2002 Jeep Liberty Recalls, Complaints & Specs
8 safety recalls list the 2002 Jeep Liberty, and owners have filed 1,808 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
8 safety recalls for the 2002 Jeep Liberty
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Air bags: frontal
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…
Remedy: Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527…
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Structure and tank assembly (fuel system)
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.
Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler…
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Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive and air bags
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,…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall by interim letter in January 2013. The remedy for…
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Suspension: control arm
Chrysler is recalling 42,469 my 2002-2003 jeep liberty vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in salt belt states of connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont,…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front upper control arm assemblies free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or about april 24, 2010. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
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Suspension: lower ball joint
On certain trucks, the constant tension front lower ball joints may experience contamination. If the vehicle is operated for an extended period with this condition, the ball joint may eventually experience wear and looseness.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front lower ball joints free of charge. The recall began on september 11, 2006. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
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Suspension: lower ball joint
On certain sport utility vehicles, the lower control arm ball joints can experience a loss of lubrication that can lead to corrosion, accelerated wear, and possible separation from the steering knuckle.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front lower control arm ball joints with modified assemblies and heat shields on vehicles built between january 2, 2001 and october 4, 2002. On vehicles built between october 5, 2002 and march…
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Air bags: frontal
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. In the event of a severe frontal offset collision, sharp edges on the power steering pressure hose bracket could cut the front impact sensor wiring insulation causing a short circuit in the wiring.
Remedy: Dealers will wrap the front impact sensor wire harness with protective insulation to prevent the possibility of damage. Owner notification began february 18, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer…
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Unknown or other
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The driver's side knee blocker trim panel assembly can disengage, fall, and startle the operator.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the knee blocker trim panel. Owner notification began november 26, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should…
1,808 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Jeep Liberty have filed 1,808 complaints with NHTSA; 174 describe a crash and 21 describe a fire. Reports cite 183 injuries and 4 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 89,723 miles. Complaints peaked in 2006 with 223 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 5, 2026 · Steering
“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 NHTSA, April 17, 2025 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Jeep Liberty (Liberty 2WD, Liberty 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–15 / 18–20 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Jeep Liberty model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Jeep Liberty model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Jeep Liberty | 0 | 6 |
| 2001 Jeep Liberty | 0 | 10 |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty | 8 | 1,808 |
| 2003 Jeep Liberty | 7 | 1,351 |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty | 7 | 1,101 |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty | 5 | 1,118 |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty | 9 | 1,372 |
| 2007 Jeep Liberty | 6 | 703 |
| 2008 Jeep Liberty | 4 | 541 |
| 2009 Jeep Liberty | 0 | 108 |
| 2010 Jeep Liberty | 2 | 197 |
| 2011 Jeep Liberty | 3 | 181 |
| 2012 Jeep Liberty | 2 | 385 |
Checking a specific 2002 Jeep Liberty
How do I know if my 2002 Jeep Liberty has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 2002 Jeep Liberty; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Jeep dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 01V311000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Jeep models
- Grand Cherokee29,093 complaints
- Wrangler15,984 complaints
- Cherokee14,838 complaints
- Compass3,705 complaints
- Patriot2,790 complaints
- Commander2,752 complaints
- Renegade2,202 complaints
- Wrangler 4-DR 4X41,366 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.