2002 Jeep Liberty Transmission Problems

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT "THE VEHICLE WILL BE REAR ENDED AS A RESULT TO THE FAILURE". *TR

NHTSA ID

10377936

Incident

Jan 2, 2011

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY LTD EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS ON A DIRT ROAD DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN SHE CROSSED OVER A CREEK. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON. THERE WERE 3 PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE AND ONE OF THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT NOTICED THAT SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 02/11/11

NHTSA ID

10315062

Incident

Feb 6, 2010

Mileage

78,000 mi

2002 JEEP LIBERTY SPEED SENSOR FAILURE CAUSES SPEEDOMETER TO STOP WORKING, ENGINE TO DIE WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF POWERSTEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10287043

Incident

Oct 9, 2009

Mileage

135,000 mi

ON DEC 8, 2008 I PICKED UP MY JEEP LIBERTY FROM MY MECHANIC, HE HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN THAT RUSTED OUT AND DRAINED ALL THE TRANSMISSION OIL OUT. ON JANUARY 6, 2009 ON MY WAY TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING THE TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT TOTALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK HOME AND ONCE AGAIN THE MECHANIC HAS THE LIBERTY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN RUSTING OUT AND LEAKING CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION BLOWOUT A MONTH LATER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON IN DECEMBER AND I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE ENGINE LOOKED AT WHEN THE WHOLE PAN BLEW OUT. THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY DROPPING IN JANUARY COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF I WERE DRIVING LATER, AND I FEEL THIS COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS ON THE ROADWAYS ACROSS THE NATION. I HAVE COMPLAINED VIA THE WEBPAGE AT JEEP TO NO AVAIL, THIS SHOULD BE AT LEAST A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255467

Incident

Dec 4, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

THIS IS THE LETTER I SENT CHRYSLER CORPORATION. I HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VALVE SEAT COMING OFF AND DAMAGING MY JEEP LIBERTY ENGINE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAVE CONTINUALLY PROVIDED MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE AT YOUR DEALERSHIPS. IN FACT, WE WERE ONE OF THE VERY FIRST OWNERS OF THE JEEP LIBERTY AND WAS INVITED AND PARTICIPATED IN A FOCUS GROUP SUPPORTING THIS VEHICLE. WHAT IS UPSETTING IS THE LACK OF INTEREST NOW FROM YOUR CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT EXCEPT FOR YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE, ON WHAT HAS OCCURRED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT . THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT SINCE SHE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. I WILL TAKE EVERY STEP POSSIBLE AND REPORT THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO ALL PARTIES. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER RELATIONS WON'T HELP. THIS IS NOT A ISOLATED INCIDENT AS OTHER DATA HAS BEEN DISCOVERED ON OTHER SIMILAR ENGINES REPORTED SAME RESULTING PROBLEMS. I HAVE PHOTOS AND THERE IS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REVEALING OTHER VALVE SEAT PROBLEMS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246972

Incident

Oct 20, 2008

Mileage

82,002 mi

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN ONCE IT IS IN THE IGNITION. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. THE GEAR SHIFTER CANNOT BE MOVED INTO NEUTRAL. THE KEY, ROCKING THE CAR, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, WORKING THE GEAR SHIFTER, CHANGING THE TILT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, HAVE NO AFFECT ON THE SITUATION. WILL NOT RELEASE THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE HAVE BEEN VARIATIONS OF THIS HAPPENING OVER THE LAST YEAR AND AFTER A FEW JIGGLES IT WORKED JUST FINE, BUT NOW THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216146

Incident

Jan 25, 2007

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PLATE SHEARED THE BOLTS OFF THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE METAL TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. AS OF AUGUST 31, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10201328

Incident

Aug 20, 2007

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 06V288000 FOR THE 2002 JEEP LIBERTY CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE EFFECT THAT THE BALL JOINT HAD ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO MATTER WHAT SPEED SHE WAS DRIVING AT, BUT USUALLY AT ABOUT 15 MPH SHE FELT AND HEARD THE SUSPENSION IN THE CAR SHIFTING WHENEVER SHE HIT A BUMP. THE CONTACTS COMPLAINT WAS THAT AFTER ONE AND A HALF YEARS THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BALD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SAFETY RECALLS ON THE BALL JOINTS. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 11/2005 SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER MAKING A TURN. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, THE CONTACT LEARNED FROM THE DEALER THAT ALL OF THE STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT, AND THE POWER STEERING BELT SPLIT IN HALF. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL AS WELL.*AK UPDATED 2/7/2007 - THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCE EXTENDED CRANK TIME TO START. THE DEALER REPLACED EH FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PUMP RESERVOIR. THE LAP BELT IN THE REAR SEAT BECAME TWISTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE THE CONSUMER HEAR A NOISE. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE LIGHTER WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178192

