JeepLiberty20022.5L/jeep/liberty/2002/2-5l/
KJ platform

2002 Jeep Liberty — 2.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Liberty 2.5L.

Body SUVEngine 2.5LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Jeep Liberty is an SUV built on the KJ platform, pairing a 2.5-liter engine with a four-speed automatic transmission and earning EPA ratings of 15 city, 19 highway, and 16 combined miles per gallon. Despite its straightforward mechanical package, this model year carries a particularly heavy reliability footprint within the Liberty's 2000–2012 production run — its 1,807 owner complaints stand as the highest of any year in that span, dwarfing the 2000 launch year's tally of just six and underscoring how quickly problems accumulated in early production. The bulk of those complaints center on the airbag system, and the model year is also tied to 14 recalls, making it a critical reference point for researchers tracing the Liberty's safety and quality trajectory.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque85-110 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/19/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 04105409AE. Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP215-75R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04105409AE alt 04781452BF
Engine air filter05018777AC alt 05019443AA
Fuel filter52100402AH discontinued
Spark plugSPZFR6F11G alt 68307021AA
BatteryBB34F101AA
Front wiper blades05066973AC alt 05066974AA
Serpentine belt05135745AA discontinued · alt 53013352AD
Thermostat68174083AA alt 53010552AC

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.1 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height70.9 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight4116 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 19 / 16 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine Front: 80W-; Rear: 198RB in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-110 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilFront: 80W-; Rear: 198RB
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.8 Pints
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Power Steering FluidATF +4

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-110 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.63 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeSP-10
Oil Capacity8.00 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief18-21 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature195 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)47-51 psi
Engine Compression170-225 PSI. 25 Maximum variation PSI.
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH 10.00 inch DRUMS / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket11 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.030 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.030
Brake ApplicationWITH 10.00 inch DRUMS / WITH STANDARD
Drum Nominal Diameter10 in / 9 in
Drum Maximum Machining10.06 in / 9.06 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 100,000 miBands (adjust) · Transmission Filter (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 model year marks a dramatic spike in the Liberty’s federal record, with 1,807 complaints, 14 recalls, 10 investigations, and 94 Technical Service Bulletins—far exceeding the modest 6‑10 complaints and zero recalls of the 2000‑2001 years. Although the volume of complaints falls sharply after 2002 (1,349 in 2003 and gradually down to 108 by 2009), the recall count remains relatively high through the mid‑2000s before tapering to single‑digit figures. The 2002 spike is driven primarily by Air Bag (447 reports) and Suspension (414 reports) issues, while crash‑related complaints (174) and fire complaints (21) also stand out. This concentration of problems suggests that 2002 was an outlier year with elevated risk, making it a less attractive purchase compared with later model years whose complaint and recall rates are markedly lower.

14
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
94
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
10
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,807
Owner complaints
174 involved a crash · 21 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,807 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags447
Suspension414
Seat Belts81
Engine & Engine Cooling64
Engine51
Power Train49
Visibility46
Electrical System45

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 14 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V046000Air Bags:FrontalReported 28/01/2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23… Remedy: Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of…

09V119000Suspension:Front:Control ArmReported 09/04/2009

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 42,469 MY 2002-2003 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 94 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
23-015-202020-04-30EquipmentDisinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
DOR-J8B5R-062020-03-18EquipmentThis SKU is a Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Liberty. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2002 Liberty have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 14 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.5L get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.