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Jeep LaredoModel year report

2002 Jeep Laredo Problems

Complaints
80filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
64,000miles, 49 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Jeep Laredo (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two long-running patterns: brakes that vibrate or shudder under braking, and heating/defroster trouble that leaves windows fogging up. Many brake complaints were filed at low mileage, while the climate-control complaints cluster in the middle of the vehicle's life. Airbag, seat-frame and radiator-fan reports also appear, mostly on higher-mileage vehicles.

  1. Brakes

    Rotors warp and brakes vibrate or shudder

    • 20 complaints (25%)
    • median 14,500 mi at 3.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2002–2006

    Complaints describe the steering wheel or the whole vehicle shaking and pulsating when the brakes are applied, sometimes progressively getting worse, and several owners say the rotors were resurfaced or replaced more than once. A few say pedal travel was longer than expected or that the vehicle did not stop as quickly as they expected. Dealers, according to the complaints, often attributed the warping to driving habits or declined to cover repeat repairs after the first replacement. Many of these reports are at low mileage, with a number under 20,000 miles and several at 8,000-17,000.

    What to check: Ask whether the front rotors have been replaced and how recently, and take a test drive at highway speed to feel for vibration through the wheel or pedal when braking.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 02 Jeep grand cherokee. Chrysler had a recall on the front rotors in 2004 and we had them replaced at no expenses to us. Now two years later the same problem with the rotors came back. We contacted chrysler and they would not warranty the problem again. We have to pay for the repair cost ourselves.”

    NHTSA complaint #10173405, filed 2006-11, 45,000 miles

    “Since I bought the vehicle, the brakes have not been right . I took it in a few times to be told nothing was wrong. I was in 2 accidents, where the vehicle would not stop, and rear ended each vehicle. When I braked at speeds over 50 MPH, the front of the vehicle shook. In aug. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10087026, filed 2004-08, 248,000 miles
  2. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    No heat or defrost; blend door failure

    • 11 complaints (14%)
    • median 55,500 mi at 5.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2006–2008

    Owners describe the heater or defroster blowing cold air on one side or entirely, so the windshield fogs and frosts on the inside even in winter driving. Several say the dealer identified a broken blend door or blend door actuator and quoted repairs around or above $900. Some also mention blower motor problems alongside it. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles, often noticed on cold mornings or during winter trips.

    What to check: With the engine warm, switch the heater to defrost and check that hot air reaches the windshield on both sides; ask whether the blend door or actuator has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “1) we were going on a road trip to ne tennessee when the windshiled defrost failed. 2) there is no hot air coming out to properly defrost the windshield which affected our visibility in the mountains. 3) took it to the dealership to get an estimate and found out that it was going to cost ~$900. I opted not to get it done since it was so much. I was charged $110 for them to diagnose the problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #10180987, filed 2007-01, 76,239 miles

    “One cool morning my 2002 Jeep grand cherokee limited stopped blowing warm air from passenger side vents. Searching for a possible solution to my problem, I come to the conclusion it might be my blend door actuator that has broken. I am unable to afford the repairs ... Dealerships are quoting me almost $1300 to fix. I have done nothing to cause this problem. After reading article from many grand cherokee owners, they have had the same problem. This needs to be taken care of soon.”

    NHTSA complaint #10195990, filed 2007-07, 40,000 miles
  3. Air bags

    Airbag warning light on; deployment and recall parts

    • 10 complaints (13%)
    • median 95,150 mi at 8.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2005–2019

    Owners report the airbag light coming on or flashing with beeps, and some were told by a shop or dealer that the airbags were not functioning, in one case pointing to a clock spring. Others describe a passenger-side airbag deploying without a crash, and several complaints concern recall notices where parts were unavailable or the dealer wanted to charge for inspection. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 130,000 miles; a few reports do not state mileage.

    What to check: Check that the airbag light goes out after the bulb self-test at startup, and ask the dealer whether any open airbag recalls apply to the vehicle's VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My airbag light came on after a series of beeps while driving in my 2002 Jeep cherokee Laredo. I took it to my mechanic that hooked it up to a machine and it was determined my airbags are not functioning. I received a recall notice shortly after in the mail stating there was an airbag recall on my Jeep. The airbags have a potential to have an inadvertent airbag deployment. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10533500, filed 2013-08, 80,000 miles

    “I received safety recall notice m35/NHTSA 12v-527. Upon contacting dealer I learned they will require my car for 4 to 6 hours, and they do not offer loaner cars, which will require my renting a car. I am on limited income and cannot rent a car for 6 hours. Do I have any other options, but to do nothing?”

    NHTSA complaint #10567866, filed 2014-03
  4. Engine cooling

    Radiator fan blade breaks apart

    • 6 complaints (8%)
    • median 68,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2006–2007

    Complaints describe a popping noise followed by plastic fan blades separating, sometimes damaging the radiator or engine, and overheating when idling. Some owners link this to a fan recall and say the dealer would cover only the fan blade while quoting large sums for the resulting engine damage. Reported from about 44,000 to 103,000 miles, sometimes at idle or shortly after startup.

    What to check: Inspect the electric cooling fan blades for cracks or missing pieces and watch the temperature gauge while idling warm; ask whether the fan recall work was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My radiator fan broke off the motor on sunday september 9, 2007 and I had it towed to tire kingdom since the dealership was closed. So I called greenway chrysler jeepdodge in orlando, fl on september 10, 2007 to compare parts prices for the shrowd assembly and radiator fan. The dealership process were much lower so I was going to have my car towed there to fix but tire kingdom matched their price. The dealership asked for my make, model, year and VIN # to accurately find the prices. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10203897, filed 2007-09, 70,000 miles

    “1. Purchased car used in february 2005. Fan broke off in july 2005. Ran air daily in summer, no problems, then one day it just made a popping noise. There were pieces of the plastic fan on the ground, and a piece still under the hood. 2. I have a warranty, but it does not cover this vehicle. It overheats if I idle too long because there is no fan. To purchase a fan shroud from a Jeep dealer costs $370-400, not including labor. 3. Have not replaced fan/fan shroud yet.”

