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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2002 Jeep Grand CherokeeRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 1,476 owner complaints for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Most complaints involve air bags (486) and visibility (323). The EPA rates it 14–16 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
14–16mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
16campaigns
Latest Jan 2015
Owner complaints
1,476
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$3,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

16 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

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 vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Air bagsReported Jan 28, 2015NHTSA 15V046000

Air bags

Remedy pending

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 February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Air bagsReported Nov 8, 2012NHTSA 12V527000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000
See all 16 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,476 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2001 – Apr 2026
  1. Air bags486
  2. Visibility323
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic153
  4. Engine and engine cooling146
  5. Seats91
  6. Electrical system85
  7. Power train58
  8. Steering41
  9. Vehicle speed control38

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Grand Cherokee model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
19961,342
19971,380
19981,429
19992,004
20001,829
20011,111
20021,476
2003761
20041,295
20052,052
20061,297
20071,109
2008734
2009138
2010118
20111,640
20121,644
2013805
20142,388
20151,369
2016312
2017364
2018855
2019370
2020241
2021410
2022377
2023408
2024254
202580
202632
Crashes reported
75
Fires reported
20
Injuries reported
97
Deaths reported
4
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

486 reports35 crashes
“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 CANNOT BE OBTAINED ANYWHERE AND THE DEALER'S SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING MONTHS FOR THE BACK ORDERED PARTS SO THE RECALL CAN BE COMPLETED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED ON THESE JEEPS. MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE PARTS NEEDED IS ON THE RECALL LIST R06 TO FIX IT. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS CRITICAL INJURIES. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2025Air bagsODI 11679986

Visibility

323 reports3 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK UPON USING THE BUTTON TO TURN ON THE HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENTS BLEW COLD AIR REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RECIRCULATION DOOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2014VisibilityODI 10660852

Service brakes, hydraulic

153 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E011000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 06E022000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), AND 12V527000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICES MONTHS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasoline, Air bagsODI 10625990
All 2002 Grand Cherokee problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
4.0L 6-cyl · 4.7L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Automatic 5-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Grand Cherokee 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
141916$3,900555
Grand Cherokee 2WD
Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
131815$4,150592
Grand Cherokee 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
131815$4,150592
Grand Cherokee 4WD
Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121714$4,450635
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 4489
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2002 Grand Cherokee questions

How many recalls does the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?

16 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems?

Owners filed 1,476 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (486), visibility (323), service brakes, hydraulic (153). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee at 14–16 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026