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

JEEP LIBERTY PULLS TO RIGHT, WILL STOP DEAD IN ITS TRACKS WHILE IN DRIVE, HARD TO CONTROL, THUMPING NOISE, METAL TO METAL GRINDING FROM FRONT END, SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, HARD TO START, FRONT SEAT COVERS RIPPLED, PAINT PEELED ON HOOD, TAILGATE, BREAKS ONLY WORK SOME OF THE TIME, SHAKES AND HARD TO CONTROL ON SPEED ABOVE 35 MPH, ALL INTERIOR WEATHER STRIPPING CAME OFF. SAME COMPLAINTS FROM 1/7/03 BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON RECALL ON 1/10/03 STILL HAD PULLING TO RIGHT PROBLEMS, SHAKING,. WEATHER STRIPPING ALL FELL OFF ON INTERIOR OF CAR, ACTS LIKE WHEELS ARE BINDING. 3/4/03 SAME COMPLAINTS PULLING TO RIGHT, STOPS DEAD IN ITS TRACK, HARD TO CONTROL, WHEELS BIND, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINTS (DID NOT WRITE UP WORK ORDER) 3/27/03 DEALER INSTALLED INTERIOR WEATHER STRIPPING, SAME COMPLAINTS AS 1/10/03,3/4/03. AGAIN ON 6/2/03 TOOK JEEP LIBERTY TO DEALER TOOK A TEST DRIVE COULD NOT VERIFY COMPLAINTS. DID NOT WRITE UP A WORK ORDER. 1/16/04 JEEP LIBERTY HARD TO START, PULLS TO RIGHT, JEEP SHAKES & VIBRATES HARD TO CONTROL, SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK, SEAT RIPPLING, CAR STOPS DEAD IT ITS TRACKS, DEALER FIXED LOWER BALL JOINTS AGAIN ON 2/13/04 AT 23,850 MILES. 2-13-04 PICKED UP CAR FROM DEALER STILL HAD SAME PROBLEMS" DEALER STATED " THIS IS HOW JEEPS DRIVE" THEY ARE NUTS! 11-04 DEALER TOOK TEST DRIVE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS CLAIMED EVERYTHING OKAY. DID NOT RIGHT UP A WORK ORDER. 5/27/05 HAD MASSIVE PROBLEMS BRAKES WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, SOMETIME WOULD WORK AND OTHER TIME NOT. TOOK TO NEAREST BRAKE PLACE PADS, OKAY, BUT WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKED. CLAIM IT COULD BE A INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF MASTER CYLINDER, CALLED DEALER SHIP NO PART AVAILABLE. 7/5/05 TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN WITH SAME PROBLEMS,R THEY HAD NOT EVEN LOOKED AT IT. REMOVED JEEP AND TOOK TO PRIVATE AUTO PLACED,UT WITH INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS YOU COULD REPLACE MOST OF THE PARTS ON THE CAR & YOU MAY NOT CURE THE PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166613

Incident

Jul 5, 2005

Mileage

55,000 mi

DRIVING THE JEEP AROUND 20 MPH. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, BUT WOULD GO INTO PARK. I TURNED THE JEEP OFF, RESTARTED IT AND IT WENT INTO GEAR FOR ABOUT 30 FEET, THEN WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. IT WOULD MOVE AFTER A RESTART EVERY TIME, THEN STOP AGAIN VERY SHORTLY AFTER PUTTING IT INTO GEAR. HAD THE JEEP TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY FOUND NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND ARE NOW SAYING THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FILTER TO CLOG. *JB

NHTSA ID

10164326

Incident

Jul 28, 2006

Mileage

93,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. MILEAGE AS OF THIS DATE, 11/13/2005, IS 50,035. AT SOME POINT BETWEEN 45K AND 50K MILES NOTICED A CLUNK WHICH CAN BE FELT AND HEARD WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING FORWARD AND DOWNSHIFTING TO LOW GEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO LINCOLN TRAIL CHRYSLER-JEEP-DODGE IN MARSHALL, IL. MECHANIC WHO TEST DROVE VEHICLE ADMITTED HEARING AND FEELING HARD DOWNSHIFT. SERVICE MANAGER, NICK COREY, RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH. ALSO SAID PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSED BY A SENSOR GOING BAD. CHECKED TRANSMISSION COMPUTER FOR CODES, NONE FOUND. TRANSMISSION FLUSH DID NOT ALLEVIATE PROBLEM. WILL RETURN TO DEALER FOR FURTHER SERVICE. I FEEL DAIMLER/CHRYSLER SHOULD RESOLVE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE FAILURE OF THE COMPONENT(S) CAUSE A CRASH AND BEFORE THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRES. AS NOTED FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY NUMEROUS OTHER JEEP LIBERTY OWNERS OF 2002, 2003 AND 2004 MODELS. AT THIS POINT DAIMLER/CHRYSLER SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SOLUTION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142533

Incident

Nov 4, 2005

2002 JEEP LIBERTY WAS BEING TOWED BEHIND MOTOR HOME, ALERTED BY PASSING MOTORISTS I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE RV. SMOKE WAS PORING OUT OF THE LIBERTY FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED JUST AS FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT..THEY MANAGED TO FREE THE JEEP FROM THE MOTOR HOME AND USED FIRE HOSES ON THE JEEP..JEEP IS A TOTAL LOSS..AS YET NO EXPLANATION FOR CAUSE OF FIRE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131763

