Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Jeep Liberty owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 06V288000 (Suspension), 13V252000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Structure), and 18V278000 (Suspension). The contact scheduled a recall repair appointment, and after arriving at the dealer, was informed that parts were not yet available for the recall repairs. The dealer suggested that the appointment be rescheduled. The appointment was rescheduled. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ball joints fractured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact stated that the dealer had the vehicle for almost a month before the contact was advised that the recall repairs could not be completed due to other vehicle failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 183,674. …
I drove for about an hour on a steep mountain road. Sometimes using the overdrive to go up steep grades. The cruise control would not work. I made it to town and was on the main road stopped in traffic. Suddenly, the rpms raced and the Jeep accelerated on its own. I had my foot on the brake, but had to put it in park to stop it, but not before it hit then truck in front of me. I was shaken up and checked the floor mat to make sure it was not touching the gas pedal. It was not.
Was going down a hill. Didn't notice a stop sign. Tried to stop but couldn't in time. Took the corner and hit a tree with my passenger front corner and the Jeep flipped on its side. Smashed my face on the steering wheel shattering my jaw due to airbags not going off and seatbelts not locking. Needed immediate surgery. They had to smash the front window to get me out of the vehicle.
About a month ago I was coming up the mountain and it was hard to stere and it made me hit a gard rail on the other side of the road and then about a week ago I was going to town and I stopped at the store to get gas and turn it off and it would not start back so I don't no what is wrong
Two concerns - the first being safety related. There is metal grinding noise when braking. All speeds - slow or fast, and in all "drives", two wheel or four wheel drive. No mechanics I have visited have been able to diagnose it. There are hundreds of other Jeep Liberty owners experiencing the same problem. I have spoken in person with several and read hundreds of complaints online of the same thing. Secondly, three of my windows have now failed to operate. Also a widespread Jeep Liberty issue with a piece in the lifting mechanism. The motors are operating just fine, but there is a piece inside the door that breaks and the windows fail to open or close thereafter. Sometimes, a lifting mechanism spring-looking piece grinds upwards into the cabin of the vehicle when the "broken" window mechanisms are accidentally activated. …
Vehicle indicated that passenger front door was ajar, this after ten minutes of driving. Door was in fact not ajar. Passenger opened and closed door just to check, door then would no longer fully close. Pulled manual lock to see if it was stuck, whole piece came out. Smoke started pouring out of hole and door metal was very hot to the touch. Removed door panel to put out fire inside. Lock actuator motor melted down and parts were smoldering. During this process the electronic back glass popped open as well and will no longer latch either. Chrysler recalled some 2004 Liberty's for these motors overheating and seizing, was informed that this vehicle was not included and that we should have 'maintained the wiring in the door'. This vehicle is meticulously maintained!
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer (orlando Dodge located at 4101 w colonial dr, orlando, fl 32808) regarding NHTSA campaign number: 13V252000 (structure). The contact was informed that the remedy to install a trail hitch to rear of the vehicle could not be completed due to rusting of the sub frame. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 141,000.
We received a recall for our 2004 Jeep Liberty. It is a safely issue where these vehicles often ignite when rear-ended. We have been contacting the dealership since last August and they claim not to have the parts. We have notes on the number of times called and their various vague responses. I don't know if it is jeeps shortcomings or the dealership, but they are each blaming one another. Meanwhile we are driving an unsafe vehicle. Is there anything else we can do? This seems to be quite a long response time.
I had just gotten off the highway and took the wrong turn so in the middle of the street I tried to whip a uturn and when I turned my wheel to the left I heard a loud crack and my vehicle was unlevel so I asked my passenger to see if we had blown a tire and he said it looked fine but I got out and looked and saw that the whole entire wheel assembly fell off. I had brake fluid draining in the street and there was the piece (control arm) that was snapped in half leaving my car stuck and broken .
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Jeep Liberty. While driving 15 MPH, the contact noticed an abnormal noise underneath the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the lower control rail on the front passenger side fractured. The contact also noticed corrosion underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,000.
Related recalls
Structure
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler designed…
Body complaints in other Liberty years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2004 Jeep Liberty?
NHTSA has 128 complaints about the body & structure of the 2004 Jeep Liberty, 12% of the model year's 1,101 complaints. The component named most often is body (51 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Jeep Liberty body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 13V-252 (structure, Jun 19, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Jeep Liberty body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.