2012 Jeep Liberty Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while making a right turn on a main road at 25 MPH, the front lower control arms snapped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately pulled over onto the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.

NHTSA ID

11673807

Incident

Jul 11, 2025

Mileage

29,000 mi

MY JEEP HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER FOR OVER 23 SERVICES FROM RECALLS, DEFECTIVE PARTS, ALTERED PARTS, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, REAR END, BRAKING AND MANY MORE ISSUES TO INCLUDE SHARP ITEMS PUSHES THRU SEATS HARMING PEOPLE

NHTSA ID

11552038

Incident

Oct 26, 2023

Transmission failure due to not being replaced when scheduled for maintenance

NHTSA ID

11474030

Incident

Jul 5, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and merging onto the interstate, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The RPM revved up but the vehicle did not respond. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the passenger’s side front tire was wobbling. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that three tires needed to be replaced due to tread belt damage and that the heater core and transmission were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased to be repaired. The thermostat was replaced, the brake lines were bled however, the tires were not replaced. The contact stated that she was not provided a copy of the repair order. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle manufacturer was notified of the failure. The tire manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 134,000.

NHTSA ID

11455177

Incident

Jan 22, 2022

Mileage

134,000 mi

My heater takes 45-60 mins to heat up my car, and it doesn’t blow full force when it’s on the highest setting. On cold days I literally have to start my car up 45 before I need to leave just to have a slight warmth inside. Once I’m moving, it barely blows any heat through the vents. The highest setting feels like it’s on the lowest setting.

NHTSA ID

11450106

Incident

Feb 3, 2022

MY ENGINE AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL STOP WHILE DRIVING, EVERY SYSTEM STOPPED WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY ISSUES FROM DEFECTIVE DRIVERS SEATS, OIL LEAKS, WINDOWS NOT WORKING, SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS, RECALLS, HEAD REST ISSUES, LEAKS FROM WHO KNOW WHERE THE DEALER HAD IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN MISDIAGNOSED IT SEVERAL TIMES, IT WAS IN THE JEEP DEALER AND DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WENT IT STOPPED AGAIN. ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON WARING FOR SEVERAL PROBLEMS IT IS NOW STUCK IN MY HOME. THIS JEEP IS AS FCA KNOWS A LEMON THESE PROBLEMS GO BACK YEARS EVEN WHEN I BOUGHT IT , IT HAS NEVER EVER WORKED OR OPERATED PROPERLY OR SAFELY. NEEDS TO BE ALL RECALLED AND REFUND ALL MY MONIES

NHTSA ID

11396154

Incident

Feb 13, 2021

Mileage

56,899 mi

JEEP DIED WHILE DRIVING ON THE DASH IT SAID NO FUSE THEN MY BATTERY DIED ALSO MY ALTERNATOR I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR 5 TIMES AND STILL HAS ISSUES

NHTSA ID

11387181

Incident

Jan 2, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER PARKED SAFETY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP, DRIVE BELT TENSIONER AND MULTIPLE UNKNOWN NUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER NEMER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM LOCATED AT 728 QUAKER RD, QUEENSBURY, NY 12804, (518) 932-0616 AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,625.

NHTSA ID

11355158

Incident

Jul 4, 2020

Mileage

38,625 mi

TRAVELING LAST NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS WENT UP, DOWN THEN OUT FOR ALMOST 20 SECONDS AND DOING 40 MPH IS SCARY. THE LIGHTS FINALLY CAME ON BUT THEN THEY DIM UP AND DOWN. BEFORE THIS LAST WEEK THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. I NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND THE WORST THING IS TAKING IT OUT AT NIGHT AND HAVING THE LIGHTS GO OUT. THIS WEEK WAS THE FORTH TIME THAT HAS HAPPENED THANK GOD IT HAPPENED ON A LIGHTED ROAD BUT I STILL HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. ALL TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED I'VE BEEN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND TRAVELING AT NIGHT

