Engine complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and merging onto the interstate, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The RPM revved up but the vehicle did not respond. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the passenger's side front tire was wobbling. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that three tires needed to be replaced due to tread belt damage and that the heater core and transmission were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased to be repaired. The thermostat was replaced, the brake lines were bled however, the tires were not replaced. The contact stated that she was not provided a copy of the repair order. …
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while making a right turn on a main road at 25 MPH, the front lower control arms snapped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately pulled over onto the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
Driving on highway, began hearing a high pitched humming noise, began smelling a burning rubber smell, pulled over to side of highway, and smoke began coming from under the hood. Within 10 mins, the front end of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Have owned vehicle for a year and a half, and have had no issues prior to this incident. Car seemed to be functioning normally prior to this incident.
While driving my 2011 Jeep Liberty with the cruise control set at 70mph on I-65 interstate coming out of gary indiana the tell-tales lit up and the car dropped out of cruise control and it took the car a few seconds to gain power again. This all started with the drivers door not unlocking with the remote. A diagnostics was run on the car and they said they couldn't find anything wrong, other than a rear sensor on the brake making the brake light come on. Doing an internet research the TIPM sensor is the cause of most of these problems which Chrysler doesn't want to admit. This same issue was deemed not an issue a few years back by the NHTSA with the Liberty but deemed no good by the NHTSA for the Jeep cherokee and Dodge durango. This was a dangerous situation for me and my family. If I hadn't took action as quick as I did we would have been rear ended by a semi. …
2017 their was a recall on the 2010 jeep liberty oil pump and we were not notify at all, [redacted] the engine seized and the oil light came on and then the engine just stopped, It was full of oil and the oil was very clean, the mechanic look at it and said that the oil pump went out I am [redacted] the jeep stop in the middle of the road me my husband could have got kill cars almost hit us we have witnesses that can testify to this, we never receive a letter from your company at all about the recall. Thank you.
2010 Jeep Liberty spontaneously caught on fire and exploded on Friday April 15, 2016. My stepdad and I were out and we stopped and picked up a pizza on the way home and everything was just fine the whole drive home, no smell, no driving issues, no smoke, no overheating dings, no funky sounds. We pulled into the driveway to park and turned off the car, my stepdad got out first, and when I opened my door I said 'ooh it smells like fall!' (I thought the neighbors were having a bonfire or something.) then I saw it and told him 'the car is smoking!' and I got out of the car and got away from it. He tried to open the hood thinking it was a radiator or something but it was so hot it burned his fingers and then he lifted it a bit with a screwdriver as we went to get the fire extinguisher and we saw the fire start shooting out of the sides. It was so hot and so fast. …
On Friday, 07.07.2017, as I was driving into a turn lane from the hwy, I had slowed way down for traffic then picked up speed slightly, not even 10 MPH, to follow cars in the turn lane when the accelerator became sluggish and the Jeep came to a stop. As I pressed the accelerator again there was a very loud pop from under the hood. Everything quit, the engine, the electric, the starter would not turn over when I tried to start it again or the emergency flashers. Just before this happened the engine light and, what I found out later, the electronic throttle control light came on. I was confused at what just happened. Thinking what I saw next was steam coming from under the Jeep was steam I popped the hood to go look. There was traffic all around on the hwy. …
While driving 55 MPH down a busy road, my Liberty's engine shut down without warning. No warning lights lit up on the dash, oil was full, and it was running great just before the failure. Upon inspection at a Chrysler dealer it was determined that the #5 valve failed causing the engine to seize immediately. Cost to replace the engine was $6971.00. Chrysler nor mopar will admit that there is a problem with these engines, yet there was nothing I could have done to prevent the engine from seizing at 81,152 miles. Luckily I was able to get it off the road and stopped before I was hit by another vehicle. Liberty was 1, 152 miles over the power train warranty.
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.7l engines only, two valve cover studs May interfere with the fuel injector and alternator wiring harnesses.
Remedy: Dealers will add protective caps to the valve cover studs and re-route the affected wiring harness to provide clearance. Owner notification began on July 19, 2004. Owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Frequently asked questions
Which Jeep Liberty years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2002 (159), 2005 (73), 2006 (72), 2003 (67) and 2004 (59) model years. Engine complaints make up 9% of all complaints for the 2002.
Is there a recall for Jeep Liberty engine problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 04V-337 (engine and engine cooling, Jul 8, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Jeep Liberty engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles; 31% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (66 mentions), followed by the cooling system (14).
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.