2002 Jeep Liberty — 2.4L

The 2002 Jeep Liberty represents a dramatic anomaly within this generation, recording 1,807 complaints compared to just 10 the prior year—a roughly 180-fold increase that the data does not explicitly explain. This year also produced the generation's peak with 14 recalls, 10 investigations, and 94 technical service bulletins. While complaints declined in subsequent model years (1,349 in 2003, 1,100 in 2004), they remained substantially elevated above pre-2002 baseline levels through at least 2006. The top complaint categories—air bags (447), suspension (414), seat belts (81), and engine/engine cooling (64)—indicate systemic rather than isolated issues. The data also notes 174 crash-related complaints and 21 fire-related complaints for this model year, though root causes are not specified. The 2002 model falls at the apex of a clear complaint/recall trend arc across the generation and shows no corresponding spike in the years immediately before, suggesting this specific model year carries disproportionate risk within the generation. A prospective buyer should weigh the significantly higher documented failure rate against the lower purchase price and consider a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on the documented complaint areas before committing.