Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 169 | 44% | 45,000 miles |
| 2011 | 35 | 19% | 83,000 miles |
| 2010 | 15 | 8% | 75,000 miles |
| 2009 | 12 | 11% | 105,000 miles |
| 2008 | 43 | 8% | 100,000 miles |
| 2007 | 24 | 3% | 93,000 miles |
| 2006 | 31 | 2% | 78,000 miles |
| 2005 | 41 | 4% | 82,000 miles |
| 2004 | 39 | 4% | 72,000 miles |
| 2003 | 392 | 29% | 120,000 miles |
| 2002 | 546 | 30% | 116,000 miles |
| 2001 | 4 | 40% | 70,000 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 17% | 9,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact's sister owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that upon opening the door of the vehicle, the contact's sister became aware that the driver's side headrest had been deployed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostic testing. A case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
My daughter was hit by a semi truck on US-23 today. The trailer fishtailed hit the back end of Jeep. I hit the guard rail. All four corners of the Jeep were hit. The air bags did not deploy. The front driver tire fell off. The back window and passenger side trunk window blew out.
The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the horn was pressed; however, the horn failed to function as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.
I was driving 45 in a 45 MPH zone in the suburbs of mesa, az suddenly my Jeep Liberty pulled severely to right causing me to hit a 3 ft diameter poll. Air bag deployed as expected but the force of air bag blew a 8 inch hole in airbag and severely broke my chest cavity and abdomen causing spleen rupture and blood and toxins in my spinal fluid. My impression of airbags is to prevent injury not cause injury. Please investigate to prevent this from happening to other Jeep Liberty owners. Was in trauma medical center for 6 days and still home painfully healing. Steering and airbag May be defective. My Jeep was totaled. Have not received police or insurance report yet. Still waiting but needed to report hopefully to prevent others from possible injury
The contact's wife owns a 2010 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, his wife noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the air bags needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed of the cost to replace the air bags. The contact was informed to call the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that he was not the original owner and the manufacturer denied repair. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the air bags might fail to deploy in the event of a crash. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while turning on the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator illuminated on the vehicles instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis, where it was diagnosed that the drivers side air bag failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Jeep Liberty. After getting the vehicle serviced, the contact noticed that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The mechanic stated that the driver side air bag was failing. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Related recalls (5)
Air bags › Side/window
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured March 29, 2003, to July 3, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured May 27, 2003, to May 20, 2004.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module and the side impact sensors, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2016.
Air bags › Frontal
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004.
Remedy: Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527…
Air bags
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall by interim letter in January 2013.
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. In the event of a severe frontal offset collision, sharp edges on the power steering pressure hose bracket could cut the front impact sensor wiring insulation causing a short circuit in the wiring.
Remedy: Dealers will wrap the front impact sensor wire harness with protective insulation to prevent the possibility of damage. Owner notification began February 18, 2002.
NHTSA investigations
Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of inadvertent air bag deployments (IABD) occurring after the recall remedy for NHTSA recall 12V-527 had been installed on recalled model year (MY ) 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty and MY 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).The recall was in response to the Office of Defects…
Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
Based on analysis of Chrysler's response, and including ODI's consumer complaints, ODI has identified 87 reports of air bag inadvertent deployment incidents resulting in 50 alleged injuries.The injuries consists of burn/cuts and bruises to the upper body region.Forty-two (42) of the 87 incidents involved the driver frontal air bag, and the remaining 45 incidents involved both the driver and passenger frontal air…
Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
The investigation was opened based on reports of frontal air bag inadvertent deployments (ABIDs) on model year (MY) 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles.Data provided by Chrysler indicate that the air bag squib filter circuitry inside the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module can degrade and result in an inadvertent air bag deployment, without a crash or impact, while the vehicle is being operated on the roadway.As of…
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Occupant Restraint Controller Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation opened this Preliminary Evaluation to investigate VOQ complaints alleging a failure of the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) module in model year (MY) 2012 Jeep Liberty.The purpose of the investigation was to understand Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) complaints stating that the air bag warning light remained illuminated while the vehicle was in operation.In many cases the…
Frequently asked questions
Which Jeep Liberty years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2002 (546), 2003 (392), 2012 (169), 2008 (43) and 2005 (41) model years. Airbag complaints make up 30% of all complaints for the 2002.
Is there a recall for Jeep Liberty airbag problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 15V-673 (side/window, Oct 19, 2015); 15V-046 (frontal, Jan 28, 2015); 13V-282 (air bags, Jul 2, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Jeep Liberty airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles; 21% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (92 mentions), followed by the side/window (11).
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.