RoadVitals

2011 Jeep Liberty Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
12
Latest Feb 15, 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.
7%
of 180 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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Jeep Liberty submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 brake

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

BrakesEngine
Filed Feb 15, 2021

PURCHASED VEHICLE USED IN JANUARY 2020. FIVE DAYS LATER, THE FIRST DTC ILLUMINATED, AND IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE EVER SINCE. SO FAR I HAVE REPLACED THE PURGE VALVE, WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, RADIATOR, ALTERNATOR, PCV VALVE, TENSIONER ASSEMBLY, FRONT BRAKES, LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, DOOR SEALS, SWAY BAR BUSHINGS/LINKS - ALL WITHIN THE FIRST 10,000 MILES. BRAKE CALIPER PISTONS SEIZED AND LOCKED, CAUSING BRAKES TO SMOKE AND OVERHEAT, DISCOVERED EXHAUST LEAK ONLY AFTER DEVELOPING SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. EVEN AFTER ALL OF THAT, THE VEHICLE STILL SOUNDS AWFUL AND HAS SERIOUS PERFORMANCE ISSUES. I FULLY EXPECT THAT THE ENGINE WILL BE TOAST ANY DAY, AND I STILL HAVE ALMOST THREE YEARS WORTH OF PAYMENTS LEFT ON IT.

NHTSA ID
11396236
Incident
Jan 22, 2020
Mileage
151,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 15, 2021

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND I WAS DRIVING ON A THREE LANE STREET WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH WHEN THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM SUDDENLY SEIZED. THE BRAKES REMAINED ENGAGED AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD DRIVE MY CAR WAS TO PUT IT IN REVERSE, THEN NEUTRAL THEN DRIVE. MY ENTIRE DRIVE HOME I COULD HEAR THE BRAKES AND WHENEVER I HAD TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK.

NHTSA ID
11388253
Incident
Jan 14, 2021
Mileage
1 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 7, 2019

IF THE CAR IS STOPPED ON A HILL THE BRAKES WILL SEIZE UP. THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS WILL STAY ON. IT TAKES ABOUT A DAY FOR THE BRAKES TO RELEASE. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AS WELL. IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. THE SYSTEMS CAN ALSO BE RESET BY PULLING THE ABS FUSES. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE WHILE THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11278681
Incident
Nov 1, 1929
Mileage
50,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 10, 2018

DRIVING MY VEHICLE TODAY AND STARTED SHAKING IN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I PULLED OVER THINKING A FLAT TIRE. NOTHING AND CONTINUED. I THEN BEGAN SMELLING BURNING AND MORE SHAKING AND SMOKE. I PULLED OVER AGAIN AT THIS POINT . MY FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. ONE MONTH AGO I HAD SIMILAR SITUATION WITH BACK BRAKES AND HAD TO HAVE BOTH CALIBERS AND ROTERS AND PADS REPLACED. ALL FOUR CALIBERS WILL NOW HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE AND ROTERS DUE TO CALIBERS FREEZING . VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND UNDRIVABLE.

NHTSA ID
11093224
Incident
May 10, 2018
Mileage
90,231 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 9, 2018

NOTICED HEAT AND SMELL COMING FROM REAR LEFT WHEEL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE BRAKE CALIPER FROZE, I HAD IT CHANGED IN 2014. ALSO ON THE SAME WHEEL I HAD TO CHANGED 2 TIMES THE ABS SENSOR, ONE TIME IN 2015 AND AGAIN 2017. MY MECHANIC OBSERVED THE BRAKE HOSE (REAR LEFT WHEEL) MALFUNCTIONNED WHICH IN TURN IS MELTING THE BRAKE PAD WHICH IS SMUDGING ONTO THE ROTOR. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID IS BOILING DUE TO THE BRAKE HOSE. JEEP IS 43,000 AND THIS WILL BE MY SECOND BRAKE JOB. I NEED TO CHANGE BRAKE HOSE, PAD, CALIPER AND ROTOR ON BOTH SIDE TO MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE HELP ME FIND IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE HOSE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS OWNERS OF JEEP LIBERTY 2011. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE BRAKE HOSE IS BACK ORDERED AND WE WERE TOLD IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 2 TO 3 WEEKS FOR THE PART. IT IS SCARY!

