Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
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).
Drivers side lower ball joint catastrophic failure with no warning signs evident except split boot(s). Separation/break from upper control arm, tie rod and steering assembly at low speed reverse. NHTSA Recall ID: 06V288000 (Daimler-Chrysler Notification Code: F23) of lower ball joints performed by Chrysler authorized dealer/repair station 2007. Dealer contacted two (2) weeks prior to incident to coordinate possible re-repair and/or consideration of faulty OEM parts used in original recall. Consumer stated gas smell around his car and inside.
About 6 months ago the passenger side front end to hit the ground, just after going 60 miles an hour thankfully turning in daughter's driveway. Lower ball joint passenger side came apart. On Monday doing 35 mph the driver side hits the pavement hard! Luckily I ditched in a driveway on the left! The tire slammed into the fender well breaking the plastic there and the piece that goes back under the doors? Ball joint broke completely into? I'm on my third day of working in the rain alongside a road repairing this?
I have a 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport. I was backing out of my driveway when I heard a crunching sound. I got out of the car and saw that the passenger side of my car was much lower than the driver's side. I noticed that their was windshield wiper fluid pouring out of the front end. Upon inspection, I noticed that the ball joint had snapped and the control arm was almost on the ground. Had I been able to get to the freeway as planned, I could have been seriously injured. I called to verify recall information and was informed that the ball joint recall issue had been resolved. However, with further investigation, it seems that this issue is happening after the repairs as well. I have attached pictures. [redacted]
Right upper ball joint control arm collapsed while in the drive-through at McDonald's could not move the car turn it or do anything it completely collapsed on the front right side due to corrosion of the lower ball joint and then I know this has been recalled however my car is not under the recall and I don't understand why because it was the same exact issue it's a Jeep Liberty
Lower ball joints gave out on driver's side while turning, snapping the wheel/tire from the car and dropping vehicle down abruptly. Dealership who fixed the lower control arm and hitch recalls, did not fix and said there was no Lower Ball Joint recall- which was a confirmed recall and lead to vehicle damage and safety hazard
My son noticed the rear drivers tire not feeling good as he traveled on I-80 outside of Lincoln, ne. He started loosing control and eventually lost control, the car rolled several times and came to rest upside down. He was still buckled in the seat. After looking over the car, the rear tires were broken off the car. The lug nuts still attached to the tire. He thinks the drivers rear tire came off first and that was what started the car out of control. The other rear tire was also off after he came to rest so he is not sure when that came off during the crash. The car is a total loss. Geico is investigating the car to see if they can determine what took place. This just happened on 12/16/2016.
This is the second incident on the same vehicle with the right front wheel falling off due to the five studs being sheared off. First incident was @ 104104mi and second at 152212mi. All mileage is highway mileage on the 4x4. No of-road rough treatment.
P235/70R16 The car was parked, when I left on the morning of July 14 to go to work, it had already exploded. I thought it was the excess heat but the strange thing was the separation that occurred.
2005 Jeep Liberty sport with 74,000 miles. Front wheel bearings need replacement because of corrosion. If not replaced the wheels May fall off causing a serious accident that May lead to death. This issue was found inadvertently while getting an oil change. The vehicle does not drive any differently or make any particular noises that might alert the driver that there is a major problem. This particular vehicle was purchased brand new from the dealership in 2005 and has never been used as an off-road vehicle. This particular vehicle has been very well taken care of and should not be experiencing this problem. Unfortunately, daimler Chrysler is not addressing this problem with a recall. Having the front wheel bearings replaced will cost upwards of $1000.00.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. The vehicle has Goodyear radial, size p225r15r16 tires. The tire pressure indicator light blinked intermittently. The dealer checked the tire pressure and stated that it was normal. While driving 69 MPH, the rear end of the vehicle dropped and the contact lost control. The ridges in the road eventually caused the vehicle to stop. The road conditions were normal. The rear passenger side tire blew out, but the tire pressure light did not illuminate. The consumer stated it did blink for a few seconds. The tire was replaced with a spare. Aaa stated that the tire failed due to low tire pressure. The current and failure mileages were 28,000. *updated 12/12/2007 updated 12/12/07
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Liberty years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2005 Jeep Liberty, 3% of the model year's 1,118 complaints. The component named most often is pressure monitoring and regulating systems (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Jeep Liberty wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires 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 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to wheels & tires 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.