2002 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,476 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 908 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 467 of 1,476 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 198 | 13.4% |
| Steering behavior | 86 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 60 | 4.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 45 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 25 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 24 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 467 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 95 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 95 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor | 81 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 70 |
| Electrical System | 66 |
| Seats | 65 |
| Visibility | 57 |
Air Bags: 467; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 95; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 95; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor: 81; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 70; Electrical System: 66; Seats: 65; Visibility: 57
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 113 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 122 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 216 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 167 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 175 |
| 150,000 and above | 115 |
Under 25,000: 113; 25,000 to 49,999: 122; 50,000 to 74,999: 216; 75,000 to 99,999: 167; 100,000 to 149,999: 175; 150,000 and above: 115
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (216). 568 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 71 |
| 2003 | 77 |
| 2004 | 75 |
| 2005 | 82 |
| 2006 | 136 |
| 2007 | 187 |
| 2008 | 113 |
| 2009 | 43 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 131 |
| 2014 | 126 |
| 2015 | 172 |
| 2016 | 103 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 71; 2003: 77; 2004: 75; 2005: 82; 2006: 136; 2007: 187; 2008: 113; 2009: 43; 2010: 51; 2011: 28; 2012: 20; 2013: 131; 2014: 126; 2015: 172; 2016: 103; 2017: 21; 2018: 12; 2019: 13; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 198 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 86 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 60 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003093 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
ROTORS AND BRAKES. I HAVE RESURFACED MY ROTORS ONCE AND NOW I AM REPLACING THEM. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND IT IS NOW 12 MONTHS AND 2 WEEKS OLD, MUCH TOO SOON FOR EITHER OF THESE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS. THE DEALER TELLS ME ITS MY PROBLEM, NOT THEIRS. I AM ALSO HAVING TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS FOR THE SECOND TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003562 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED DURING BRAKING WHEN WEARING BOOTS OR LARGER SIZE SHOES RESULTING IN ACCELERATION INSTEAD OF BRAKING. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE ONLY TO HAVE MY RIGHT PORTION OF THE TREAD ON MY SIZE 11 CONSTRUCTION BOOT WAS ALSO PRESSING GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ACCELERATE. GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL SEEM TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THIS IS MY THIRD GRAND CHEROKEE('93, '96, RECENT '02) AND ONLY THIS '02 SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF OTHERS REPORTING ACCELERATING SYMPTOMS.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004971 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, STEERING WHEEL VISABLY SHAKING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO AHVE THIS FIXED THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING ME THAT I NEEDED NEW BRAKES. THIS IS A CAR THAT IS BARELY A YEAR OLD AND HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT. I EXPECT BRAKES TO LAST LONGER ON THIS AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW BRAKES. WHEN I REFUSED, AND THROUGH MUCH HASSLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THEM AT NO CHARGE. MOST OF THE MILES ON THIS CAR ARE HIGHWAY MILES AND I WOULD EXPECT JEEP TO MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT. THIS IS AFTER I HAD IT TOWED …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006729 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND SHE TAKES THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL NEVER LOCKS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053499 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS LEASED. THERE WERE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL TROUBLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064540 · 2004-04-05 (April 5, 2004)
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BEEP UNDER DASH, DOME LIGHTS COMING ON, RADIO GOES OFF, ALL DASH LIGHTS(ABS, BRAKE,ETC.). TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS 3 TIMES IN SHOP FOR SLIPPING AND LEAKING SEALS. LEAKING AT PAN, OUTPUT SEAL AND, DRIVE TRAIN THEY CHANGED SEALS AND 1 MONTH LATER OUTPUT SEAL WAS LEAKING AGAIN. GOVERN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED 8/3/03 ALONG WITH SOLENOID, TRANSDUCE. FAULTY BATTERIES. SHOCKS ALL LEAKING BUT THEY REPLACED 1 FRONT 1 BACK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 25,902 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006233 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED FROM 5TH TO 2ND GEAR, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE RPM'S TO GO FROM 1800 TO 4600 RPM'S. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO FIX. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011915 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
NAR 03/17/2003 THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE WITH OUT ANY NOTICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JEEP DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON THE DOOR AND THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE CHRYSLER REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT THAT RESULTED IN MOVEMENT FROM PARK TO REVERSE SHIFT. CONSUMER IS VERY DISCOURAGE AND WANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION DONE. *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009487 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE AND PROBLEM CONTINUED TO EXIST.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033903 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, THEN IT STALLED AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. THE MECHANIC STATED THE OVERHEATING WAS CAUSED BY THE FAULTY RADIATOR. THE ENGINE MELTED AND NOW NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS RELATED TO THE RADIATOR REPAIR IN MARCH 2003. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000112 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)
FUEL EMISSION CONTROL CANISTER TICKS AND SOUNDS LIKE A LIFTER TICK - GAS MILEAGE IS 11.3 MILES TO THE GALLON. STRONG GAS ODORS CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE THE TRUCK ONCE THE GAS TANK LEVEL REACHES THE 1/2 WAY MARK. DEALERSHIP APOLOGIZES BUT SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE TRUCK IS 3 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 4400 MILES ON IT. HELP I LOVE MY JEEP
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114709 · 2005-03-25 (March 25, 2005)
I HAVE A 2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO, MANUFACTURED 8-2001. IN NOVEMBER 2004, THE CAR BEGAN TO HAVE A HARD START TO IT. THE LONGER THE CAR SAT, THE LONGER IT TOOK TO START IT. SOMETIMES THE CRANKING WENT ON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. IT WOULD DO THIS FOR 2-3 WEEKS AND THEN STOP FOR 2-3 WEEKS AND THEN REPEAT THE CYCLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MESAGE WAS 341: MEANING CAMSHAFT SENSOR MALFUNCTION. IT IS INVOLVED IN RELAYING POWER TO THE ENGINE AND, IF IT FAILED, COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN MOTION. I SPENT $220 TO HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,874 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114709 at NHTSA ↗