Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Jeep Wrangler submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
Frame is rotted out. Vehicle is well maintained and it is upsetting. After spending good money for a reputable brand, the frame did not last. It is not drivable and is unsafe to be on the road. It is not safe to travel with my family. Everyone I know that has these years wrangler TJ model has this problem. Lower and upper control arms need to be welded back because they rotted off.
PURCHASED A 2002 JEEP FROM TWIN RIVERS AUTO SALES, I DID NOT RECEIVE A VEHICLE DISCLOSURE REPORT AND IT WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A CONTROL ARM BRACKET THAT WAS DAMAGED WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRAME WHICH MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO FRAME WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE OTHER'AND MYSELF EXTREME HARM OR DEATH. I WAS NOT INFORMED OF ANY PROBLEM WITH FRAME, AFTER PURCHASE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ZIEBART AND IT WOULD BE UNDERCOATED FOR FREE, THEY TRIED TO COVER UP WITH THE UNDERCOATING WHERE THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET BECAME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME ALONG WITH OTHER DEFECTS IN THE FRAME I WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE THE JEEP FROM DEALERSHIP TO ZIEBARTS FOR THE UNDERCOATING AND THEN HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO MY HOUSE DUE TO THE STABILIZER LINK BREAKING BECAUSE OF THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET BREAKING AWAY FROM FRAME DUE TO RUST, . I'VE TRIED CALL THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES WITH NO REPLY. I AM THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR DEAD IF THIS WOULD'VE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HWY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS 6700.00 AND THEN ADDITIONAL 5 NEW TIRES 600.00 AND TWO LEAKING AND BENT RIMS AT 75.00 FOR A TOTAL OF 7375.00 ON A UNSAFE VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP NEW ABOUT . I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED, AND FRUSTRATED WITH THIS SITUATION. I NEED HELP GETTING THIS RESOLVED BUT THEY WILL NOT RERUN MY CALLS AND HAVE HUNG UP ON ME I HAVE PHOTOS AND A INSPECTION SAYING THAT IT WAS SAFE WHEN FAR FROM BEING SAFE POINT BLANK THIS DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A VEHICLE THAT WAS U SAFE FOR OTHERS AND MYSELF TO BE ON THE ROAD SO NOW I AM OUT ALL OF THIS MONEY AND I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION SO THAT THEY CAN NOT DUE BUSINESS IN THIS MANNER AND I CAN RESOLVE THIS WITH EITHER GIVING ME BACK MY COST OF THE JEEP AND TIRES AND RIMS . I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO OR WHO TO CONTACT IN TRYING TO GET MY MONEY BACK IT IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR A JEEP I CAN'T DRIVE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED SEVERE RUST FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEAF SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED A 60% FRACTURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE FRAME WAS FAULTY FROM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE WHERE WATER AND DIRT CAN ENTER THE FRAME BUT NO WAY TO EXIT THEREFORE BECOMING TRAPPED TO ALLOW RUST TO FORM FROM THE INSIDE OF FRAME. THIS NOT ONLY PROMOTES BUT ALLOWS THE LIFE OF THE FRAME TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY WEAK AND IF IN A ACCIDENT NOT TO WITH STAND A IMPACT AND CREATE A SITUATION WHERE LIFE OR HARM TO PERSONS INCREASE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WATERMARK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (LOCATED AT 1055 CROSSING PL, MADISONVILLE, KY 42431, (270) 875-4432), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
THE FRAME IS ROTTING TERRIBLY AND THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ABOUT TO CRACK OFF AND THE TRANS/SKID PLATE HAS ALREADY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANS TO FALL OFF OF THE FRAME, VEHICLE WAS CITY DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPEND
EXCESSIVE FRAME ROT DUE TO POOR DESIGN BY MANUFACTURER.
I KNOW THE JEEP IS A 2002, BUT THIS RUSTING, TO BE THIS BAD, HAD TO HAVE STARTED AWHILE AGO. I WENT TO HAVE TWO NEW TIRES INSTALLED AND WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT THEY COULD NOT JACK OR LIFT THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE RUST. THIS IS PART OF THE FRAME, GOD FORBID IF IT WOULD HAVE FAILED. IT IS SO RUSTED THAT I CAN PUT MY FINGER THROUGH THE FRAME IN SPOTS. I DO NOT USE THE JEEP FOR OFF ROAD ACTIVITIES NOR PARK IT IN THE OCEAN. I ALSO WASH THE ROAD SALT OFF DURING THE WINTER. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE RUSTED PASS SIDE AND THE NOT TOO RUSTED DRIVER SIDE. THIS IS JUST AN AROUND TOWN VEHICLE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND JEEP SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO RELEASE A VEHICLE WITH SUCH A DANGEROUS DEFECT. I WONDER IF THIS IS A VEHICLE FROM A FLOOD. FOR THIS AMOUNT OF DETERIORATION, I WOULD NOT DOUBT IT AND I WILL TRY TO FIND OUT. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE.
THE MAIN RIGHT SIDE FRAME SUPPORT FOR THE CENTERLINE SKID PLATE/TRANSMISSION RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THIS RESULTED IN ALMOST DROPPING THE SKID PLATE AND TRANSMISSION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WOULD DEARLY LOVE TO KNOW WHY JEEP SOLD VEHICLES THAT BEGIN RUSTING WHERE IT CAN'T BE FOUND UNTIL CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE OCCURS.
