CarModelProblems.com

2002 Jeep Liberty Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Air Bags — runs 3.2× the fleet median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
1,808Complaints
14Recalls
174Crashes
21Fires
183Injured
4Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Air Bags (27% of complaints) — is covered by 3 NHTSA recall campaigns.

Air Bags complaints here are 3.2× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.

5 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 1 rests on owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Air Bags489 · 27%RecalledRecall 15V046000 · Recall 12V527000 · Recall 01V373000
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint298 · 16.5%RecalledRecall 09V119000 · Recall 12E047000 · Recall 06V288000 · Recall 03V460000
Suspension95 · 5.3%RecalledRecall 09V119000 · Recall 12E047000 · Recall 06V288000 · Recall 03V460000
Fuel/propulsion System88 · 4.9%RecalledRecall 13V252000
Electrical System85 · 4.7%No official action
Fuel System, Gasoline74 · 4.1%RecalledRecall 13V252000

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS489 · 27%
SUSPENSION95 · 5.3%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE74 · 4.1%
ENGINE74 · 4.1%
STRUCTURE69 · 3.8%
STEERING58 · 3.2%
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT53 · 2.9%

Percentages are the share of the 1,808 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 14 campaigns

Air Bags:frontal

NHTSA campaign 15V046000 · 2015 · reported 01/28/2015

Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Suspension:front:control Arm

NHTSA campaign 09V119000 · 2009 · reported 04/09/2009

FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Air Bags

NHTSA campaign 12V527000 · 2012 · reported 11/08/2012

Inadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Suspension:front:hub

NHTSA campaign 12E047000 · 2012 · reported 10/22/2012

If the non-formed hub unit is installed on a Jeep Liberty 4x2 model (which does not use an axle nut for hub retention), the vehicle wheel will not be secure and a front wheel separation may occur, increasing the risk of a crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

NHTSA campaign 13V252000 · 2013 · reported 06/19/2013

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

NHTSA campaign 06V288000 · 2006 · reported 08/03/2006

WHEN THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION, THE CONTAMINATION CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLY SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E065000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E049000 · 2006 · reported 05/24/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NHTSA campaign 06E022000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

NHTSA campaign 03V460000 · 2003 · reported 11/10/2003

A BALL JOINT THATHAS SEPARATED FROM THE KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Air Bags:frontal

NHTSA campaign 01V373000 · 2001 · reported 12/05/2001

THIS COULD DELAY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Unknown Or Other

NHTSA campaign 01V311000 · 2001 · reported 10/04/2001

THIS COULD STARTLE THE OPERATOR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID#01V311000 ID#01V373000 HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY CHRYSLER OF THESE. HAD 2002 JEEP LIBERTY SINCE DEC 2001 VIN#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE…”NHTSA complaint 10008336 — filed 03/02/2003 · AIR BAGS
“A HEAD ON COLLISION INVOLVING A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY (VEHICLE IN QUESTION) AND A LATE MODEL HONDA CIVIC, BOTH VEHICLES MOVING AT APPROX. 20 MPH…”NHTSA complaint 10003564 — filed 01/28/2003 · AIR BAGS
“I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE IN THE RAIN WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT…”NHTSA complaint 10003061 — filed 01/20/2003 · AIR BAGS

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

1052012237273201427212920163715201817142020632022162024122026

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Jeep Liberty?

Air bags issues are the most-reported category, cited in 489 of 1,808 NHTSA complaints (27%), followed by suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (298), suspension (95), fuel/propulsion system (88). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 2002 Jeep Liberty have?

1,808 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 174 involved a crash, 21 involved a fire, and 183 reported injuries. 4 deaths were reported.

Does the 2002 Jeep Liberty have any recalls?

Yes — 14 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 15V046000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Jeep Liberty's reported problems?

5 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.