Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
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).
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.
Accident on 12-8-2015. Was hit in front end. I was stationary and car travelling about 35 MPH hit me on right front end. Air bag deployed but the seat belt didn't hold at all. The belt was on and locked, but the retract mechanism did not lock or pretension at all. My body flew forward and head hit the windshield causing head injury.
Suspension issue. It appears that the front end to be coming loose. Lots of noise such as grinding,etc. I stopped at garage and had them out it on a lift for inspection. The determination was that the front, left and right, upper and lower ball joints are defective. Upon inspection by the mechanic, and by me visually, it appears to be premature wear. Mechanic suspects a product defect, as do I. I checked NHTSA official site for recalls. Multiple recalls for this suspension issue. Seat belt driver's side latching mechanism between the seat and console sticks intermittently. Sometimes it takes multiple efforts to disconnect the seal belt so that driver May exit the vehicle. Dealer claims there are no recalls on this item and no warranty. Current mileage on vehicle is 74,400 miles. Electrical power window assemblies. All four assemblies have been replaced. …
Both front seat belts continually unlatch by themselves. Also, they are hard to get latched. The vehicle currently has less than 50,000 miles and had only approximately 25,000 when the seat belts first started malfunctioning, so they haven't been used that much. I called the dealership to complain but they said the seat belts will cost $60 each without installation. It's sad that such a prevalent and serious issue such as this isn't currently being recalled. Maybe it'll take a few people being seriously injured for Jeep (Chrysler) to perform this recall...... But then again, they'll probably just say the person simply wasn't wearing their seat belt.
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. While driving at any speed, unusual squeaking noises were heard coming from the ball joints. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the recall repair was previously performed and would not be done a second time. The contact was referred to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer was not notified. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was 145,000. The consumer stated the seatbelt connector fails and 4x4 fails to engage.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. While the vehicle was in motion, the driver's seat belt became unfastened. The seat belt warning indicator illuminated with a chime each time the failure occurred. The failure occurred more frequently over the past three months. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and had not issued any seat belt recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. While driving 55 MPH, the driver's seat belt became unlatched and the passenger side air bag indicator illuminated. The failure recurred four times. When the contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, it operated normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 275,768.
My daughter had an accident while driving to school this morning and although she hit head on and the hood buckled her airbags did not deploy nor did her seat belt restrain her. She did not have any severe injury, didn't hit the stirring wheel or her head but she has minor neck pain at the moment and I am taking her to the hospital as a precaution.
Seat Belt complaints in other Liberty years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the seat belts of the 2005 Jeep Liberty, 3% of the model year's 1,118 complaints. The component named most often is front (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Jeep Liberty seat belt problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seat belts 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 seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries to seat belts 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.