FOUND DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION FOR OTHER REPAIRS. CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS GIVEN CASE# 31813048 DEALER INSPECTED (SEE FILE BELOW) ON 7-10-17 CALLED CHRYSLER 800-992-1997 AND SPOKE WITH BRI, SHE SAID THAT THERE IS NO COVERAGE AVAILABLE THROUGH CHRYSLER. I FIND WITH MILEAGE AND KNOWING THAT I KEEP MY CAR INSIDE DURING WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HAVE MAINTAINED VEHICLE AS PER CHRYSLER THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
DUE TO A POOR DESIGN OF SIDE HOLES BUT NO BOTTOM DRAIN HOLES, WATER AND DIRT, ETC COLLECTED INSIDE THE REAR FRAME SECTION AND RUSTED IT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
"RUSTED FRAME" I BOUGHT A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME IN THE MIDDLE WHERE THE SKID PLATE BOLTS IN TO THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT PRETTY BAD AND I HAVE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN FOR SAFETY. WELL I DIDN'T FIND THIS PROBLEM BUT I THOUGHT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS CAUSING MY BAD SHAKE WHEN I PULLED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT OUT I NOTICED THAT PROBLEM. ITS A 14 YEAR OLD VEHICLE BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME SHOULD BE RUSTED LIKE THIS. PLEASE FIX MY PROBLEM.. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY
TAKATA RECALL- DRIVING DOWN A DARK COUNTY ROAD- LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT OFF ROAD AND HIT A TREE- UPON IMPACT THE JEEP BURST INTO FLAMES- THE DRIVER WAS PULLED OUT BECAUSE SHE WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE BURNING JEEP- THE JEEP WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE FIRE
JEEP FRAME HAS RUSTED IN HALF IN SEVERAL PLACES COSTING$3,000.00 IN REPAIRS LUCKILY IT BROKE AT A LOW SPEED WITHOUT HARM TO ANYONE IF THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHO KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED.
MY FRAME AND SUSPENSION HAVE ROTTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. ITS COSTING ME OVER $6,000 TO REPLACE EVERYTHING.
FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY FROM INSIDE OUT, HOLES ARE STARTING TO APPEAR AROUND FRONT MOST DRIVER SIDE BODY MOUNT. RUST CHUNKS CAN BE SEEN AND REMOVED THRU HOLE WITHIN THE FRAME. 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE IS TOO SOON TO HAVE A FRAME RUSTING OUT. CHRYSLER SHOULD DO AS TOYOTA HAS DONE WITH THEIR FRAME RUST ISSUE OF THE NORTH EAST USA AS WELL AS FOR ALL JEEP OWNERS THAT ROAD SALT HAS AFFECTED THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLES FRAME AND BODY WAY TOO SOON. *TR
THE FRAME IS DEVELOPING SEVERE RUSTING PREMATURELY AS COMPARATIVE TO OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS AGE OF MANUFACUTURE, MILEAGE, DRIVING CONDITIONS AND LOCATION OF OPERATION. *TR
FRAME RUST MAINLY INTERNAL WITH FRAME FAILURE ALONG TRANSMISSION MOUNT ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE. *TR
PURCHASED A 2002 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA WITH 4 MILES ON IT. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ROUTINELY. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND WAS STRICTLY A DAILY DRIVER AVERAGING 12K MILES PER YEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC BROUGHT ME INTO THE GARAGE TO SHOW ME THE FRAME WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH NEAR THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE FRAME WHERE THE CROSS BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TRANSMISSION IN PLACE HAS ALSO ROTTED. THE BOLTS IN THE BRACKET HAVE NOTHING TO HOLD ONTO BECAUSE THE FRAME HAS ROTTED THROUGH. THE MECHANIC STATED, "YOU ARE ONE POT HOLE AWAY FROM A MAJOR ACCIDENT". I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO STATED "THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK AND I WOULD NOT SUGGEST DRIVING IT." OTHER THAN THE FRAME ROTTING OUT, THE VEHICLE IS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER WITH NORMAL WEAR. I CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS IF INTERESTED. *JS
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. *TR
I PURCHASED THE JEEP 6/04. I PURCHASED IT FOR TRANSPORTATION BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. IT WAS NEVER USED OFF ROAD. IT ONLY HAS APPROX 81000 MILES AND THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED FROM APPROX. THE BACK OF THE FRONT TIRES TO THE FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. THERE MAY BE MORE BUT WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY STRIP DOWN VEHICLE TO ESTABLISH IF THERE IS MORE DAMAGE. ITS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN PUT A SCREW DRIVER THROUGH AND THROUGH THE FRAME AND THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRAY IS DISCONNECTED FROM FRAME TO FRAME AND IS COMPLETELY HANGING. SCARE TO DRIVE IT. JEEP MAY FOLD CRUMBLE IN HALF. THIS I DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. IF I DIDN'T SEE ALL THE RUST ON THE DRIVEWAY I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND GOD ONLY KNOW IF THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY. WITH THE JEEP ONLY BEING 11 YEARS AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THIS THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND. SO SAD WITH OUT MY JEEP!!!! *TR
FRAME IS DANGEROUSLY RUSTED RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE. *TR
FRONT/REAR FENDERS AND FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS ARE FADING BADLY. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
WATER LEAKS INTO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT FROM AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN HOLE IN FIREWALL. WATER SOAKS FRONT CARPET, AND THE DRAIN PLUG IN FLOOR MUST BE REMOVED TO ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN OUT OF VEHICLE. APPEARS FOAM SURROUNDING DRAIN HAS FAILED ALLOWING THE WATER INTO THE VEHICLE.*AK
PAINT IS FLAKING OF ON FENDER, HOOD, DOOR, AND REAR DOOR.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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