NHTSA ID
11061454
Incident
Jan 5, 2018
Mileage
43,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 16, 2017

10/20/17 DRIVING 5 MINUTES & BRAKES LOCKED - JEEP WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL - AFTER 20 MINUTES JEEP RAN NORMALLY FOR 3 WEEKS; 11/9/17 DRIVING GRANDBABIES HOME - GOING 40 ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY - BRAKES AGAIN LOCK UP JEEP CAME TO A STOP & WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AND WOULD NOT REVERSE - ESC INDICATOR LIGHT ON, ESC OFF APPEARED IN THE ODOMETER AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON - THE SMELL OF BRAKES WAS OVERWHELMING - CALLED AAA FOR A TOW - AFTER AN HOUR - ALL SORTS OF CREAKING NOISES COULD BE HEARD - ? BRAKES RELEASING - WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE JEEP - CANCELLED AAA - DROVE JEEP IMMEDIATELY TO MY MECHANIC - AFTER 2 DAYS HE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS NOR COULD THE ISSUE BE DUPLICATED ; CALLED THE JEEP DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM ON ESSINGTON AVE IN PHILADELPHIA - THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE - TO BRING THE JEEP IN TO BE "DIAGNOSED" FOR $115.00 - WHEN ASKED FOR A LOANER - THEY TOLD ME I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL - THERE ARE 55,000 MILES ON THE JEEP

NHTSA ID
11046577
Incident
Nov 9, 2017
Mileage
55,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 10, 2017

BRAKES LOCKED UP 3/2017 HAD IT TOWED TO ANDERSON JEEP IN AZ. THEY REPLACED THE ABS MODULE AND HCU. 100 DAYS LATER THEY LOCKED UP AGAIN IN MN. TOWED TO FOREST LAKE JEEP. WHEN TESTED IT WORKED OK THEN LATER THEY DROVE IT AND IT LOCKED UP WHILE THEY WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. CODES SHOWED SAME PARTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. THE LATEST WAS ON A CITY STREET WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
11004174
Incident
Jul 5, 2017
Mileage
94,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 9, 2017
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ABS AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADRESTS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND NERVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE. THE PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A DEFAULT IN A WHEEL SENSOR THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAKE SENSOR DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10959828
Incident
Apr 22, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 20, 2016
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 JEEP LIBERTY. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT DID NOT OBSERVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10860504
Incident
Apr 18, 2016
Brakes
Filed May 13, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP LIBERTY 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 48 MPH HE ENCOUNTERED A LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND IMMEDIATELY THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY WALL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE LEFT LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY UNTIL FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID
10511616
Incident
May 11, 2013
Mileage
38,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jan 23, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH. THERE WAS A RED LIGHT AND SOME PRECEDING CARS WERE STOPPED AND OTHERS WERE SLOWING DOWN. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND EVEN AFTER STOMPING ON IT A OF COUPLE TIMES. THE BRAKES ONLY DEPRESSED DOWN A LITTLE BIT BUT NOT FULLY (SEEMED LIKE DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF). THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH, BUT DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF VEHICLE IN FRONT. AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES TO THE FACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10494451
Incident
Dec 20, 2012
Mileage
10,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 28, 2012

AFTER SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF FROM THE STOP, THE ABS LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. I WAS A MILE FROM HOME, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IN ORDER TO GET IT TO MOVE. I DROVE ONE MILE TO MY HOME AND PARKED, I COULD SMELL THE BRAKES. I LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR, TRIED TO DRIVE IT AND IT OPERATED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. I DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN THE NEXT DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490334
Incident
Dec 27, 2012
Mileage
33,141 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 .