2002 Jeep Wrangler Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Wrangler years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 28th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Jeep Wrangler. That ranks 28th out of 32 Wrangler model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (26 complaints, 24%), typically at around 92,000 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 5 fires, 17 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 108owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 15complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Jeep Wrangler problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 26 | 24% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 19 | 18% | 131,622 | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 13% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 13 | 12% | 29,166 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 9% | 47,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 7% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 7 | 6% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 6% | 995 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 5% | 12,400 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 4% | 169,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 4% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 4% | 182,640 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 3% | 99,140 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 3% | 108,317 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3% | 144,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% | 13,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 98,895 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 53,846 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | 12,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Jeep Wrangler recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: 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. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, water and impurities can enter into the ignition switch, causing a short circuit.
Risk: This could result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch with a redesigned switch. Owner notification began april 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Frame is rotted out. Vehicle is well maintained and it is upsetting. After spending good money for a reputable brand, the frame did not last. It is not drivable and is unsafe to be on the road. It is not safe to travel with my family. Everyone I know that has these years wrangler TJ model has this…
Purchased a 2002 jeep from twin rivers auto sales, i did not receive a vehicle disclosure report and it was sold to me with a control arm bracket that was damaged was not attached to the frame which makes driving the vehicle impossible it is not attached to frame which could have cause other'and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 jeep wrangler. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The contact stated that the subframe of the vehicle showed severe rust from the front to the rear of the vehicle. Additionally, the leaf spring on the passenger's side of…
For a popular on and off road vehicle which has a reputation for strength and durability, why would the frame, the very foundation of the entire vehicle, be so susceptible to rusting out and making said vehicle unsafe to drive. Not cool , jeep, not cool.
Frame rusting out
Other Jeep Wrangler years
← 2001 Wrangler · 2003 Wrangler →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Wrangler | 11 | 3 |
| 2025 Wrangler | 71 | 4 |
| 2024 Wrangler | 741 | 11 |
| 2023 Wrangler | 368 | 14 |
| 2022 Wrangler | 404 | 15 |
| 2021 Wrangler | 949 | 15 |
| 2020 Wrangler | 613 | 12 |
| 2019 Wrangler | 743 | 9 |
| 2018 Wrangler | 1,824 | 14 |
| 2017 Wrangler | 311 | 5 |
| 2016 Wrangler | 461 | 5 |
| 2015 Wrangler | 476 | 3 |
| 2014 Wrangler | 657 | 4 |
| 2013 Wrangler | 654 | 6 |
| 2012 Wrangler | 835 | 9 |
| 2011 Wrangler | 485 | 10 |
| 2010 Wrangler | 686 | 10 |
| 2009 Wrangler | 372 | 6 |
| 2008 Wrangler | 873 | 7 |
| 2007 Wrangler | 558 | 8 |
| 2006 Wrangler | 730 | 3 |
| 2005 Wrangler | 650 | 1 |
| 2004 Wrangler | 192 | 1 |
| 2003 Wrangler | 98 | 0 |
| 2002 | 108 | 2 |
| 2001 Wrangler | 170 | 3 |
| 2000 Wrangler | 251 | 1 |
| 1999 Wrangler | 213 | 1 |
| 1998 Wrangler | 265 | 2 |
| 1997 Wrangler | 401 | 3 |
| 1996 Wrangler | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 Wrangler | 202 | 1 |
See all Jeep Wrangler problems by year, every Jeep model, or the Jeep VIN decoder.
Similar Jeep models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Jeep Wrangler?
Owners most often report structure, suspension, power train problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 26 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Jeep Wrangler?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Jeep Wrangler a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Wrangler model years, the 2002 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.