FaultScore

2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee body problems

13 of the 1,771 complaints about the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee are about the body and structure — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 84,775 miles.

D

13

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Body 5 38.5%
Structure 3 23.1%
Frame AND Members 2 15.4%
Support Device/Strut 1 7.7%
Hinge AND Attachments 1 7.7%
Tailgate 1 7.7%

Body & Structure across every Jeep Grand Cherokee year

1993 51 4.1%
1994 31 2.5%
1995 49 3.9%
1996 89 7.1%
1997 66 5.3%
1998 69 5.5%
1999 32 2.5%
2000 31 2.5%
2001 15 1.2%
2002 13 1.0%
2004 36 2.9%
2005 413 32.9%
2006 120 9.6%
2007 14 1.1%
2008 13 1.0%
2011 43 3.4%
2012 26 2.1%
2013 12 1.0%
2014 66 5.3%
2015 30 2.4%
2016 11 0.9%
2017 10 0.8%
2018 16 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Port Charolette, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE TRAILER HITCH, THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INDICATED THAT THE FRAME AND TRAILER HITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY WOULD PROVIDE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION FOR LONGER THAN TWO YEARS. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10894046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,490 miles Lancaster, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE POWER WINDOWS REPEATEDLY BREAK--WON'T OPERATE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR/REGULATOR HAS BROKEN DOWN TWICE. IN ADDITION, TWO OTHER WINDOW OPERATORS HAVE FAILED. THE CULPRIT: A WHITE PLASTIC HALF WHEEL THAT THE CABLE GOES AROUND THAT OPERATES THE WINDOW. JEEP CHARGES $500 PLUS TO REPAIR EACH TIME! OPERATING THE VEHICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WINDOW. IT CAN BE STATIONARY AND WHEN YOU GO TO OPERATE THE WINDOW, IT STOPS FUNCTIONING. PLEASE NOTE: I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, AND THERE ARE ONLY 111,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST WINDOW STOP OPERATING IN 2010, AND FOURTH ONE IN 2016.

NHTSA complaint #10852396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 172,000 miles Prompting, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK DOOR WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

NHTSA complaint #10785557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,551 miles Bowling Green, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD CONNECTING BARS WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF CORROSION AND COULD POSSIBLY FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CONNECTING BARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,551. UPDATED 02/18/15*LJ UPDATED 4/4/2016*JS UPDATED 08/28/2017

NHTSA complaint #10641076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Fairfax, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V527000 (AIR BAGS) OVER A YEAR AGO. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WHICH SHE CONSIDERED TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY SINCE HER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE TRANSMISSION, WINDOWS, FAN RELAY SWITCH, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE. ALSO, THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING AND ALL OF THE SHOCKS FOR THE TAIL GATE LIFT, FAILED. UPDATED 02/24/14 *JB UPDATED 3/12/14

NHTSA complaint #10562862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Cincinnati, OH Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS REAR ENDED IN MY '02 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. MY VEHICLE DOES HAVE A MANUFACTURED INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE GAS TANK WAS STILL HIT BY THE VEHICLE. THE HITCH DID NOTHING TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM GETTING TO THE TANK. THERE ARE VISIBLE GRAZE MARKS WHERE THE VEHICLE HIT THE HITCH AND PROCEEDED TO THE GAS TANK. STILL NOT FEELING SAFE FROM THE CHRYSLER RECALL THAT THE "HITCH" WILL PREVENT A FIRE HAZARD IF INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. CHRYSLER WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE SINCE IT HAS A HITCH. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *TR..UPDATED 02/13/17 *BF UPDATED 08/08/2017

NHTSA complaint #10532117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 198,000 miles Fort Plain, NY Crash

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DRIVING HOME FROM A SOCCER GAME WITH 3 KIDS AND MYSELF IN A 2002 JEEP. I WAS COMING TO A STOP, WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE SUV. THE FRAME OF THE JEEP BROKE FROM RUST. THE JEEP HAD THE UNDERSIDE COATED WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. JEEP DID NOTHING TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, AND IT HAD TO GO TO THE SALVAGE YARD. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER JEEP PRODUCT. MY AUTO BODY SHOP SAID THE OTHER SIDE WAS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH ALSO, SO REPAIR COST WOULD MORE THAN IT WOULD BE WORTH. THE ONLY THING WAS THAT MOMENTS BEFORE THE BREAK, I WAS GOING 65 ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD IT BROKE THEN I WOULD HAVE HAD A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10373744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brownsville, TX

