Used Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee Buying Guide: Air Bags, Title

A used Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee, the second generation sold for the 1999 to 2004 model years, is worth buying when the air bag module campaigns are cleared by VIN, the cooling system is healthy and the title is clean. On Nov. 5, 2026, the NHTSA recall API for 2002 returned 12V527000 and 15V046000, which cover 2002-2004 Grand Cherokees built from February 13, 2001, to May 23, 2003, for an air bag control module that may fail and deploy the front air bags, side curtains or belt pretensioners while driving. The same query listed 06V199000 for cooling fan blades that may separate and 09V117000 for heated seats. Run the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup.

Which Grand Cherokee this is

Wikipedia lists the WJ as the second-generation Grand Cherokee with a 4.0-liter inline six or a 4.7-liter V8. Match the engine and the four-wheel-drive system to the VIN. Our general Grand Cherokee guide covers later years, and our Jeep recall check walks through a VIN search.

Air bag modules

Ask for invoices for both 12V527000 and 15V046000, since the later campaign followed the first. An air bag light that stays on is a reason to stop and scan. The 2002 list also included 02V099000 for passenger air bag wiring and 01V288000 for instrument cluster software.

Cooling, fuel and the 4.0

Check 06V199000 and look at the fan for missing or cracked blades. The 2002 query also showed 02V104000 for debris near the number three cylinder on 4.0 engines and 01V374000 for a fuel inlet check valve that can stick. Watch the temperature gauge on a long idle.

A test drive that tells you something

Drive it from cold, not after the seller has warmed it up. Listen for ticks and knocks at start-up, watch the mirror for smoke, and check that every gauge works. Try every gear, a hard stop and a slow full-lock turn both ways, then look under the truck for fresh drips. Bring a flashlight and a magnet for filler checks on the lower panels and cab corners.

Insurance, registration and inspection

Call your insurer with the VIN before you pay. A collector or agreed-value policy may need mileage limits, secure storage or photos, while a standard policy may value the vehicle low after a loss. Ask your state DMV whether the vehicle needs a VIN inspection, a safety inspection or an emissions test at transfer, and what happens if a prior registration lapsed for years. Budget for new tires if the date codes are old, even when the tread looks fine.

When to walk away

• An air bag light with no record of either module campaign.
• A fan with damaged blades or an engine that runs hot.
• Rust through the floor or rockers.
• A VIN that does not match the title.

Questions to ask the seller

• Were 12V527000 and 15V046000 done? Was the work done, and is there a receipt?
• Was 06V199000 done?
• Has it lived in a salt state?
• Has the title ever been branded?

Reading the history on an older SUV

Do not expect a complete service log. Many independent shops never reported their work, so the report matters most for title brands, odometer readings at title transfers and registration gaps by state. A car that moved from a coastal or rust-belt state to a dry one may have been retitled; look at the dates and ask why. An approved NMVTIS check adds salvage and junk records from insurers and recyclers. If the odometer readings go backward or the car shows as exempt, ask for the paper trail before you price it. Our odometer discrepancy guide explains what those entries mean.

Private-sale paperwork

Most cars like this sell privately. Make sure the name on the title matches the seller ID, the VIN on the title matches the plate and the stamping on the car, and any old lien is released in writing. Our lien release guide walks through that step. Pay by a traceable method, get a dated bill of sale, and do not accept an open title signed by someone who is not present.

How to price it

Clean WJs are still affordable. Compare recent sales on Hagerty when comps exist, then subtract cooling work, air bag repairs and four-wheel-drive faults.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

On a car this old, read the report for title brands and odometer readings first; service entries are often thin.

Sources

• NHTSA recall lookup (API checked Nov. 5, 2026; 2002: 12V527000, 15V046000, 06V199000, 09V117000, 02V104000, 02V099000, 01V374000, 01V288000, plus aftermarket parts campaigns)
• Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ), Wikipedia
• NMVTIS
• Hagerty (valuation tools)