2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 146about this part
- Share
- 10%of 1,476 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 68,390miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 146 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 10% of the 1,476 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 68,390 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The vehicle was running, in park position. A loud bang occurred as if someone had just hit my vehicle hard, but I felt nothing. I looked around the vehicle and did not see anything or anyone around that could have caused the loud bang. Later, I noticed the vehicle was overheating and was losing coolant. A closer inspection indicated a broken radiator shroud and a shattered fan assembly.”
NHTSA complaint #10213504, filed 2008-01, 42,000 miles“The weather turned to snow and I needed the defrost/ heater. The passenger side only blows cold air. My visibility became so impaired I had to pull over and abandon the vehicle until the following day. I took it to my mechanic, the diagnosis is broken blend air door and recirculation door, estimate $1200.00.”
NHTSA complaint #10247928, filed 2008-11, 79,289 miles“I have a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee 6 cylinder 4.0. Yesterday my cooling fan blew up for no apparent reason, damaging radiator and area around cooling fan. This is an extremely dangerous problem since if the hood was up at the time the fan blew up, someone could have gotten maimed or killed. This is the same issue as reported on your january listing of problems.”
NHTSA complaint #10152796, filed 2006-03, 55,000 miles“This is in relation to action # ea05-020 on the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. On the date listed below, the blades separated from the motor and the shrapnel punctured my radiator and my battery. The car was in motion so, the hood was closed and no one was injured. However, I had to spend about $800 in parts to repair the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10162869, filed 2006-07, 75,500 miles“I was driving on university approaching the stop light on 66th st in lubbock tx, as slowing down from approximately 35 MPH, I heard an overwhelming loud bang come from the front of the Jeep, it shook the entire vehicle it felt like I had hit someones car. I was getting leaving lubbock headed home to plainview. Me and my daughter stopped at walmart where I left my vehicle idling for no more than three to ten minutes max. I came out from walmart and smoke was coming from my car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10472494, filed 2012-08, 180,000 milesRelated recalls
- 06V199000Jun 8, 2006On certain sport utility vehicles, the plastic blades of the electric motor driven cooling fan may separate and penetrate the shroud.Covers: Jeep Grand Cherokee 2000, 2002
- 01V348000Nov 13, 2001Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The onboard vapor recovery system vent hose may have been misrouted. This could allow water to enter the canister…Covers: Jeep Grand Cherokee 2002
Related service bulletins
- 10191460Feb 26, 2016Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
- 10015804Jun 1, 2005Engine oil weepage at the engine oil fitler adaptor hose connection(s).
- 10015075Apr 28, 2005New water pump for 3.7l engine - no longer common with 4.7l. Advanced service information #05-002.
- 10011928Dec 18, 2004Warm engine rough idle. 4.7l.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0% |
| 2020 | 6 | 2% |
| 2019 | 5 | 1% |
| 2018 | 17 | 2% |
| 2017 | 6 | 2% |
| 2016 | 8 | 3% |
| 2015 | 23 | 2% |
| 2014 | 45 | 2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 18 | 1% |
| 2011 | 15 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 3% |
| 2009 | 5 | 4% |
| 2008 | 39 | 5% |
| 2007 | 77 | 7% |
| 2006 | 53 | 4% |
| 2005 | 78 | 4% |
| 2004 | 55 | 4% |
| 2003 | 42 | 6% |
| 2002 | 146 | 10% |
| 2001 | 53 | 6% |
| 2000 | 178 | 12% |
| 1999 | 121 | 7% |
| 1998 | 69 | 7% |
| 1997 | 81 | 8% |
| 1996 | 88 | 10% |
| 1995 | 70 | 10% |
| 1994 | 75 | 13% |
| 1993 | 46 | 8% |
| 1991 | 1 | 17% |
| 1989 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
486 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
326 complaintsBrakes
179 complaintsSeats
91 complaintsElectrical system
85 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
58 complaintsFuel system
57 complaintsSteering
41 complaintsVehicle speed control
38 complaintsOther or unknown
35 complaintsEngine
26 complaintsEquipment
26 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology