Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
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).
I reported this problem a month or so ago about the front driver's seat breaking and breaking off the vehicle frame. Plus the A/C issue under the glove compartment overheats and melts the mechanism and continues to burn. When I reported the issue, no wreck was involved. Since reporting the problem, the vehicle was involved in an accident and totaled. My fix apparently allowed the seat to stay on the frame but the seat still broke. Fortunately, no serious injury, only sore neck and bump to the hand.
Approximately mid January, the driver's side heated seat cushion overheated and caught fire. Luckily turning off the switch extinguished the fire. However it left a couple of inch long burn mark in the leather seat cover. We had been noticing "hot spots" in the heating element, and my wife had placed a fleece hood on the seat to sit on. This also received some melting but saved her from any burns. Discussion with family and friends lead to the discovery of a recall involving Jeep heated seats. I contacted my local dealership and was informed that my vehicle did not fall under the recall guidelines. Recall was for '03 & '04 models, I have a '02. I asked if they would cover the repairs anyway as the problem was the same, they declined. I then contacted Chrysler/Jeep by phone. I received the same response from a representative and the supervisor. …
Driver's seat detaches from car frame. Electrical blower module resistor overheats, melts, and burns. Both issues are known by consumers and dealerships, so there is no way Jeep/Chrysler doesn't know about the design flaws and the danger. Driver's seat: there is a great deal of chatter on the internet regarding the driver's seat detachment from the car frame and the reason for it. People have created various fixes that May or May not work well. As added proof, it is impossible to find a Jeep Grand Cherokee driver's seat in any junk yard. Please go look for yourself. Mine totally broke while on the highway, nearly causing a wreck. It's terrible and I do not understand why there hasn't been a recall and someone held criminally liable for this. Blower motor module: lots of chatter on the internet as well as to the problem and the cause. …
Takata recall, was driving to work on a highway in minot nd, started to smell smoke and something hot smelling, then my right drivers leg was getting hot. I looked down and my drivers seat was smoking underneath. Hurried to stop along the side of road, turned off seat warmer button, then opened the drivers door to clear the smoke and cool under the seat. Reported this to Chrysler, they stated my VIN # was not on the recall list. If it caught fire--it sound be on list by now. This could be very dangerous driving down the highway if the passenger side does the same thing as drivers side did. VIN# [redacted] the campaign # 09V117000 also as of today I have received recalls on airbag and engine fan--called them last year to order in minot--they state they haven't gotten yet.
When I got in my Jeep there was a breaking sound from under the drivers seat. I noticed the seat was rocking back and forth and when I looked underneath at the frame of the seat I saw where the frame broke in half. It is unsafe to drive now and it is my only means of transportation. I used to have a lot more faith in Jeep until I looked it up and started seeing more and more people have the same problem and Chrysler/Jeep has not recalled it. Due to this being a life threatening problem I will not buy another Jeep if they don't recall it! There is plenty of life left in the vehicle but is now inoperable due to it being an extremely unsafe vehicle.
The power driver's seat retaining brackets have broken and have created a very unsafe driving situation. Researching this breakage online reveals a widespread safety hazard that is not being dealt with by Jeep. A recall should be made due to the high frequency of the breakage of a car's safety features, which I had never encountered before ... A driver's seat retaining brackets failing due to insuffieciently strong metal used by the manufacturer.
Takata recall the seats stopped heating and got really hot in one spot I pulled the seat cover up and it burned a spot in me seat cover and foam underneath where the wire is run thru the seats it is on both the driver side and passenger side seats there is a recall on the heated seats on some models but not on mine but it could have burned me or my kids or could have caught the car on fire.
Hit from behind ,rearended,. First impact threw me forward then hit again 2nd impact broke seat back and I fell back flat into backseat.. 2 torn rotator cuffs and shoulder ball and socket damaged due to trying to hold onto wheel and maintain control of car while seat was collapsing.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat warmer over heated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 09V117000 (seats). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Seat warmers on both sides of vehicle became really hot towards the front center portion of the seat. Turned them off and when I got home I removed the leather from the seat and found bare wires that were over heating and burning through the seat cushion and backing on the leather.
Seat complaints in other Grand Cherokee years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
NHTSA has 67 complaints about the seats of the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 5% of the model year's 1,476 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › power adjust (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to seats 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.