2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 1,476
- Recalls
- 16
- Investigations
- 7
- Top problem
- Air bags
Campaigns on file for 2002
Opened by NHTSA
33% of complaints
Complaints per year
2002: 1,476 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1992 | 3 |
| 1993 | 562 |
| 1994 | 609 |
| 1995 | 723 |
| 1996 | 893 |
| 1997 | 991 |
| 1998 | 1,028 |
| 1999 | 1,638 |
| 2000 | 1,447 |
| 2001 | 883 |
| 2002 | 1,476 |
| 2003 | 762 |
| 2004 | 1,295 |
| 2005 | 2,051 |
| 2006 | 1,280 |
| 2007 | 1,108 |
| 2008 | 734 |
| 2009 | 138 |
| 2010 | 118 |
| 2011 | 1,639 |
| 2012 | 1,644 |
| 2013 | 804 |
| 2014 | 2,378 |
| 2015 | 1,362 |
| 2016 | 310 |
| 2017 | 364 |
| 2018 | 854 |
| 2019 | 368 |
| 2020 | 240 |
| 2021 | 403 |
| 2022 | 261 |
| 2023 | 389 |
| 2024 | 243 |
| 2025 | 75 |
| 2026 | 22 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Air bags
33% · 488 reportsMost commonly citing frontal and side/window.
Show complaint excerpts
While driving at 52 MPH an accident occurred. Upon impact, front driver and passenger air bags did not deploy, resulting in injuries to driver and passenger.
NHTSA ODI report, 2002-02-27
I have been unable to get recall R06 completed. All the Jeep dealers said that they are unable to get the needed parts. They are on a national recall list. This is a serious safety issue and needs to be addressed asap.
NHTSA ODI report, 2025-08-11
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2023-10-02
Visibility
23% · 345 reportsMost commonly citing defroster/defogger/hvac system and fan/motor.
Service brakes
14% · 207 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic and air.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2020-04-11
Also filed under Vehicle speed control
Engine and engine cooling
10% · 152 reportsMost commonly citing fan and cooling system.
Seats
6% · 91 reportsMost commonly citing seat heater/cooler and power adjust.
Show complaint excerpts
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, smoke was smelled inside the cabin. The vehicle was moved to the shoulder where it was noticed that smoke was coming from the front driver seat.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-01-30
Safety timeline
16 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2001-10-08Electrical system01V288000 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…
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…
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2001-11-01Engineering analysisClosed 2002-12-18 Roll-away in reverse when parked
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2001-12-03Engine and engine cooling01V348000 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…
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…
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2001-12-24Fuel system, gasoline01V374000 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…
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.…
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2002Complaint volume 1,476 complaints filed for this model year.
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2002-03-04Fuel system, gasoline02V032000 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)…
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.…
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2002-04-29Air bags02V099000 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. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed…
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2002-05-13Fuel system, gasoline02V104000 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.…
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2005-01-25Fuel system, gasoline06E011000 Certain aftermarket airtex electric fuel pumps installed for use as replacement equipment for certain 1997-2004 Jeep wrangler; 1997-2001 Jeep cherokee; 1997-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee; and 2000-2003…
Remedy: Airtex will notify its customers and will replace the affected fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2006. Owners may contact airtex customer service department at…
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2005-07-13Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-11-14 Engine cooling fan blade failure
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2005-11-14Engineering analysisClosed 2006-09-12 Fan blade failure (Engine cooling fan)
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2006-03-20Service brakes, hydraulic06E022000 Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain Ford, daimlerchrysler, and Jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the…
Remedy: Affinia (Brake parts, inc.) will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at…
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2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to…
Remedy: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006. Owners may contact anzo USA at 909-468-3688.
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2006-09-04Engine and engine cooling06V199000 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.
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2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…
Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
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2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…
Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
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2009-11-06Defect petitionClosed 2010-08-23 Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
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2009-11-23Seats09V117000 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…
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.
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2010-08-23Preliminary evaluationClosed 2012-06-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
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2012-06-12Engineering analysisClosed 2014-11-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
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2013-09-13Air bags12V527000 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…
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.
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2014-05-29Recall queryClosed 2015-11-13 Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
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2015-12-29Air bags15V046000 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...
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 and 13V040.
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Date not on fileExterior lighting06E064000 Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles.
Remedy: Tradesonic will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2006. Owners may contact tradesonic at 626-934-8884.
Buy-smart checklist
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Air bags: 488 reports on file for this year.
- Visibility: 345 reports on file for this year.
- Service brakes: 207 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 06E064000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 01V288000 · Electrical system
- Recall 01V348000 · Engine and engine cooling
- Recall 01V374000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 02V032000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 02V099000 · Air bags
- Recall 02V104000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 06E011000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 06V199000 · Engine and engine cooling
- Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 09V117000 · Seats
- Recall 12V527000 · Air bags
- Recall 15V046000 · Air bags
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated "worse than typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
- 16 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.