Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Jeep Liberty owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Two vehicles traveling north bound on a highway with a speed limit posting of 50mph. We were hit on the pass. Side front fender, sending us head-on into a concrete barrier, sending us air born and spun around, coming downward, landing nose first back onto the highway, striking the other vehicle upon landing, and slid another 100 yards into the right side emergency lane of the highway. Pass. Was cut out of the vehicle by ems. Both occupants taken to hosp. One of the several injuries was a laceration to the neck of the pass. From the seatbelt, leaving a permanent scar. None of the airbags deployed! Pass. Also received cervical and lumbar injuries and bruised left knee. Driver received right & left shoulder, right upper & lower quadrant, and neck trauma. Both occupants are having continuous headaches to date. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. While making a left turn into the driveway, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The contact's vehicle turned 360 degrees. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to restrain. The contact sustained a chest injury, and the passenger sustained an eye and tooth injury. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not available.
Vehicle spun out on snowy road and slid off the road at a ~120 angle to direction of travel (left road facing right and backwards) at around 45mph. Struck a signpost in the driver's door, then rolled over once down a ~30 embankment to Land back on wheels. Side air bags did not deploy. Driver suffered fractured clavicle.
On 6/5/2015, while on the freeway, the dashboard went crazy. Engine and airbag lights flashed, fuel, temperature, and speed gauges went dead (zero), air conditioning stopped. I drove straight to the elk grove dealership's service department. They were unable to find what was wrong. Unable to duplicate the problem and the computer memory did not showed them anything. They performed the 120K service instead. On 6/18/2015, while driving at 15mph it happened again. This time, I pulled to the side of the road and took a video of the dashboard, and again drove to the elk grove dealership. As of today, they have been unable to diagnose/find what is wrong. They know is a control module, but do not know which one. Since other Jeep models experiencing similar problems have been subject to recall, I want to know why not for the 2005 model. …
I need to report that [redacted] was in an accident today in the 05 Jeep Liberty. Location was east bound service road at greatsouth west hwy and interstate 20 grand prairie texas, on August 17, 2014, at approximately 2:00 pm. She was attempting to enter onto I-20 and due to the rain lost control and causing her to travel off the road and strike into a covert drain( due to hydro plaining.and the air bags did not deploy) . Location was east bound service road at great south west hwy and interstate 20 grand prairie texas, she was take by ambulance (grand prairie fire and rescue) to medical center hospital at 3301 medlock arlington, texas. She received x-rays, cat scan, and sutures in the facial area discharged. The vehicle had to be towed from the scene. Ing she was take by ambulance (grand prairie fire and rescue) to medical center hospital at 3301 medlock arlington, texas. …
My 2005 Jeep Liberty was involved in a rollover accident with 4 fatalities on 9 June 07. The incident took place at highway speed on an interstate highway with no other vehicles involved. The driver and one passenger survived the accident with multiple injuries. The four passengers in the back seat of the Liberty were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the vehicle during the rollover event. The driver felt that she had no control of the steering just prior to the rollover of the vehicle. The incident is currently under investigation. The consumer also stated the air bag did not deploy. The consumer stated the was a nail in the tire that could have caused low tire pressure, contributing to the loss of control of the vehicle which May have resulted in failure of the upper ball joints. A recall was performed on the lower ball joints in May 2007. Updated
This evening, I had a collision with a car that was attempting to cross the highway, but pulled out directly in front of me. I slammed on my brakes, but t-boned the other vehicle. I was traveling at approximately 55 MPH. Her vehicle sustained most of the damage, and I was actually very impressed that my Liberty did not sustain as much damage as I had expected. I was wearing my seatbelt, but to my surprise, my airbag did not deploy. My chest hit the steering wheel. I am very concerned that the airbag did not deploy despite hitting a vehicle that was essentially not even moving. I love my Jeep, but how do I know that my air bag even works? Luckily I made it through this accident without severe injuries, but May not be so lucky next time.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the front driver side. The vehicle then turned around and crashed into a guardrail on the front passenger side. None of the air bags deployed and all of the seat belts became unlatched from the buckle. One year prior to the crash, none of the air bags deployed during a severe frontal crash. The seat belt system also failed. A representative from the dealer inspected the vehicle and concluded that it was functioning normally. The manufacturer has not been notified. The current and failure mileages were 78,000.
Vehicle was involved in a crash with a light pole and small tree. Driver was forced to the right side of the road to avoid a head on crash with another vehicle. Two of the front bumper sensors were hit, but the air bags failed to deploy. The drive hit the steering column that had broken off with her sternum, and the passenger hit the windshield. There was a question involving the seat belts not holding either of the individuals in place. The 2005 Jeep had several recalls, and many shop bulletins of part failures on file though this one was checked by the dealer and certified as OK...updated 09-18-13 updated
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that the air bag failed to deploy. The contact was involved in three crashes and the front driver's air bag failed to deploy. The contact suffered injuries to the head, mouth, and clavicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to start and the check engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic test performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileages were 20,000.
Airbag complaints in other Liberty years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Jeep Liberty, 4% of the model year's 1,118 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Jeep Liberty airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2005 Jeep Liberty, though it has 5 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 2005 Jeep Liberty airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 28 crashes, 1 fire and 29 injuries and 4 deaths to air bags 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.