2002 Jeep Liberty Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 85about this part
- Share
- 5%of 1,808 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 84,231miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 85 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2002 Jeep Liberty, 5% of the 1,808 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 84,231 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought my 2002 Jeep Liberty used with 99000 miles at 105000 the engine blew with no warning. I wish I would have looked into the complaints first never would have bought a Jeep. Obviously there is a problem with as many complaints that are the same. The 3.7l engine is junk come on Jeep do something to help with this $4000 cost of replacing an engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10449749, filed 2012-02, 105,000 miles“I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty. Change oil every 3000 miles. Valve seat shattered. Zero compression in #2 cylinder. I checked on line and there is a lot of other people with the same problem. What are you going to do about it? I loved my Jeep so much we were going to buy another one. Now I'm having second thoughts about buying your vehicles.”
NHTSA complaint #10428377, filed 2011-10, 98,000 miles“Engine had almost 150,000 miles. Parked vehicle and turned off. When I tried to start vehicle it shook and ran very rough only if I had my foot slightly on the gas pedal. Mechanic said that the ring that holds the valve cover came off and went inside the cylinder and it couldn't fire correctly. I needed the engine rebuilt at a cost of over $4000.”
NHTSA complaint #10319681, filed 2010-03, 147,000 miles“I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty. I had a new transmission put in january 2011. The Jeep has about 202000 miles. Now I am told that I need a new engine. I have always done the oil changes as noted. The Jeep is not even worth the cost of a rebuilt engine. Now am reading that chrysler knows about this problem but are denying the engine sludge. I will be a pare of any class action suit against them. This is crazy.”
NHTSA complaint #10397361, filed 2011-04, 210,815 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10704588, filed 2015-04, 191,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10191460Feb 26, 2016Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
- 10024083Jan 8, 2008Positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) system freezes in extreme cold ambient temperatures -- involves installing revised pcv system components.
- 10015075Apr 28, 2005New water pump for 3.7l engine - no longer common with 4.7l. Advanced service information #05-002.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 7 | 2% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 10 | 2% |
| 2007 | 5 | 1% |
| 2006 | 42 | 3% |
| 2005 | 43 | 4% |
| 2004 | 27 | 2% |
| 2003 | 42 | 3% |
| 2002 | 85 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2002 Jeep Liberty
546 complaintsSuspension
494 complaintsFuel system
173 complaintsElectrical system
118 complaintsSeat belts
110 complaintsBody and structure
108 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
84 complaintsBrakes
83 complaintsSteering
78 complaintsEngine
74 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
70 complaintsExterior lighting
50 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Jeep Liberty
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology