2002 Jeep Liberty
This year had more than double the complaints of 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 PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 1808 |
| 2003 | 1349 |
| 2004 | 1100 |
| 2005 | 1118 |
| 2006 | 1369 |
| 2007 | 703 |
| 2008 | 540 |
| 2009 | 108 |
| 2010 | 195 |
| 2011 | 180 |
| 2012 | 384 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
27% of complaints: air bags — 489 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
AFTER A TIRE FAILURE AT 45MPH ON A PARKWAY VEHICLE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED 1 COMPLETE TIME. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA ODI report, 20200303
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE ACCELERATING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT'S NIECE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA ODI report, 20191108
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS HIT IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BY A DRUNK DRIVER AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY KNEES WERE ALSO INJURED AND I WAS INFORMED THERE IS ALSO A RECALL ON MY JEEP FOR A KNEE PLATE. SEE ATTACHEMENTS. *DSY
NHTSA ODI report, 20190218
16% of complaints: suspension — 298 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY DEATH5% of complaints: suspension — 95 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
Well my 2002 jeep liberty has been messed up lately,it will just not crank so I thought it was the battery but it turned out to be the ignition switch also it did this off an on for about 6months ,the heat went out when I bought it and it will act...
NHTSA ODI report, 20240208
5% of complaints: fuel/propulsion system — 88 distinct reports on file.
FIRE5% of complaints: electrical system — 85 distinct reports on file.
FIRE INJURYSAFETY TIMELINE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE KNEE BLOCKER TRIM PANEL ASSEMBLY CAN DISENGAGE, FALL, AND STARTLE THE OPERATOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE KNEE BLOCKER TRIM PANEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REAS
Campaign 01V311000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE FRONTAL OFFSET COLLISION, SHARP EDGES ON THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE BRACKET COULD CUT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR WIRING INS
Remedy: DEALERS WILL WRAP THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR WIRE HARNESS WITH PROTECTIVE INSULATION TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES T
Campaign 01V373000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS CAN EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION THAT CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR, AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCK
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WITH MODIFIED ASSEMBLIES AND HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 2, 2001 AND OCTOBER 4, 2002. ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN OCTOBER
Campaign 03V460000 — check if this car was fixed
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
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 BRAN
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 1-800-32
Campaign 06E022000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed
FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT SEPARATION
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE
Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
Campaign 06E065000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE CONSTANT TENSION FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE CONTAMINATION. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPE
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 06V288000 — check if this car was fixed
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
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 CONF
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.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 42,469 MY 2002-2003 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETT
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 09V119000 — check if this car was fixed
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Timken is recalling certain non-formed, front wheel hubs, part number HA599467, which were sold to retail and automotive distributors in the automobile aftermarket as front wheel hub replacements desi
Remedy: Timken has notified retail stores that have received the subject parts. The front wheel hubs will be replaced free of charge. Owners who may have purchased the affected units should contact Timken a
Campaign 12E047000 — check if this car was fixed
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 Febru
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.
Campaign 12V527000 — check if this car was fixed
Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in
Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install
Campaign 13V252000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 15V046000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
2002 Jeep Liberty — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (489 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for suspension issues (298 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for suspension issues (95 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 01V311000 (unknown or other) has been completed.
- Verify recall 01V373000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 03V460000 (suspension) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E022000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E065000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06V288000 (suspension) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09V119000 (suspension) has been completed.
- Verify recall 12E047000 (suspension) has been completed.
- Verify recall 12V527000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 13V252000 (fuel system, gasoline, structure) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V046000 (air bags) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 2002 Jeep Liberty reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Jeep Liberty is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Jeep Liberty?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 27% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Jeep Liberty have?
14 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.