Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Jeep Liberty submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 73 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 73, in the owner's own words
MY CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING FINE WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING I FELT A POP UNDER THE CAR AND THEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND NOW IT WON'T GO INTO GEAR.. BUT IT STILL TURNS ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *DT*JB
MY JEEP HAS THE HEAVY DUTY COOLING FAN. WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN BROKE INTO MULTIPLE PIECES AND DAMAGED THE RADIATOR MAKING THEN UNABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO OVERHEATING. I WAS DRIVE BOUT 15MPH IN A PARKING LOT.
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS LESS THAN 140,000 MILES. #1-IT HAS CORROSION ON THE OUTER BODY PANELS THAT IS STARTING TO GO INTO THE FRAME. THE CORROSION HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS CUTS, SCRAPES AND DAMAGED CLOTHING AS YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. #2- I STARTED SMELLING ANTIFREEZE BUT YOU COULDN'T SEE ANY LEAKS UNLESS IT WAS PARKED DOWNHILL SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. AFTER SEVERAL TEST THEY FOUND IT TO BE THE HEAD GASKET. #3- I ALSO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT STAYING LATCHED. YOU CAN BE DRIVING ALONG AND IT WILL JUST RELEASE AND IT TAKES AWHILE TO GET IT TO LATCH BACK. #4-IT WOULDN'T LET ME SELECT THE OPTION TO TALK ABOUT THE WINDOW REGULATORS THAT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN DECIDE TO WORK BY THEMSELVES. I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE DISCUSS THESE ISSUES WITH ME AND I'D NOT SEEN ANY ISSUES UNTIL LATELY, REGARDLESS OF HOW SIGNIFICANT ANYONE THINKS THESE ISSUES ARE I'VE WORKED IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THE MAKER SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT REGARDLESS OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OR AGE OF VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND STALLED AS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD LOST ALL ITS OIL AND WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AUTOWORLD DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (1370 AUTO CENTER DR, PETALUMA, CA 94952) WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE IDLING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAILING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
IN MAY 2015 THE ENGINE SEIZED/FAILED ON MY 2005 JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED WHICH HAD 132,026 MILES. APPARENTLY, THIS IS COMMON FOR JEEPS THIS OLD AND WITH MANY MILES ON THEM. A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED WAS ABOUT $4,500; NOT WORTH IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED TO FLICKER AND AN ODOR OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY TO STOP SIGN. PULLED OUT INTO INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY CLANKING NOISE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BLOWN ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ENGINE WAS REPLACED. NOW TRANSMISSION IS FAILING WILL FILE A SEPARATE COMPLAINT FOR THAT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE MISFIRED. AS A RESULT, THE SPARK PLUGS AND ENGINE AIR FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE OIL WAS CHANGED AS WELL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT SHOOK WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PSI WAS VERY LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLING FAN, THREE WINDOW MOTORS, THE ALTERNATOR, HEAD GASKETS, THE FUEL PUMP SENSOR IS BROKEN, THE OIL SENSOR IS BROKEN, WHEN I PUMP GAS IT SPILLS OUT, THE RADIATOR, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE TAIL LIGHTS DON'T WORK PROPERLY AND I HAVE REPLACED BOTH THE LIGHTS AND FUSES AS WELL AS THE SOCKETS NUMEROUS TIMES. THESE ARE JUST THE THINGS I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, LITERALLY, ON THIS CAR. I FEEL LIKE IT'S A DEATH TRAP WAITING TO HAPPEN AND CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I AM ABLE TO PURCHASE SOMETHING ELSE, IT WON'T BE A JEEP PRODUCT. JEEP DOESN'T CARE IF YOU HAVE NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THEIR PRODUCT. WHEN I FIRST STARTED HAVING ISSUES I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED FROM TO TALK TO MY SALESMAN AND I WAS ASKED WHAT MY MILEAGE WAS. I WAS RIGHT AROUND 48,000 MILES, I WAS PUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES AND TOLD HE WOULD BE WHO I WOULD NEED TO DEAL WITH. AFTER I HIT THE 50,000 MARK THEY INFORMED ME HE HAD BEEN MURDERED AND I WAS NOT OUT OF WARRANTY. EACH PASSING DAY SEEMS TO BRING NEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I JUST THOUGHT SOMEONE SHOULD FINALLY KNOW. I'M ALSO NOT COUNTING THE RECALLS IN ON MY LIST OF ISSUES.