NHTSA ID

11353847

Incident

Sep 2, 2020

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11309850

Incident

Feb 12, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

RADIO DOESNT WORK -WIPERS COME ON BY THEM SELFS-LITTLE HEAT TURN BLOW UP BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, SLIP LIGHT FOR TIRES COMES ON DASH AND SEAT BELT GUY WITH AIRBAG LIGHTS UP ON DASH -MOTOR LOSES POWER DRIVING DOWN ROAD WITH HEATER BLOWER ON. TOOK TO MR. TIRE AUTO SERVICE CENTER FOR A FULL CURTESY INSPEPECTION AND THEY FOUND OUT ITS ELETRICAL ISSUE . I HAVE A VIDEO OF ME SITTING IN MY WORK PARKING LOT WITH THE LIGHTS ON DASH . I DONT KNOW WHAT THE HEATER HAS TO DO WITH THE LIGHTS ON DASH OR MY BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON AND RADIO NOT WORKING AND WHY THE MOTOR LOSES POWER DRIVE IT IM SCARD OF DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF A FIRE BRAKING OUT BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE IT THE ONLY VECHICLE I HAVE TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. I HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THEN THREE YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11301794

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND LOST POWER. THE BRAKE, THE AIR BAG, SEAT BELTS, THE HEATER CORE AND SOME OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE RADIO DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FERRARIO AUTO TEAM OF SAYRE DEALER (570-888-2367, LOCATED AT 102 SPRING ST, SAYRE, PA 18840) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOULD BE COVERED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED NO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000.

NHTSA ID

11300823

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

139,000 mi

I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO GET LOOKED AT BY JEEP TWICE PRIOR DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING AND WAS INFORMED ALL IT NEEDED WAS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND STAYED ON SO I RETURNED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY THE JEEP DEALERSHIP AGAIN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE AND DRIVABLE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. I HAD TO CAR TOWED BACK AND WHEN IT WAS LOOKED AT AGAIN AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE HEAD WAS WARPED DUE TO THE CAR OVERHEATING. I HAVE OWED THE VEHICLE FOR 60,000 MILES AND IT HAS NEVER ONCE OVERHEATED. I AM UNSURE IF THE ENGINE RAN HOT (THE NEEDLE USUALLY SAT HALF WAY BETWEEN THE "HOT" AND "COLD" ENDS. NOW THAT I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE I AM NOTICING THIS VEHICLE RUNS COOLER THAN MY LAST AND I AM WONDERING THE ENGINE ON MY FORMER VEHICLE WAS IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED/MANUFACTURED AND I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THEY EMPHASIZED THAT THE OVERHEATING HAD TO HAVE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE FOR THAT TYPE OF DAMAGE TO OCCUR. DEALERSHIP WANTED $8000 TO REPAIR/REPLACE.

NHTSA ID

11289063

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

VEHICLE IS ATTRACTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL. AIR BAGS PROBABLY SAVED THE WIFE'S LIFE IN A T BONE ACCIDENT. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER WORK GREAT. THERE IS TOO MUCH PLASTIC...EVERYWHERE! SEATS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE ON LONG TRIPS. WATER PUMP LOCKED UP WITH JUST OVER 50K MILES. TRANSMISSION IS SELF DESTRUCTING AT 62K MILES THIS MONTH. IT SEEMS THE TRANSMISSION HAS NO DIP STICK FOR THE OWNER TO CHECK THE FLUID. IF IT DID THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED SOONER. NOW WE MUST PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION AND LABOR BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, $4K! THE VEHICLE GETS REGULAR USE IN COUNTY, CITY AND HIGHWAY TRIPS. ON NICE PAVED TEXAS ROADS. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY DRIVEN BY TWO ADULTS, AGE 72.I BELIEVE THERE IS A QUALITY ISSUE WITH THE DRIVETRAIN PARTS. WE HAVE OWNED OTHER JEEPS. THEY HAD THE OLD RELIABLE INLINE 6CYL ENGINE AND THREE SPEED TRANSMISSION. VERY RELIABLE.

NHTSA ID

11282769

Incident

Nov 15, 2019

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11280812

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE HEATER CORE IS PLUGGED UP WITH CASTING SAND LEFT IN THE HEAD AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING.

