Your vehicle report
2002 Jeep Wrangler
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 108
- Received Feb 2002 to Feb 2022
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Frame rusts and corrodes through28 complaints · 26% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbags fail to deploy in crashes10 complaints · 9.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines7 complaints · 6.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #02V104000On 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.
- Recall #02V075000On certain sport utility vehicles, water and impurities can enter into the ignition switch, causing a short circuit.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 15 crashes, 5 fires, 17 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 10 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 108 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 28 | 26% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 10 | 9.3% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 7 | 6.5% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 7 | 6.5% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 6 | 5.6% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 3 | 2.8% | – | |
| Horn fails with airbag warning light | 3 | 2.8% | – | |
| Jeep Cherokee stalls while driving | 3 | 2.8% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 3 | 2.8% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 3 | 2.8% | – | NHTSA recall #02V075000 |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #02V104000April 8, 20021,115,322 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors
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.
This could result in a vehicle fire.
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. 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.
NHTSA recall #02V075000March 8, 200295,000 vehicles affected
electrical system: ignition: switch
On certain sport utility vehicles, water and impurities Can enter into the ignition switch, causing a short circuit.
This could result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 Jeep Wrangler.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN