Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
The contact owns a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the front passenger's side airbag inadvertently deployed without warning. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 206,000.
While driving, airbags deployed on both the passager and driver's side. The car is available for inspection. The vehicle is with the dealership and awaiting repair. My safety was put at risk, the incident occurred while I was operating the vehicle. No other damage except to the vehicle itself, damaging my property. There were no notices, warnings or other symptoms of the problem.
I have air bag module not working and dealer keeps say part back order for months now and can't get repaired and can't get Jeep inspected till this is fixed brylea Jeep,Chrysler in Rutland Vermont Is dealer working with for it
I brought in my car in to Roger Williams Chrysler in Weatherford TX, 1102 Washington Dr, Weatherford, TX 76086, for Safety Recall R06. The first appointment I dropped off the vehicle and received a rental, which was covered by FCA under the recall. A couple of days pass as they order parts and perform the maintenance. I return to my vehicle once they stated the Safety Recall was completed. The airbag light was still on, they couldn't tell me what DTC was associated with the light so I checked it myself. The DTC's were airbag DTC 54 and 55 (Side impact sensor internal fault). Safety Recall R06 instructs the dealership to replace impact sensors should they have any DTC's on them. R06 also states, at least twice, NOT to replace the front impact sensors, which they boasted and were proud about replacing. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 30 MPH, the driver and passenger air bags deployed independently, which resulted in a crash. The contact rear ended another vehicle immediately after the deployment. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and destroyed. Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of farmington, michigan (38123 10 mile rd, 48375) was made aware of the crash and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and provided case number: 32601427. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000. Updated 9/12/18 the voq states on 10/2/17 the driver and passenger airbags inadvertently deployed,resulting in the operator rear ending a vehicle. The cair states that "the customer's son pressed the brakes of the vehicle and the airbags deployed." updated 10/1/18
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.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 30 MPH, the front passenger and driver side air bags deployed simultaneously. After the air bags deployed, the visibility was obscured and caused the contact to crash. The contact's neck and back were injured and required medical attention. The driver of the other vehicle sustained an inquiry to the jaw and back that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V046000 (air bags) after the failure occurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Hello, I investigate into a traffic accident in france involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee year 2002. The reason of the crash is unknown. The car crossed the road without any reason and crashed into a wall (the driver died in the crash). I was informed that this vehicle could be affected by inadvertent airbag deployment . I would like to know if it's possible to know the reason of orc degradation that you describe in the report # rq14001 of May 29, 2014? How to detect the orc defect and how to see it? I would to know if the orc worked correctly or not and if the frontal airbag have been deployed before or after the crash. Thank you for your answers
Related recalls
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Airbag complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 486 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 33% of the model year's 1,476 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-046 (frontal, Jan 28, 2015); NHTSA recall 12V-527 (sensor/control module-inactive, Nov 8, 2012); NHTSA recall 02V-099 (frontal, Mar 26, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 125,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 35 crashes, 0 fires and 57 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.