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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2002 Jeep LibertyRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 1,807 owner complaints for the 2002 Jeep Liberty. Most complaints involve air bags (546) and suspension (494). The EPA rates it 16–17 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
16–17mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
14campaigns
Latest Jan 2015
Owner complaints
1,807
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$3,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

14 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

Fuel system

Free remedy

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 in certain rear impacts.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jun 19, 2013NHTSA 13V252000

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
See all 14 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,807 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jul 2001 – Jul 2026
  1. Air bags546
  2. Suspension494
  3. Electrical system118
  4. Seat belts110
  5. Structure108
  6. Fuel/propulsion system88
  7. Engine and engine cooling85
  8. Power train84
  9. Fuel system, gasoline82

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 Liberty model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
20021,807
2008541
2009108
2010197
2011181
2012385
Crashes reported
174
Fires reported
21
Injuries reported
183
Deaths reported
4
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

546 reports106 crashes3 fires
“A couple years ago I had the airbag light come on when you come to find out there was a recall on my jeep. I had it took to the dealership, they supposedly fixed it now my airbag light is back on.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2025Air bagsODI 11655267

Suspension

494 reports39 crashes1 fire
“The lower ball joint on passenger side failed. Didn't notice any symptoms prior to it breaking. I understand that it was apparently under recall. It was repaired around the recall date but it failed again and is considered recurring failure.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2026Steering, SuspensionODI 11748340

Electrical system

118 reports9 fires
“The contact owns a 2002 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated upon exiting the vehicle, the lights on the unlock and lock button remained illuminated, causing the battery to drain. The contact stated that the vehicle constantly had to be jump-started due to the failure. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2021Electrical systemODI 11422678
All 2002 Liberty problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
3.7L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-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 Oct 27, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Liberty 2WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152017$3,800523
Liberty 4WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
142017$3,800523
Liberty 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
Liberty 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
141816$4,000555
  • Liberty 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
    15 city · 20 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Liberty 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
    14 city · 20 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Liberty 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Liberty 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L
    14 city · 18 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 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 Liberty as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 4673
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 Liberty questions

How many recalls does the 2002 Jeep Liberty have?

14 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 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 Liberty problems?

Owners filed 1,807 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (546), suspension (494), electrical system (118). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2002 Jeep Liberty get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Jeep Liberty at 16–17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026