    NHTSA complaint #10149058, filed 2006-01
  5. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Power window falls into the door

    • 7 complaints (9%)
    • median 76,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2006–2009

    Complaints describe windows dropping suddenly into the door while driving or after being rolled down, with the window regulator, cable or motor named as the failed part. Owners report replacing several regulators on the same vehicle, and some say they were told this is common on these Jeeps. Reported from roughly 75,000 to 112,000 miles, usually during normal driving.

    What to check: Operate every power window up and down through the full range and listen for grinding or uneven movement; ask if any regulators have already been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Poor design of power window regulator/motor assembly has LED to my lf window to break. I have reviewed many resources online, and found that these jeeps are notorious for this problem. The failure of this device caused a major distraction while driving at highway speeds, like most other people with this problem. Jeep/chrysler needs to stop putting people at risk for such a ridiculous problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #10210257, filed 2007-11, 76,000 miles

    “For no specific reason the windows on the Jeep cherokee grand Laredo suddenly drop in their channels and will not come back up. I had a similar failure on a 2000 model previously owned, and now with my 2002 I had the same issue on december 31 2005 with the rear driver side window, and yesterday with the passenger front window. This morning I called Jeep customer service and was given the typical runaround. I have extended warranty and tried to get the deductible ($100 per occurrence) waived and that didn't work either. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10155851, filed 2006-04, 29,975 miles

Buying note. On a vehicle this age, the brake and heating/defrost complaints are the ones most likely to affect daily use, so budget for rotor work and climate-control repair. Also check window regulators, the driver seat frame and the airbag light before purchase, and confirm any open recalls by VIN.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 80 consumer complaints for the 2002 Jeep Laredo. 49 of the complaints include a mileage, and 41% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 64,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 13 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Steering (2), Suspension (2), Engine (1), Interior lighting (1), Seat belts (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “In march 2004 at approximatly 11,800 miles I had the brakes on my 2002 Jeep replaced due to warped rotors. The brakes were replaced in acordance with TSB 05-003-02 and TSB lon 05-81-01-92. In june 2005 at approximatly 21,000 miles the rotors were warped again and the Jeep dealer recommended replacing the rotors again but it would not be covered under warranty. Even if they had replaced them under warranty I would still be concerned about the safety of these brakes if the rotors need to be replaced every 10,000 miles. …”

NHTSA complaint #10127860, filed 2005-07, 11,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The dual climate control no longer works in my grand cherokee....when the heat is on the passenger side still gets cold air. I have not fixed the problem and am not looking forward to it....but I will have to soon.”

NHTSA complaint #10208895, filed 2007-11, 49,000 miles

Air bags: “Traveling on an interstate at 0600 hrs on 03 jan 2008 with a below freezing temperature (around 8 degrees f) and had snow flurried the night before (no more than an inch accumulated). An 18-wheeler driving center lane of a 3-lane was driving at a slow speed (65 MPH limit, truck driver ~40 MPH). I was also in this lane cruising at 65 MPH and all though it visibility was only limited due to darkness (no snow, etc.), I did no notice, nor did my passenger, the semi in front of us. Depth perception came in realization ~100 feet away from the rear-end of the semi. …”

NHTSA complaint #10220207, filed 2008-03, 110,300 miles

Engine cooling: “I had warped rotors on my car 3 times now. This last time, I only went less than 10,000 miles. They keep using the same part, so the problem is consistent. I just got this problem fixed and later that night my brakes were squeaking. I have a constant rubbing noise when I turn my car (not sharply, just normal turning). They check it every time I'm in for service and state they can't find anything. I had fluids leak in my car that cause a wire to burn (within 3000 miles) and other oil leaks that required new sparks. I feel like I'm constantly in the shop with this car.”

NHTSA complaint #10132565, filed 2005-08, 38,100 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

41% of the 49 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 38,100 and 94,946 miles.

8%0–1014%10–2518%25–5020%50–7514%75–10020%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (49 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 64,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’03’0619’09’13’16’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Jeep Laredo in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 13 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 13 bulletins →

Other model years of the Jeep Laredo

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20062090,0000———Stable
20035753,8260——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20028064,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20017070,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20008191,0750——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19996086,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199833147,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199738115,4850——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199647157,6180——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199520110,5000———Stable
199416138,0000———Stable
199326175,0010——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1992691,9560———Not enough data
199110168,0000———Not enough data
199014107,0000———Not enough data

All Jeep Laredo model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

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

Owners of this model year most often describe two long-running patterns: brakes that vibrate or shudder under braking, and heating/defroster trouble that leaves windows fogging up. The issues reported most often: Rotors warp and brakes vibrate or shudder; No heat or defrost; blend door failure; Airbag warning light on; deployment and recall parts.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Jeep Laredo have?

NHTSA recorded 80 consumer complaints for the 2002 Jeep Laredo as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Jeep Laredo is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 22 complaints (28% of the total), followed by visibility with 18.

Has the 2002 Jeep Laredo been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Jeep Laredo reported?

Among the 49 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 64,000 miles and the middle half falls between 38,100 and 94,946 miles; 41% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.