Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
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).
I have a 2004 Jeep Liberty and while DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. I got woke up this morning with the alarm going off.. no one was around the Jeep.. I know this because I have security cameras.. my husband check the fuse box and inside they were water in the fuse box..which it rain last night and I don't know how it is getting wet.. my lights are wanted to stay on. And when I turn the ignition off my Jeep off wants to continue running.. I have had it to several different mechanics and no one seems to know exactly what the problem is.. please help me fix this problem..
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Jeep Liberty. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 18V278000 (suspension). While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle veered to the right and crashed into a guardrail. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact sustained bruises and the passenger sustained back injuries; however, medical attention was not required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact called a local dealer (autonation Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Fiat columbus, 3000 n lake pkwy ste 100, columbus, ga [phone]) and was informed that the parts were unavailable and on backorder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 150,000. Parts distribution disconnect. …
While driving, it would feel as if the rear of the vehicle was going side to side. When accelerating, the car would feel as if it was torquing in one direction and then when I would brake it would feel as if it would pull the other direction. I had noticed this feeling for a while but it was worse on wet or snowy roads and also while going at higher rates of speed (over 50 MPH). I was unable to detect what exactly was happening because it had developed so gradually and I regularly drive this vehicle. I thought when I was driving it was either windy or that the vehicle was sliding due to wet roads. This caused an issue when driving in the winter and caused me to hit a guardrail. I was driving my daughter back to college. …
Tl* - on 01/07/04 while driving on a wet road at a speed of 25 MPH the contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. The contact lost control of the steering wheel. During another incident the contact's vehicle was stopped behind another vehicle that was making a right turn. Once the vehicle turned, contact accelerated and suddenly the vehicle did a 360 spin, ending in a snow bank. At the time of the incident the road conditions were wet. In late February 2004 the contact experienced another incident, where the vehicle was going up a hill in wet conditions and as the vehicle rounded the curve at 40 MPH contact lost control of the steering ,causing the vehicle to crash into a snow bank. On 03/09/04 contact took vehicle to the dealership in boise, id ,and they stated that the vehicle was fine, it just needed snow studs on the tires. …
Car suddenly turned left on 6-lane busy street, accelerated, crossed 2 lanes on left, immediately accelerated & hit 6-lane highway divider at 45 degree angle.. Bounced up. Perched there for a awful second then tipped down on opposite road. Engine still maxed & uncontrollable.. Car turned gently over on roof because engine still at max. Turned it off fearing fire. Wife and I sat there upside down in our belts till the emts came. Researched on internet & found articles by at least 3 Jeep dealers sternly telling drivers to get their rear differential pinion gears adjusted if they mounted oversize tires. Our car had oversized tires when we bought it used. No Jeep company warnings. Were issued Jeep or by dealer. Found 1 terrifying article of a driver who slid to the left without steering control and was struck by an oncoming truck. …
Heard some kind of pop, then some grinding when holding the brake down and turning the wheel. Took car to my regular mechanic. They found all 4 ball joints boots perforated & handed me a recall notice for lower ball joints only that was from sept. 2006. I purchased the vehicle jan. 2006 & never rec'd this recall. Even when I went to the dealer for the fuel tank recall on 7/11/15, they didn't notify me of it. I went on moparownerconnect.com & it shows this recall as repaired, which obviously isn't possible. According to audomd.com there are several issues related to this vehicle through different manufacturers. I have an appt. Set up at the dealer next week & depending on what they say about fixing all the ball joints and checking for other safety concerns, I May be sending in another complaint.
On my 2004 Jeep Liberty I have had the lower front ball joints replace a few years back by the f23 recall. This week as I was replacing upper control arms, which come pre assembled with the ball joint, I noticed the boots for the lower ball joints were again damaged. I also noticed that there is a loud noise when going over unsmooth surface roads, etc. I am thinking this could be caused by the rear upper control arm. Now I'm not a professional mechanic, but common sense tells me that the engineering on the suspension has been compromised. I contacted Chrysler, who told me to contact a dealer, who told me they would get back to me on this problem. I also experienced multiple window regulator problems, along with recalls on the air bags system as well as gas tank protection recalls.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Jeep Liberty. While driving and making turns, the steering wheel made a loud grinding noise. The noise was also heard when the brake pedal was depressed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V278000 (suspension); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called crown Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram greensboro at [phone] (located at 3710 w wendover ave, greensboro, nc 27407) and was informed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Manufacturers recall: my vehicle makes a serious vibration in the steering wheel and a loud humming noise when I drive down the road. It pulls to the right terribly and wears oot my tires constantly. It fish tales when I accelerate the gas petal and also when I take my foot off of the gas. It walks the road. And feels unstable when u reach 60mph. It feels very unsafe and does it's own thing when we are driving . It just goes all over the road .the results are the same whether it's being driven in the city or highway. Unpredictable my vehicle has been recalled by Chrysler u38 is the recall number and it's off the recall expansion of 12v-085
I have had the front lower ball joints replaced twice on my 2004 Jeep Liberty. I was driving both timed it has happened costing me tow and repair costs. I feel I should have been notified about the dangerous safety recall on this vehicle. I am now after leaning that it also hssv12 recalls and safety issues including the gas tank and suspension and stability of my vehicle am afraid to even drive it out if concern for mine and others safety. I am a 62 year old fudablrd woman and need this vehicle fixed and brought up to safety standards. Please tell me what and where to do to get issues resolved. Thank you
Steering complaints in other Liberty years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2004 Jeep Liberty?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Jeep Liberty, 5% of the model year's 1,101 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Jeep Liberty steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2004 Jeep Liberty, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Jeep Liberty steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to steering 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.