the breaks and veered right. But the car would not stop. I pushing down on the breaks as hard as I could. The car was still accelerating and did not slow down. Trying to obtain control over the vehicle I "fishtailed" from going right back to left and hit the side of the car and then hit the center divider. The car kept accelerating and I hit the center divider and flipped around. I was then facing opposite traffic towards the divider. I threw the car into park and held the breaks strong. The back wheels were still spinning out. I look down and the keys were not in the ignition. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 35 MPH, the brakes failed without warning and the vehicle crashed into an electrical pole. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact's daughter sustained a broken rib, broken pelvis, three fractures to the left hand, the back shoulder bone was sticking out, and her spleen was bleeding. Medical attention was required. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 15V046000 (air bags). The contact had an appointment with the dealer to get the air bags replaced, but the crash occurred prior to arriving at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee a good car?
Based on 1,476 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Grand Cherokee rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Grand Cherokee at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The air bags — 486 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the a/c & heater (246) and brakes (179).
How many recalls does the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
There are 10 recalls for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most recent from January 28, 2015 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2020 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2024 and 2023. See the full Jeep Grand Cherokee years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 26% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.