STRUCTURE

JEEP 2004 AND DOWN HAVE WATER LEAKAGE ON PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES DUE TO A/C. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL JEEP OWNERS AND THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAN CAUSE MILDEW AND MOLD (HEALTH PROBLEMS) TO BUILD UP WHICH ALSO LEAVES A VERY UGLY SMELL. THE AMOUNT OF WATER IS RIDICULOUS THAT WHEN YOU LIFT THE CARPET THE WATER IS VISIBLE AND YOU NEED TO SUCTION OUT ALL THE WATER. UNKNOWN FIX TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT THE A/C SYSTEM WAS POORLY BUILT AND THIS PROBLEM IS EXISTENT ON 90% OF ALL JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO. IT IS NOT A DRAIN PROBLEM FROM CLOTTING AND YOU CAN SEE THE WATER DRIPPING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10353657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 139,000 miles Salem, SC

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

MY SON'S 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED WOBBLING AND THEN COMPLETELY BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. HE IS 240 LBS AND WAS JUST DRIVING NORMALLY. OVER TIME ... THE WOBBLING GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. THE SEAT COMPLETELY BROKE LOOSE AS HE WAS ACCELERATING AFTER WAITING FOR A STOP LIGHT. I REMOVED THE SEAT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND SAW THAT BOTH BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE FRONT ROD THAT RUNS PARALLEL WITH THE FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT WERE CRACKED AND THE FRONT BOLT ON THE DOOR SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT RIPPED RIGHT THROUGH THE FLIMSY METAL BRACKET ON THE BASE OF THE SEAT. THIS STRUCTURAL DEFECT IS "LIFE THREATENING." HE ALMOST FELL BACKWARDS INTO THE BACK SEAT. HAD THERE BEEN OTHER CARS COMING AT THIS INTERSECTION, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACT. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SAW THAT THIS SEAT/STRUCTURAL DEFECT ON JEEPS GOES BACK TO 1999. HOW CAN THE NHTSA AND JEEP/CHRYSLER IGNORE THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS? THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. JEEP SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM NOW. GIVEN ALL THE BLOGS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE ... THEY SURE WON'T WIN IN COURT.

NHTSA complaint #10273766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles North Wildwood, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

RAISED HOOD TO HIGHEST POSITION TO CHECK OIL; WALKED AWAY TO GET RAG- HOOD CAME DOWN TO CLOSED POSITION. RAISED HOOD TO HIGH UP POSITION--WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN. COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY IF I HAD NOT MOVED AWAY. *TR HAVE NOT NOTIFIED THE DEALER YET, POSTED A CAUTION NOTE ON THE DASH

NHTSA complaint #10215491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomington, IN

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE TAIL GATE. ON MODERATE OCCASIONS HARD ACCELERATION WOULD OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #10011349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Pawtucket, RI

STRUCTURE

AFTER 1200 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE SIMILAR TO A "CRICKET" CHIRPING. THE DEALER INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO WAIT UNTIL THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER SO THEY COULD PIN POINT WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ONCE THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS A NOISE THAT CAME BETWEEN 65-75 MILES PER HOUR. A NEW DRIVE SHAFT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE NOISE REMAINED. CHRYSLER TESTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. CHRYSLER ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER PAY FOR ANY ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10032201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles N. Richland Hills, TX

STRUCTURE

THE LUGGAGE RACK ON THE TOP OF MY JEEP PULLED OUT. THE SCREWS JUST PULLED THROUGH THE HOLES. THERE WERE NO WASHERS OR ANYTHING OF THAT TYPE TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING. THIS WAS DONE WHEN STRAPPING AN ITEM TO THE TOP TO SECURE IT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD. I DON'T WANT TO BE BEHIND THE JEEP THAT HAS THIS HAPPEN ON THE ROAD AND LOSES IT'S LOAD INTO THE ROAD OR ONTO THE AUTOMOBILE FOLLOWING. JEEP WILL NOT HELP US IN REPAIRING THE PROBLEM NOR DO THEY CARE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE HAZARD. I SPOKE TO MIKE AT THE SERVICE DESK AT CHRYSLER AND HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. WHEN I TOLD HIM IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, HE SAID HE DIDN'T CARE. I PLAN ON CONTACTING THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, IF THEY WILL ALLOW ME, AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE SCREW AND CASING PULLED THROUGH, IT ENLARGED THE HOLE AND PROTRUDED UP THROUGH THE ROOF TOP. IF ONE CAN NOT TIGHTEN A TOP LOAD ON THE LUGGAGE RACK, WHAT IS TO PREVENT IT FROM COMING OFF AT ANY TIME???? PLEASE HELP US AND OTHERS WITH JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE'S TO PREVENT A FUTURE ACCIDENT DUE TO TOP MOUNTED LOADS FROM COMING OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10018468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

← Full 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee report