10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,497 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Jeep Liberty:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #40

Oct 182014

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • 77,500 miles
Prior to accident, the sky slider leaked water into the electrical roof light compacts dropping down into gear shift. Also leaked into trunk and back seat of Jeep from ceiling. Even after repaired by dealership twice, it continued to leak water during and after rain. The automatic driver side window since leaking issues, has shorted and failed to close (go up) on a daily basis. Deep front end collision had zero deployment of airbag in front- includes during/after passenger side rollover. Only side air bags deployed. Concussion and muscle spasms resulted from accident. Body hit against steering column, head and arm against driver window and frame. Entire week of unpaid medical leave from employer by doctors order. Total loss of Jeep. Seatbelt held me in suspense while Jeep was on it's side. Although it left me with pains in hips, abdomen and legs, the seatbelt saved me from ending up in the window and glass in my skin from the rollover window glass breakage. Feels like Jeep initiated rollover upon front impact after having been stopped completely...updated 11/18/14 updated 10/7/2015

- Garfield Heights , OH, USA

problem #39

Oct 022014

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • 61,433 miles
It started a with when I got out of Jeep and push button to lock the vehicle it wouldn't lock and the horn would not beep like it does when it locks so I had to lock it manually. When I got out of store and got back into Jeep it worked and it only happens after the car has warmed up is what it seems like, then I was pulling into a turning lane and slowing down and heard a horn beep loud just to realize that it was my Jeep that beeped and I never pressed the horn at all. Then today I get into car and sit in seat and use the power seat button to adjust the driver seat and didn't even touch the steering wheel and didn't put the key in ignition either and my flashers started flashing but, then cut right off. When I got where I was going and parked my Jeep it happened again the flashers started to flash and then stopped. When I walked up to the Jeep without pressing any buttons my car unlocked on its own and the lights came on. Sometimes my radio takes about 10 seconds or so before it starts to work. Windshield wiper doesn't want to blow out any fluid says it needs a motor. Have a slider roof and noticed that it has leaked previously cause I can see rain marks around the edges of the slider and when driving down the road I can hear wind from coming the roof so its not sealing like it should. I can have the heat on but, later in the day when it gets hot I will turn on the ac and the ac doesn't want to blow out cold air and I fiddle with the switches for a bit, I can finally get it to come on. I just bought it last January so I haven't even had it a year yet and always take it in for servicing please help me I have seen recalls for similar problems with the same Jeep but, your site tells me no open recalls so how do I know if mine has been repaired?

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #38

Sep 082014

Liberty

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that the lights flashed, horn activated and windshield wipers with wiper fluid independently turned on. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the tipm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Gore, VA, USA

problem #37

Apr 162014

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 128,000 miles
February 2014: Opened my car with the key when the fob wouldn't work. Horn and radio blared, both front and rear windshield wipers turned on, in addition to all dashboard lights. Continued for 10 minutes until battery was disconnected. In that time, the car would not start. After 5 minutes, the battery was reconnected and the car started without issue. April 2014: While turning into a gas station, my Jeep completely stopped. After waiting 2 minutes it started again. I took it to my local mechanic who cleaned corrosion around the battery. 2 weeks later, I was driving on a 3 lane highway, began to decelerate and at approximately 25mph, the Jeep's engine turned off. At the same time, all of the dashboard lights turned on in addition to the horn and windshield wipers. Thankfully I was able to coast to the shoulder without incident, where the Jeep continued the same behavior for about 10 minutes, and then abruptly stopped. The car would not start again until the battery was disconnected and then reconnected. I brought it to a Chrysler dealer that evening and detailed the issues. They monitored it for 3 days, but ultimately returned the car stating they could not find any issues but could replace module for almost $1000! May 2014: Replaced the battery and had minimal issues including windshield wipers randomly starting and stopping, but no horn or shut down issues, until... June 2014: A similar incident occurred that mirrored the April deceleration incident. At this point I disconnected my horn--a safety issue, but the blaring was becoming increasingly inconvenient. A week later the car turned off while pulling into a parking space. When I exited the the store and attempted to start the car, it started without incident. Since June, the Jeep has only exhibited minor issues such as the windshield wipers randomly starting, but it's only a matter of time.

