There are 130 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2002 Jeep Liberty in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 50 of 130 matching reports. This is a limited sample of up to 50 reports, ordered by incident date when available, not the complete group. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 3. REPLACED COILS, PLUGS, AND COMPUTER. STILL THROWING THE CODE.
ALTERNATOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
MY HUSBAND AND I DROVE MY 2002 JEEP LIBERTY TO DINNER AND WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME, WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THE CAR STARTED BLOWING HEAVY SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES. THEN IT COMPLETELY DIED, STOPPED! NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO CHECK OIL LIGHT AND NO WARNING WHATSOEVER! I NOW HAVE THIS VEHICLE SITTING IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COST US APPROXIMATELY $5000.00 TO FIX. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, THIS ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE JUST STOPPING, HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT OWN THIS SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE THAT FEELS IT'S WORTH FIXING. ALL INTERNET REVIEWS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IF REPLACED, IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WHY ISN'T CHRYSLER MADE ACCOUNTABLE?? THEY KNOW THEY GOT AWAY WITH SELLING A LEMON! THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE, IF SOMEONE IS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPS AS MINE DID! CHRYSLER SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE ENGINE OR GIVE BACK SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION TO EVERYONE THAT HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. CAN'T BELIEVE, THAT AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS, THE GOVERNMENT OR BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, HAVE NOT GOTTEN INVOLVED IN FORCING A RECALL FOR THIS 3.7 ENGINE.
MOTOR WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING......REPLACED. AFTER 7K MILES.....MOTOR WENT OUT AGAIN. THE WARRANTY COMPANY FOR THE MOTOR ACTS AS IF THEY DID NOT KNOW THE MOTORS CONSTANTLY GO OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE SEALS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 173,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED DUE TO OVERHEATING. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN 25 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO OVERHEAT AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO STEAM OR SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE, THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS DAMAGED, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
THE ENGINE OF THIS VEHICLE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. IT'S COMPUTER NEVER PICKED IT UP, OR GAVE ME A WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS GOING BAD. IT WAS NOT MAKING ANY BAD SOUNDS OR LOOSE SOUNDS OF ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY DIED IN ME WHEN I ACCELERATED GOING UP A HILL, IMAGINE THE HORROR THAT WAS HAVING VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATING BEHIND ME. I'VE BEEN HEARING THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM THOUSANDS OF JEEP LIBERTY USERS AND THIS IS DANGEROUS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE REFUSING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S LIFE-THREATENING AND COULD LEAD TO A FATAL CRASH. PLEASE, FOR HUNDREDS MORE OF THE SIMILAR COMPLAINT, PLEASE VISIT: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/JEEP/LIBERTY/2002/ENGINE/ENGINE_FAILURE-2.SHTML. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE 3.7 LITER ENGINE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS A STRONG HESITATION WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE LATER STALLED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER MAY FAIL AND CAUSE THE VALVES TO DROP ONTO THE PISTONS, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE MOTOR AND CYLINDER HEAD TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE DEALER PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 05/31/2016*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED TWO SPARK PLUGS WERE PULLED AND BROKE DUE TO IMPACT, INSIDE THE CYLINDER HEAD. UPDATED 06/14/16.*JB
