RoadVitals

2005 Jeep Liberty Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Apr 25, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 1,118 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 15 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 25, 2021

THE BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T WORK AND THE BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED. APPARENTLY, SINCE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM IN VARIOUS FORUMS; THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE CONTACT OVERHEATS AND MELTS INTO THE PLASTIC HOUSING, CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE ISSUE AND RESULTING IN NO CONTACT TO MAKE THE LIGHT BULB WORK.

NHTSA ID
11413872
Incident
Apr 2, 2021
Mileage
155,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 1, 2019

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE READ ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT BLINK ON AND OFF. THEN THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT AND WONT WORK NOW

NHTSA ID
11164356
Incident
Oct 3, 2018
Mileage
165,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE; HOWEVER, THE HIGH BEAMS WORKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LITHIA CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF CORPUS CHRISTI (4313 S STAPLES ST, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78411) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RESULTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,257.

NHTSA ID
11105410
Incident
Jun 12, 2018
Mileage
65,257 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 9, 2018

MY BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES/NOT FUNCTION, RESULTING IN SAFETY ISSUES AND TICKETS. THIS TIME THE METAL CONNECTORS IN THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE MELTED PLASTIC AROUND THEM, SO IT DOES NOT CONNECT WITH THE SOCKET CONNECTORS AND THAT MEANS NO BRAKE LIGHTS. APPEARS, BASED ON THE VOLUME OF YOUTUBE REPAIR VIDEOS, THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT RECALLS AND CONTACTED JEEP, IT IS NOT AN ITEM OF CONCERN. THE BRAKE LIGHTS DONT WORK, THAT SHOULD BE A CONCERN.

NHTSA ID
11100691
Incident
May 28, 2018
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jul 10, 2015

HEAD LIGHT AND INTERIOR LIGHTS: I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AT NIGHT, HOWEVER IT HAS HAPPENED DURING THE DAY ALSO. LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 57 MILES PER HOUR AT 9:30 PM WHEN THE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED TWICE. AFTER THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THEY CAME ON AGAIN. I THEN STARTED DRIVING AND THEY DID IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. I THEN PUT ON THE FOG LIGHTS AND PRAYED I MAKE IT TO WORK WITHOUT CRASHING. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY SO WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT IT'S DARK. I DO NOT WANT TO RISK MY LIFE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY JEEP LIBERTY NEW AND I'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH IT. I USE MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK AND I WORK NIGHTS SO IT'S IMPERATIVE IT'S SAFE AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. I'M VERY CONCERNED AND I'M CONTEMPLATING GETTING RID OF IT EVEN THOUGH I LOVE IT, BUT MY PERSONAL SAFETY IS #1.....UPDATED 10/20/15 *BF

NHTSA ID
10733171
Incident
Jul 10, 2015
Mileage
156,166 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2014

REAR TAILLIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2005 .I AM CONSTANTLY BEING PULLED OVER AND EVERY MECHANIC IS TELLING ME THAT ITS A JEEP ISSUE BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RECALLS!!!! THEY SAY ITS A GROUND WIRING PROBLEM THAT JEEPS HAVE...PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10654341
Incident
Sep 15, 2013
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 10, 2014

I WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK AND SUDDENLY MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY JEEP LIBERTY SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND DID NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL I RESTARTED MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10653817
Incident
Aug 23, 2014
Mileage
127,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 27, 2013

REAR TAILLIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007.I AM CONSTANTLY BEING PULLED OVER AND EVERY MECHANIC IS TELLING ME THAT ITS A JEEP ISSUE BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RECALLS!!!! THEY SAY ITS A GROUND WIRING PROBLEM THAT JEEPS HAVE...PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10537431
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
65 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 22, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS OVERHEATED CAUSING THE PLASTIC INSIDE TO MELT. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10471943
Incident
Apr 1, 2011
Mileage
125,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 13, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHT BULB WAS BURNED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULB BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT ALSO BURNED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING, WHICH HAD MELTED THE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID
10465547
Incident
Apr 13, 2012
Mileage
55,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 14, 2012

1) WIRING HARNESS FAILED--REAR LIGHTS NOT OPERABLE/FUNCTIONAL. VEHICLE CRASH POSSIBLE BECAUSE CAR NOT VISIBLE BY OTHER DRIVERS AT NIGHT. 2) GEAR SHIFT STICKS CAUSING INABILITY TO PUT CAR IN PARK. ROLL-AWAY IMMINENT. CAUSING CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10455238
Incident
Feb 1, 2012
Exterior lighting
Filed May 2, 2011

WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON. HEADLIGHTS WITH FLICKER ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IT OCCURS RANDOMLY EVERY NIGHT. PROBLEM HAS BEEN HARD TO DIAGNOSE AND NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10398529
Incident
Mar 15, 2011
Mileage
65,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 11, 2008

BOTH TAIL LIGHTS IN MY 2005 JEEP LIBERTY MELTED DUE TO FAULTY WIRING CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD AND COSTING MY $327.27 TO REPLACE WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC HIMSELF SAID THIS TYPE OF DEFECT WAS VERY COMMON IN THE CHRYSLER/JEEP MODELS HE SERVICES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A RE-CALL FOR THESE PARTS AND IF SO, WHY I WAS NOT CONTACTED. IF NO RE-CALL WAS ISSUED I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DEFECT. THIS NOT ONLY WAS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD BUT IT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO LOSE ITS BRAKELIGHTS,CAUSING A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245140
Incident
Oct 10, 2008
Mileage
20,550 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 14, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN REVERSE, THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BACK UP LIGHTS WAS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR THE CONTACT TO SEE PEOPLE OR OBJECT THAT MAY BE BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE LIGHTS PERFORM AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 12/5/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10173491
Incident
Nov 13, 2006
Mileage
12,000 mi
Interior & seatsExterior lightingTransmission
Filed Jan 31, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE PULLING IN OR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESPOND. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT MUST BE PUT IN REVERSE THEN DRIVE TO MOVE AND VICE VERSA. ALSO, THE LIGHTS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE. THIS HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO CODES ON THE COMPUTER OR BLACK BOX AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE EITHER PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVESE IT DID MOVE AND THEN STOPPED. THE CONSUMER STATED IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149117
Incident
Jan 31, 2006
Mileage
28,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .