FaultScore

2002 Jeep Wrangler transmission problems

14 of the 139 complaints about the 2002 Jeep Wrangler are about the transmission — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 20,000 miles.

A

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 7 50.0%
Manual Transmission 3 21.4%
Automatic Transmission 1 7.1%
Axle Assembly 1 7.1%
Clutch Assembly 1 7.1%
Transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive) 1 7.1%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Jeep Wrangler year

1991 10 0.4%
1992 13 0.6%
1993 13 0.6%
1994 19 0.9%
1995 32 1.4%
1997 57 2.6%
1998 35 1.6%
1999 21 0.9%
2000 75 3.4%
2001 25 1.1%
2002 14 0.6%
2003 25 1.1%
2004 29 1.3%
2005 41 1.8%
2006 58 2.6%
2007 47 2.1%
2008 68 3.1%
2009 34 1.5%
2010 72 3.2%
2011 40 1.8%
2012 285 12.8%
2013 230 10.3%
2014 89 4.0%
2015 51 2.3%
2016 73 3.3%
2017 50 2.2%
2018 174 7.8%
2019 78 3.5%
2020 47 2.1%
2021 139 6.2%
2022 60 2.7%
2023 47 2.1%
2024 164 7.4%
2025 11 0.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 150,000 miles Ardmore, TN

POWER TRAIN

FRAME RUSTING OUT

NHTSA complaint #11291090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles West Boylston, MA

POWER TRAIN

THE 2002 JEEP WRANGLER HAS APPROX. 85000 MILES ON IT. NEVER USED OFF ROAD - JUST TO AND FROM WORK. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR WORK ON CLUTCH AND REPAIR SHOP STATES THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH AND NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE TRANSMISSION IS ABLE TO BE REMOVED. FRONT FENDERS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH IN SAME SPOT ON EACH SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10597868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,500 miles Arcadia, CA

POWER TRAIN

GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY ABOUT 60MPH AROUND 5:30PM. FEEL SOME HUMMING FROM THE VEHICLE FOLLOW BY A LOUD HIGH PITCH. THEN HEARD A LOUD BAND AND PARTS STARTED TO FALL ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WAS STILL MOVING WITHOUT POWER AND LIGHT. I WAS ON THE THIRD LANE OF A FIVE LANE FREEWAY. CARS BEHIND ME SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE. I WAS STOP BETWEEN AN ENTRANCE AND THE FREEWAY. AFTER EXAM THE CAR WITH THE SHOP. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS BROKEN INTO PIECES. CALLED JEEP AND WAS TOLD TO TOLL THE CAR TO A DEALER. AFTER DEALER CONFIRMED THE TRANSFER CASE WAS BROKEN INTO PIECES WITH NO CLUE. JEEP REFUSED TO PAY BECAUSE WARRANTY WAS DUE ON 2004 EVEN KNOWING THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 6500 MILES ON IT. THIS JEEP WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE MOST OF THE PAST YEARS. AND EVERY TIME WHEN I CAME BACK FROM OVERSEA. OIL AND FILTER CHANGE WERE SERVICE ON THE CAR. I DON'T BELIEVE A 6500MILES TRANSFER CASE WILL JUST BLOW UP.

NHTSA complaint #10556452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles Danbury, WI

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V234000 (POWER TRAIN , STEERING). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA complaint #10551152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Casco, ME

