MYRModel Year Report

2002 Jeep Liberty

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Jeep Liberty
BUILT 2026-10-10

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.

How is this computed?

Complaints
1,808
Recalls
14

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
10

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

30% of complaints

Complaints per year

2000: 6 complaints 2000 2001: 10 complaints 2002: 1,808 complaints 2002 1,808 2003: 1,351 complaints 2004: 1,101 complaints 2004 2005: 1,118 complaints 2006: 1,372 complaints 2006 2007: 703 complaints 2008: 541 complaints 2008 2009: 108 complaints 2010: 197 complaints 2010 2011: 181 complaints 2012: 385 complaints 2012
2000: 6 complaints 2000 2001: 10 complaints 2001 2002: 1,808 complaints 2002 1,808 2003: 1,351 complaints 2003 2004: 1,101 complaints 2004 2005: 1,118 complaints 2005 2006: 1,372 complaints 2006 2007: 703 complaints 2007 2008: 541 complaints 2008 2009: 108 complaints 2009 2010: 197 complaints 2010 2011: 181 complaints 2011 2012: 385 complaints 2012
2000: 6 complaints 2000 2001: 10 complaints 2001 2002: 1,808 complaints 2002 1,808 2003: 1,351 complaints 2003 2004: 1,101 complaints 2004 2005: 1,118 complaints 2005 2006: 1,372 complaints 2006 2007: 703 complaints 2007 2008: 541 complaints 2008 2009: 108 complaints 2009 2010: 197 complaints 2010 2011: 181 complaints 2011 2012: 385 complaints 2012

2002: 1,808 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
20006
200110
20021,808
20031,351
20041,101
20051,118
20061,372
2007703
2008541
2009108
2010197
2011181
2012385

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

30% · 551 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show 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, 2020-03-03

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, 2019-11-08

"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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-02-18

Suspension

29% · 527 reports

Most commonly citing lower ball joint and upper ball joint.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show 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, 2024-02-08

Also filed under Service brakes and steering

Electrical system

7% · 118 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and wiring.

FIREINJURY

Structure

6% · 114 reports

Most commonly citing body and hinge and attachments.

CRASHINJURY

Seat belts

6% · 112 reports

Most commonly citing buckle assembly and front.

CRASHINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Consumer complains of the seatbelts being too short, they will not hold, and they do not comply with Massachusetts safety law, also consumer requested seat belt extenders but hasnot received them yet.

NHTSA ODI report, 2001-11-02

Safety timeline

14 recalls · 10 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2001-11-26Unknown or other01V311000 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 1,808 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. R
    2002-02-18Air bags01V373000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2003-12-15Suspension03V460000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2005-08-26Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-12-27 Front seat belt buckle malfunction
  6. I
    2005-12-27Engineering analysisClosed 2006-12-21 Front seat belt buckle malfunction
  7. R
    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2006-05-31Engineering analysisClosed 2006-08-24 Front suspension ball joint separation
  10. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2006-07-31Exterior lighting06E065000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2006-09-11Suspension06V288000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2007-12-17Preliminary evaluationClosed 2008-04-18 Upper ball joint separation
  14. I
    2008-04-15Engineering analysisClosed 2009-04-16 Upper ball joint separation
  15. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    2010-04-12Suspension09V119000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. I
    2011-04-18Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-09-15 Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
  18. I
    2011-09-23Preliminary evaluationClosed 2012-01-30 Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
  19. I
    2012-01-23Engineering analysisClosed 2013-02-21 Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
  20. I
    2012-06-12Engineering analysisClosed 2014-11-14 Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
  21. R
    2012-10-26Suspension12E047000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  22. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  23. I
    2014-05-29Recall queryClosed 2015-11-13 Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
  24. R
    2014-08-01Fuel system, gasoline, structure13V252000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  25. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Jeep Liberty — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 551 reports on file for this year.
  • Suspension: 527 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 118 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 01V311000 · Unknown or other
  • Recall 01V373000 · Air bags
  • Recall 03V460000 · Suspension
  • Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E065000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06V288000 · Suspension
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09V119000 · Suspension
  • Recall 12E047000 · Suspension
  • Recall 12V527000 · Air bags
  • Recall 13V252000 · Fuel system, gasoline, structure
  • Recall 15V046000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 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 30% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Jeep Liberty have?
14 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.