Incident

Aug 5, 2005

Mileage

47,380 mi

2002 JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED 4WD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, LOSS OF THIRD GEAR DUE TO BREAKAGE OF VALVE BODY BOLTS IN TRANSMISSION ACCESSIBLE BY REMOVAL OF TRANSMISSION PAN. SHOP FOREMAN AT HERTICH JEEP/NISSAN (DOVER, DE) STATED THAT THE BOLTS WERE NOT OF THE CORRECT STRENGTH, AND THAT THE NEW BOLTS SUPPLIED WITH THE NEW VALVE BODY (STILL UNDER WARRANTEE) WOULD BE OF THE CORRECT STRENGTH.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116784

Incident

Mar 25, 2005

Mileage

65,600 mi

TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS(CLANKS) WE HAVE A JEEP LIBERTY SPORT 2 WHEEL DRIVE. DOWNSHIFTS HARD WHEN APPLYING BRAKE.(WARM OR COLD) WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS SHOP ABOUT 10 OR 15 TIMES IN ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS. SHOP FOREMAN TOLD US TO WAIT UNTIL 30,000. MILE CHECK UP FOR TRANS. SO I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR SERVICE ON IT TO GET IT FIXED. THEY HAVE KNOW IDEA WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. SO WHY DO I HAVE WAIT?? I GUESS SOME ONE HAS TO DIE TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED? OR GET BADLY HURT!!! SO IF SOME ONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM REPORT IT BEFORE SOME ONE'S FAMILY GETS HURT. STILL NOTHING AS OF YET HAS BEEN DONE!!!!*JB

NHTSA ID

10110448

Incident

May 12, 2003

Mileage

2,000 mi

HARD DOWNSHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION, SHIFTS TO HARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110445

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. UPON GETTING UP TO 25 MILES PER HOUR, THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN SECOND GEAR SHE WAS ABLE TO GO A LITTLE FASTER. THE VEHICLE HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB....*AK

NHTSA ID

10105189

Incident

Dec 19, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HESITATED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099919

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

31,000 mi

FIRST OF ALL, I ONLY HAVE 39,100 MILES ON MY JEEP LIBERTY. HAVING SAID THAT, ON THE DATE LISTED BELOW IT WAS FOUND THAT MY JEEP HAD A FAULTY VALVE SPRING IN THE 2ND CYLINDER. COST ME QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO REPAIR. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THIS HAPPEN TO A BRAND NEW CAR WITH ONLY A LITTLE OVER 39,000 MILES ON IT? SOUND LIKE FAULTY PARTS TO ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093382

Incident

Sep 29, 2004

Mileage

39,150 mi

I WAS TOWING A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY USING THE BLUE OX TOW SYSTEM. I FOLLOWED THE MANUFACTURERS DIRECTIONS AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE JEEP ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND TOTALED THE CAR. MY INSURANCE COMPANY ADJUSTERS SAID THE JEEP WAS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT, LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND START THE FIRE. FIRST OF ALL, GETTING THE JEEP IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE REQUIRES SOME EFFORT TO ENGAGE, SO I WOULD HAVE NOTICED HAD I DONE THAT. SECONDLY, I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE SOMETHING SO STUPID. I HAVE TOWED THE JEEP THE TWO PREVIOUS YEARS THE SAME WAY WITH NO PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082611

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

Mileage

26,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD OCCASIONALLY SURGE, EVEN WITH THE CRUISE ON. ON JUNE 19 THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND PROPERLY, THEN WHEN IT SHIFTED FROM SECOND TO THIRD, IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. DEALER SAYS WITH 69000 MILES ON A 2002, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRATY. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN OFF ROAD (LIKE DESIGNED) AND NOT OVERWORKED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078533

Incident

Jun 19, 2004

Mileage

69,174 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT "THE VEHICLE WILL BE REAR ENDED AS A RESULT TO THE FAILURE". PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10075639

Incident

May 20, 2004

Mileage

46,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2003 AT 57,000 MILES. CLUTCHES IN THE CENTER OF THE CLUTCH PACK WERE DESTROYED WHILE THE REMAINING CLUTCHES WERE LIKE NEW. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072581

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

57,000 mi

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES WHEN IN REVERSE. WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE, IT WILL MOVE A FEW FEET AND THEN DISENGAGE AS IF IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE TO PUT IT BACK IN PARK OR IN NEUTRAL, THEN BACK INTO REVERSE, GO A FEW FEET, IT DISENGAGES AGAIN. I REPEAT THIS STUPID PROCESS UNTIL I GET WHERE I NEED TO BE AND THEN SHIFT INTO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND WORKING ON A FIX. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ON A DAILY BASIS FOR OVER A MONTH (AT LEAST 3 TIMES EACH DAY I HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE).

NHTSA ID

10068415

Incident

Mar 27, 2004

Mileage

45,300 mi

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS PUSHED HOME BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072165

I HAVE A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS VERY HARD. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE JEEP DEALER (JOHNY ROBERTS-ALTUS OK) AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I SEE THE 2003'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM NOTED BUT NOT THE 2002'S.*AK

NHTSA ID

10063639

Incident

Jan 12, 2004

Mileage

8,000 mi