POWER TRAIN

MARCH 2009: WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, HEAR A RATTLE NOISE, THEN THE SHIFT ON THE FLOOR SHAKES VIOLENTLY. PULL OVER, CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, TRAVEL HOME LESS THAN 50 MPH, FINE. FEW MORE TIMES, ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR DOES IT AGAIN. PUT IN FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER, CHANGE OIL, CLEAN ALL AROUND BATTERY. DOES NOT DO IT FOR A WEEK OR TWO THEN DOES IT AGAIN. TOLD TO REPLACE CAMSHAFT SENSOR & CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. DID AND RAN FINE NO ISSUES FOR TWO WEEKS. 4/13/09 AFTER SITTING AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, PROCEEDED TO TURN RIGHT, ENGINE DIED. NO WARNING NO SOUND,NO DASH LIGHTS ON, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED UP & TRAVELED HOME. 4/15/09 AFTER SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, CAR DIED, NO SOUND,CHUGGING, NO DASH LIGHTS WE WENT TO JEEP IN FORT MYERS FLORIDA. THEY SAID WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR OIL, ADD A FUEL ADDITIVE, INJECTOR CLEANER & CLEAN OUR BATTERY IN ADDITION TO REPLACE ONE OF THE SENSORS. ALL OF THIS WAS ALREADY DONE. IF THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE, THEN IT IS OUR IGNITION SWITCH. COST TO US FOR THIS DIAGNOSIS $110.19. 4/27/09 TOWED JEEP WITH RV TO MAINEWENT TO JEEP DEALER MACDONALD MOTORS BRIDGTON MAINE. 5/04/09 CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING TO THE APPOINTMENT, THIS TIME 45-50MPH. WANTED TO REPLACE CRANK SENSOR WITH A ?MOPAR? BRAND, EVEN THOUGH WE TOLD HIM IT WAS JUST DONE. ALSO WANTED TO COMPLETE COMBUSTION CHAMBER CLEANER FROM BULLETIN 09-003-03. DECLINED. COST $55.81 5/18/09 TOOK CAR INTO MACDONALDS MOTORS FOR BULLETIN 09-003-03 TO BE DONE & ASKED THEM TO CHECK GROUNDING MOUNTS. REC'D CALL THAT THEY PERFORMED FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING & NEED A NEW CRANK SENSOR. WE SPOKE TO THE MANAGER, BECAUSE THE WORK WE REQUESTED WAS NOT PERFORMED, AND OTHER ITEMS WERE. HE ASSURED US THE BULLETIN WOULD BE PERFORMED THE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED, NO REPAIR WAS NEEDED AND THE GROUNDING MOUNTS WERE FINE AND THE COMPUTER NO LONGER TELLS THEM IT NEEDS A CRANK SENSOR. THIS VEHICLE HAS DIED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEIR REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10273183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Rochester, NY

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

BAD THROW-OUT BEARING OR NOISY NV3550 5-SPD TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10172365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plymouth Meeting, PA

POWER TRAIN

2002 JEEP WRANGLER HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE.

NHTSA complaint #10148656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orange Park, FL

POWER TRAIN

PROBLEMS WITH GEARS ON 2002 JEEP WRANGLER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHILE DRIVING ON A BEACH WITH THE GEAR IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE HIGH THE VEHICLE SUDDNELY CAME OUT OF GEAR AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET IT BACK INTO GEAR. THE JEEP HAD TO BE TOWED OUT OF THE SAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ASSURED THE CONSUMER THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR-36000 MILE WARRANTY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY FELT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ABUSED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10117859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,500 miles Newtown, PA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

AT 65 MPH ON I-95 IN MARYLAND, THE CLUTCH AND BEARINGS BURNED OUT. ALL POWER TO POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WERE LOST IMMEDIATELY MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP AND STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. RECENT DEALER MAINTENANCE FAILED TO DETECT ANY EXCESS IVE WEAR OR POTENTIAL FOR FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10058684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,000 miles Fair Oaks, CA

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHEN DRIVING ON ICE OR SNOW THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE KICKS OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND POTENTIALLY SLID. NO IMPACT HAD BEEN REPORTED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT FELT AS IF THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE STOPPED TO GET BACK INTO 4WD. THE LEVER WAS HELD TIGHTLY AND POPPED OUT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN 2WD FOR SEVERAL MILES THEN WAS ABLE TO BE PLACED BACK INTO 4WD AND STAYED. ALSO, THE UPHOLSTERY HAD STARTED TO TEAR ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE GASKETS ON BOTH MIRRORS DETERIORATED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10046318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARSH ENGAGEMENT AND PRODUCES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS I HAVE HAD MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY. I AM TOLD CHRYSLER WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIRS OR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER FULL FACTORY WARRANTY, THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED IF IT CAN NOT BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10036675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Denver, CO

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

IN 4-LOW TRYING TO GET OUT OF SNOW IN A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER, THE AXLE BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS NOT BEING COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE I WAS TOLD IT HAPPENED WHEN SPINNING TIRES HIT PAVEMENT, ALTHOUGH I NEVER DID GET TO PAVEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10013750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,840 miles Bangor, ME

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION THE FIFTH GEAR "DOG LEG" STICKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIFTH TO FOUTH AND BACK TO FIFTH AND DOES NOT ALLOW FIFTH GEAR TO BE CHOSEN UNTIL YOU PLACE THE GEARSHIFT IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THEN SHIFT INTO FIFTH

NHTSA complaint #10007736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dublin, OH

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION MAKES A RATTLING SOUND WHEN IDLING IN NEUTRAL. NLM

NHTSA complaint #786458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Jeep Wrangler problems

← Full 2002 Jeep Wrangler report