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2002 Jeep Grand CherokeeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1,476 owner complaints about the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-046 the manufacturer reports only 17% of affected cars repaired.

2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
39
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.6× the Grand Cherokee median · #8 of 32 years by complaints
Safety recalls10Lowest repair rate 17%Owner complaints1,476156 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage125kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 17, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee has problems

1,476 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags48644
Visibility3235
Service brakes, hydraulic1536
Engine and engine cooling1465
Seats9115
Electrical system857
Power train5812
Steering410
Vehicle speed control3821
20 other systems24621

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

10 recalls

2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

17%repaired · 2017 Q2

Air bags: frontal

Recall 15V-046 · Jan 28, 2015 · 752,644 vehicles · 131,428 repaired

Risk. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

30%repaired · 2015 Q2

Air bags

Recall 12V-527 · Nov 8, 2012 · 744,822 vehicles · 223,229 repaired

Risk. Inadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Cooling system: fan

Recall 06V-199 · Jun 8, 2006 · 189,479 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD IS OPEN, A PERSON IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE COULD BE STRUCK BY THE BLADE AND INJURED.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 6 more recalls
–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 02V-032 · Jan 31, 2002 · 71,677 vehicles

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wiring: interior/under dash

Recall 01V-288 · Sep 10, 2001 · 43,000 vehicles

Risk. DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE CLUSTER COULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Jeep.

Mileage at failure

When do air bags problems start?

125kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 180 air bags complaints. 29% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
4under 30k miles53under 100k miles127100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Visibility

93 owners mentioned a cost

$1,100median

Middle half: $800 – $1,400

Engine and engine cooling

12 owners mentioned a cost

$950median

Middle half: $697 – $1,250

Air bags

11 owners mentioned a cost

$450median

Middle half: $283 – $550

Seats

8 owners mentioned a cost

$550median

Middle half: $323 – $800

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2002 vs. every other Grand Cherokee year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Grand Cherokee median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee safety ratings

2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Rollover: 2 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Fuel Storage System Crash Related FiresDP09005 · closed Aug 23, 2010
    No recall
  2. ROLL-AWAY IN REVERSE WHEN PARKEDEA01017 · closed Dec 18, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-053
  3. FAN BLADE FAILURE (ENGINE COOLING FAN)EA05020 · closed Sep 12, 2006
    Led to recall 06V-199
  4. Crash Related Fuel Tank FiresEA12005 · closed Nov 14, 2014
    Led to recall 13V-252
  5. ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE FAILUREPE05039 · closed Nov 14, 2005
    Led to recall 06V-199
  6. Crash Related Fuel Tank FiresPE10031 · closed Jun 14, 2012
    No recall
  7. Jeep inadvertent air bag deploymentRQ14001 · closed Nov 13, 2015
    Led to recall 15V-045
In owners' words

What Grand Cherokee owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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. THEY STATE THAT THE ORC MODULE AND OTHER ITEMS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL…
Complaint 11679986 · Aug 11, 2025
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. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
Complaint 11547797 · Oct 2, 2023 · 137,849 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the front passenger’s side airbag inadvertently deployed without warning. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure…
Complaint 11506020 · Feb 7, 2023 · 206,000 miles

Own a 2002 Grand Cherokee?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.