NHTSA ID

11221328

Incident

Nov 15, 2017

THE CAR WOLD NOT START, HAD TO PUSH THE GEAR SHIFT FORWARD AND THEN IT STARTS. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON, THE LIGHT BELOW -- ELECTRONIC TROTTLE CONTROL AND THE SERVICE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LITE WAS ON. TURNED CAR OFF, TURNED BACK ON, HAD TROUBLE STARTING, AGAIN HAD TO PUSH THE GEAR SHIFT FORWARD, THE ONLY LIGHT THAT WENT OFF WAS THE SERVICE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11210716

Incident

May 29, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO MY DESTINATION AND SHUTTING IT OFF. IT WILL NOT RESTART WHEN I GO TO DRIVE IT TO THE NEXT LOCATION .THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED A COUPLE TIMES. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO A LOCATION THE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO DIM ON THEIR OWN. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIPM CAUSING THE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11194593

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

136,800 mi

HEAT DOES NOT WORK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHO REPORTS THE JEEP NEEDS HEATER CORE, RADIATOR AND POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTION HOUSING.

NHTSA ID

11172300

Incident

Jan 25, 2019

CAR WOULDNT START; WHEN FINALLY DID, PULLED OUT TO ROAD, COULDNT GET IT TO GO PAST 35 MPH, PRESSED GAS PEDAL, EVEN TACHOMETER WOULDNT GO FASTER; COULDNT GET ANY GETUP AND GO; PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, PUT IN PARK, TAPPED ACCELERATOR FEW TIMES, WOULDNT ACCELERATE; AFRAID TO SHUTDOWN, SO STARTED OUT ON ROAD (45 MPH SPEED), CAR WOULDNT ACCELERATE PAST 35, FINALLY GOT HOME; SHUT OFF, WOULDNT START AGAIN. CALLING DEALER. LOOKS LIKE OTHERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, RED LIGHT UNDER IT FLASHED THEN STAYED ON.

NHTSA ID

11170029

Incident

Jan 14, 2019

Mileage

45,000 mi

HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING. TOOK IT TO MY GARAGE AND DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN WAS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT! NOW MY ENGINE OIL PAN SEEMS TO BE DOING THE SAME. ANYBODY ELSE? 91K MILEAGE

NHTSA ID

11164245

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

I HAVE A PENDING FILE: 11151151; ENGINE FIRE. I TOOK A QUICK SURVEY OF COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND 23 OTHER JEEP LIBERTY RECORDS FROM 2006-2012 DESCRIBING VALVE FAILURES AND ENGINE FIRES, WHICH INDICATES A DESIGN FLAW AND NEED FOR INVESTIGATION. NHSTA SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT MODEL YEARS 2002-2005, DODGE NITRO, AND OTHER VEHICLES THAT USED THE MOPAR 3.7 ENGINE. THE RATE OF FAILURE AND FIRE POINTS TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT MUST BE RECTIFIED

NHTSA ID

11152528

Incident

Oct 25, 2018

Mileage

82,000 mi

DRIVING FREEWAY SPEED, ENGINE LOST POWER, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHED, THEN ENGINE LIGHT; PULLED ONTO SHOULDER, RAISED HOOD, OBSERVED FIRE AT VALVE COVER/WIRING HARNESS. MECHANIC'S SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED VALVE/ROCKER ARM FAILURE RESULTED IN PUNCTURED VALVE COVER THAT RELEASED OIL ONTO HOT ENGINE RESULTING IN FIRE. ROCKER ARM FAILURES ARE COMMON ON MOPAR 3.7 ENGINE - GOOGLE THE TERM AND MANY HITS WILL APPEAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR AN ENGINE WITH 82,000 MILES THAT WAS SERVICED REGULARLY ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS. NEW ENGINE NOW REQUIRED.

NHTSA ID

11151151

Incident

Oct 25, 2018

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAT FAILED TO BLOW OUT OF THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH THE BLOWER WAS WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ED VOYLES CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (844-715-5921, LOCATED AT 789 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MODULE AND THE RESISTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A YEAR LATER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INIFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL BACK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,150. *TT *JB CONSUMER STATED ALTHOUGH THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED THE RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

11142847

Incident

Nov 10, 2017

Mileage

81,150 mi

I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WHILE ACCELERATING THE ACCELERATOR HAS BECOME LOCKED AT FULL THROTTLE. I POUNDED THE FLOOR FRANTICALLY TO GET IT TO RELEASE OR BECOME UNSTUCK WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. FORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T KILLED ANYONE OR BEEN KILLED MYSELF. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT EVEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WHAT CAN I DO. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11112347

Incident

Jul 3, 2018

Mileage

83,000 mi