THE RADIATOR ON THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPLACED TIMES IN THE 8 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT. IT HAS 7 RECALLS, THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS BROKEN, THE SENSORS IN THE ENGINE HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE RADIATOR IS PLASTIC AND LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A BUBBLE GUM MACHINE. IT ALSO HAS A PLASTIC COOLING FAN, NOT METAL, WHICH ALSO BROKE. I HAVE PUT AS MUCH MONEY IN THIS VEHICLE AS I PAID FOR IT. THE BRAKES ARE HORRID AND GO OUT CONSTANTLY. I ONLY HAVE A 5 MILE COMMUTE TO WORK. THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. I GOT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE WE HAD OWNED SEVERAL JEEPS AND LIKED THEM. THIS VEHICLE IS ALWAYS BREAKING DOWN. THE FAN DOESN'T WORK ON THE HEATER EXCEPT ON HIGH. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE EXHAUST HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. I WOULD NEVER BUY A JEEP PRODUCT AGAIN AFTER THIS. *TR
I WENT TO START MY JEEP AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, IT SOMETIMES DOESN'T START, WHEN IT DOES AND I'M DRIVING, IT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A LEFT TURN AND I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO GET HIT! IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S RAINING OR A LOT OF MOISTURE IN THE AIR. IT PULLS AND HESITATES WHILE I'M DRIVING AS WELL. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR THE DAMAGE WHEN I HAD THE FIRE, BUT I'M NOW LEARNING THAT IT'S A BIG ISSUE WITH JEEPS. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND I'M AFRAID FOR THEIR SAFETY. I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE. *TR
2010 ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH ONLY 105,000 MILES. I HAD REPLACED THE EGR VALVE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PERFORMED REGULAR OIL CHANGES UP UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILED. NEW REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN 2010. IN SEPTEMEBER 2014 ENGINE FAILED AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH. ENGINE WAS DIAGNOSED BY CHRYSLER DEALER AS ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OVER HEATED ROCKER ARM, CAM SHAFT AND LIFTERS. CHRYSLER IS NOT OFFERING ANY ASSISTANCE THIS SECOND TIME AROUND. I AM ALSO OUT $1060 DOLLARS PAYABLE TO THE DEALER FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS TELLING ME SOMETHING I ALREADY KNEW. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE HAD TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BEFORE THEY WOULD DISCUSS ANY POTENTIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. NOW THAT THE DIAGNOSIS IS ENGINE FAILURE THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE ANY AIDE. INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN GATHERING INDICATES THIS WAS NOT A GOOD ENGINE IN EITHER THE 2005 OR 2006 LIBERTYS. I NEED SOME HELP PURSING HELP FROM CHRYSLER. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
2005 JEEP LIBERTY WITH DIESEL ENGINE. ORIGINAL ENGINE DIED WITH ONLY 110,000 MILES. CHRYSLER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THIS FALL LESS THAN FOUR YEARS LATER THE NEW REPLACEMENT ENGINE FAILED WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES. I WAS INSTRUCTED BY CHRYSLER CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEND CAR TO CHRYSLER DEALER BEFORE THEY WOULD DISCUSS MY ISSUES. THE CHRYSLER DEALER I WAS TOLD TO USE BROKE DOWN THE ENGINE ONLY TO TELL ME THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS "ENGINE IS BLOWN" CHRYSLER THEN REFUSED TO ASSIST AND I'M OUT $1060 FOR A DIAGNOSIS I DIDN'T NEED. I KNEW MY ENGINE WAS BLOWN THE DAY IT HAPPENED. I AM LOOKING FOR SOME ASSISTANCE ON REPAIRS AND DON'T THINK I'M OUT OF LINE THINKING CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS BUT I'M BEING REALISTIC IN THINKING THEY WON'T. *TR
2005 JEEP LIBERTY. CARE HAS HAD FEW RECALLS WHICH INCLUDES THE MOST RECENT RECALL REGARDING THE GAS TANK. CUSTOMER VERY UNHAPPY WITH HER CAR. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR, WATER, ROCKER ARMS, SPARK PLUGS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE HEAD GASKETS AND CYLINDER HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RIGHT BALL JOINT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
MY GIRLFRIEND OF 21 YEARS, WENT INTO THE DOCTOR AND WHEN SHE CAME OUT HER JEEP LIBERTY WOULD START AND THEN STALL. SHE SAID THERE WAS CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I GET THERE AND CALL AAA AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A PLUS TRANSMISSION AND AUTO REPAIR IN BRIGHTON MICHIGAN. THEY SAID THE ROCKER ARM CAME LOSE FROM THE ADJUSTER AND THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. NOT SO, TURNS OUT IT WAS A BROKEN VALVE SEAT ALSO THAT HAD DROPPED DOWN INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. WE ARE LEFT WITH THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE ENGINE AT A COST TO US OF $5600.00. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER 3.7 V6 ENGINE. IT HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. WITH TODAYS TECHNOLOGY I BELIEVE THAT ENGINE SHOULD HAVE HAD LASTED UP TO 200000 MILES. SINCE WE CANT AFFORD A NEW CAR THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GO. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD HELP WITH THE EXPENSE OF THIS. NEVER WILL I BUY FROM CHRYSLER AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
PULLEY RUBBER SEPARATED BETWEEN THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND SERPENTINE PULLEY LEAVING ME WITH NO STEERING FORTUNATELY WE WERE WITHIN HALF A MILE OF HOME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V252000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE , STRUCTURE) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE DEALERS WERE RECEIVING ONE PART EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN JUNE OF 2013, THERE SHOULD BE A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH OF 2014 AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS IF 05/06/2014 THE DEALER STILL HAS NOT RECIEVED THE NECESSARY PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/16/2014 *JS
WHEN SLOWING DOWN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AT A HIGH SPEED. VEHICLE MUST BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL UNTIL ENGINE DECELERATES. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROX. 5 TIMES. IT ALWAYS IS UNEXPECTED, AND ALWAYS OCCURS WHEN MOVING SLOWLY IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. IF THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED DURING THE ACCELERATION THE REAR WHEELS WILL SPIN. THE CAR MUST BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THE ACCELERATION LASTS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS MAINTAINED AND OPERATES PERFECTLY, EXCEPT FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP! *TR
WENT TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND A LOUD KNOCKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. OIL LIGHT FINALLY WENT OFF AND WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE RESULT WAS A BLOWN ENGINE. SERVICE TECH SAID THEY FLUSHED OIL FROM ENGINE AND IT WAS FILLED WITH METAL. ALL MAINTENANCE WAS UP TO DATE AND IS DOCUMENTED AT DEALERSHIP. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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