NUMBER 3 AND 6 CYLINDERS BLEW. FOUND BROKEN RODS AND BEARINGS IN THE OIL PAN. BEARINGS WERE TWISTED AROUND THE STUDS FOR THE CRANK COVER. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE IN THIS YEAR 3.7L ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON I95 WHEN IT OCCURED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE NEAR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND QUIT. HAD TOWED TO SHOP AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS SHOT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE EMERGING FROM THE BOTTOM DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO HESITATE AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ALERTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/29/15*LJ *CN
THE 2002 JEEP LIBERTY WE BOUGHT FOR MY WIFE BACK IN 2010 FROM WE THOUGHT WAS A VERY GOOD HONEST CAR DEALER WILL NOT NAME THIS PERSON, BUT I ENDED UP PLACING A BRAND NEW WATER PUMP WITHIN DAYS OF BUYING, THEN A NEW RADIO PART FROM THE DEALER NOT CHEAP EITHER, THEN THE HOOD SUPPORTS ONE WAS BAD AND THE HOOD FELL ON MY HEAD SO I BOUGHT 2 MORE NOT CHEAP ALL THE OEM- PARTS, NOT LONG AFTER THAT HAD NEW SUV TIRES THE TYPE IT USED, HAD TO BUY THE BOOK THAT GOES WITH THE JEEP FROM DEALER ALMOST $100 JUST FOR THE BOOK. WE STILL KEPT THE JEEP IT WAS PAID FOR, THEN I PLACED NEW BRAKES PADS AND TURNED THE FRONT ROTORS TOO, BOUGHT NEW CHROME LUG NUTS THE TIRE PEOPLE MESSED UP SEVERAL OF MY LUG NUTS, HAD CHROME LUG NUTS PLACED, THEN WE-STARTED GETTING THESE SAFETY RECALLS IN THE MAIL HARD FOR US TO DO WITHOUT A WAY OF GOING, BUT THE DRIVE SHAFT DROPPED OUT WHILE MY BROTHER - IN- LAW WAS TEST DRIVING IT TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS MAKING A BAD ROARING SOUND FROM UNDER THE JEEP, WHEN HE TURNED THE JEEP AROUND TO GO BACK TO HIS SHOP THE DRIVE-SHAFT DROPPED OUT ON THE GROUND, I WAS SHOCKED AS WELL AS HIM TOO. AND MY WIFE WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT JEEP.I NEVER HEARD OF SO MANY RECALLS FOR ONE 2002 JEEP LIBERTY I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF WHAT IS NEXT.? MY WIFE NOW DRIVES THE JEEP WITHOUT THE DRIVE SHAFT THAT CAME LOOSE AND DROPPED OUT. NOW IT'S JUST A 2 WHEEL DRIVE JEEP NOT 4X4.I'M VERY UPSET WITH ALL THAT HAS GO WRONG WITH THIS JEEP, WE'VE HAD IT ALMOST 5 YEARS AND HAVEN'T PUT MAYBE 10 TO 13,000 MILES ON THE JEEP DURING THAT TIME, SHE DRIVES BACK AND TO - TO WORK,PLEASE HELP US TELL US WHAT TO DO? IF THIS DRIVE-SHAFT WOULD HAVE CAME OUT WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AROUND 55MPH IT COULD HAVE EITHER KILLED OR EVEN CAUSED VERY BAD BODILY HARM TO HER, IN THE AFFECTED PARTS WILL NOT ALLOW TO PLACE THE PART THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK AT_ FRONT DRIVE_SHAFT!!) *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE ENGINE COOLANT SPILLED OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AT 135,000 MILES AND THE NEXT ENGINE IS DOING THE SAME THING AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. MECHANICS HAVE SAID THESE ENGINES WERE DEFECTIVE. LOSES VALVE AND DESTROYS PISTON. I HAVE PAID OVER $10,000 IN PARTS ALONE, NOT COUNTING LABOR. HELP!!
WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, BUT THEY DID NOT GIVE US A WARRANTY OR ANY OTHER DISCOUNT. NOW WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS AND IT NEEDS A NEW BOTTOM END OF THE ENGINE PUT IN WHICH COSTS MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE, WE HAVE TO PUT ONE IN. I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT JEEP'S IN THE PAST AND WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE, BUT NOW I RE-THINKING MY LOYALTY. I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED A JEEP LIBERTY BUT NOW I WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGH IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V527000 (AIR BAGS), 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE , STRUCTURE), AND 15V046000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE APROX 1/2 MILE TO STORE. WHEN I CAME OUT CAR WOULD CRANK BUT DID NOT START. I LEFT CAR IDLE FOR 1 HR AND THEN IT WOULD START. THIS CONDITION HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIME IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. *TR
VALVE IS EITHER DROPPED OR HAS BROKEN RANDOMLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NOT WORTH FIXING, BECAUSE IT WOULD COST WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. ALSO I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. I WANT TO KNOW WHY JEEP HAS YET TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Showing 1-20 of 50 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.