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #36

Jan 052009

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
Horn, lights, wipers and windshield washer spraying all happen on there own while driving. I have also had problems with the air conditioning system caused by the tipm unit.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #35

Aug 262014

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
There has been an intermittent issue where the check engine light comes on followed by the traction control light (usually after making a left hand turn.) when this first started the vehicle was still under warranty, and went to Jeep. They had our Liberty for several days and swapped out the cam and crankshaft sensors to "fix" this problem. The car again was acting up within a month or so, and when we called the dealer back to bring it back in they advised us that the extended warranty that we paid a lot of money for was now expired. I took it to a local auto parts store to have the codes read. It was again code C121C, in conjunction with the codes relating to faulty cam and crankshaft sensors. Since the service department stated that they replaced the cam and crankshaft sensors. I replaced the needed parts and this lasted maybe 20 miles, prior to the lights coming back on. I attempted to replace them a second time thinking I may have gotten a defective part or two, but it wound up being the same end result; about 10-20 miles in the check engine light and traction control lights came on. This prevented the vehicle from shifting into over drive, it prevents the vehicle from accelerating at a normal speed, and above 50 mph the whole vehicle will wildly shutter when you let your foot off the gas. Jeep will not warranty the drive terrain even though the state the vehicle should have a 100K mile warranty on the drive terrain.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #34

Jul 312014

Liberty

  • 99,000 miles
Recently the battery died in my 2008 Jeep Liberty. I changed the battery and when I started up my vehicle and error message was displayed in the odometer window. I searched the internet and found that this is a common problem with this model vehicle.

- Howell, NJ, USA

problem #33

Jun 142014

Liberty

  • 68,000 miles
Our Jeep goes to dealer every 3000 miles for oil & filter change since we bought it new. This year I noticed the battery terminals had never been cleaned. I removed the terminals as I have done on hundreds of cars (as my bother and I had service/ gas stations for years) as a no charge courtesy. Now I know why they never did the cleaning. As soon as you remove the terminals for any reason the error message will most likely show up. Now they want $600 plus state taxes to effect repairs. No guarantee that it won't happen again. Help us please.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #32

May 022014

Liberty

  • 100,000 miles
My car battery died. After replacing battery I have an error message displayed across the odometer. I have tried resetting the panel. Had it scanned and found nothing..disconnected the battery cable for over an hour, did not reset the message. Was told the pcn needed to be flashed. Cost $200 dollars. I have seen numerous complaints for the same thing and wondering why there isn't a recall of what ever is going on. All of the stories are the same. Loss of battery power when they turn car on after reconnecting battery. The error message occurs and does not go away. This should really be a recall it is effecting a lot of Jeep liberties.

- Lake Hopatcong , NJ, USA

problem #31

Aug 142013

Liberty

  • miles
Replaced driver side door key lock, had to remove inner door pnl, (disconnected battery), after job was complete and started for first time, noticed that the (digital) dashboard odometer instead of showing mileage indicated the word "error". investigated on internet and discovered many other people are having same "error" message appear on odometer after disconnecting battery.

- Harper Woods, MI, USA

problem #30

Apr 132011

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 96,000 miles
At startup, first noticed windshield wipers were on and would not shut off. All dash lights, gauges, etc were not operating. Vehicle could not be taken out of park position. (vehicle was used the night prior in a light rain) turned vehicle on and off several times to no avail. At dealership was told the cluster was bad..but there are so many having this problem that the part is backlogged by 4 months or more. Computer was reflashed, so everything is working except the odometer. Cannot pass inspection without getting a new cluster since that is the only means to show the odometer..yet its backlogged 4 months. How is this possible if its a vital truck part?

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #29

Jun 172014

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
While car was in drive and traveling at 40 mph, the key in the ignition disengaged from the 'on' position to the accessory position and shut off the engine, power steering, etc. Driver had to coast the dead vehicle to the side of the road to avoid being hit from behind.

- Dallas, GA, USA

problem #28

Oct 202008

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 8,450 miles
The first tire inflation valve stem and sending unit assembly failed resulting in dashboard alert and inability to inflate or check tire pressure as the unit was broken. At first the dealer refused to replace under warranty but subsequently did replace it under warranty at a later date. The problem once again happened on a second tire this time out of warranty. The dealer service manager explained that the problem is due to the valve assembly being constructed of dissimilar metals causing premature corrosion and stem failure. Since the vehicle was now out of warranty the dealer offered to fix this problem once and for all by replacing the valve stem on all four tires with common rubber stems without the sending units. The offered fix would obviously disable the tire pressure warning system but would "fix" the broken stem assembly problem. The dealer indicated this would be done as this was a common, frustrating, expensive known problem with this vehicle.

- Duluth, MN, USA

problem #27

Jun 162014

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 111,214 miles
Got out my truck at walmart and the doors automatic locked when I closed the driver door the lights started flashing and the locks started locking and un locking. That was on June 3,2014. The really bad one happen on june16,2014 when I had my daughter and grandbaby with me I got out the car and it locked as usual and the lights started flashing and I could not get my daughter or grandbaby out it was very hot outside and I thought I was going to have to break the window. I am very afraid to drive my Jeep. I feel trapped in it and I feel like something is going to happen if my kids or grandbaby is in there and it want let me in. I wake up some mornings and the battery is dead and want crank leaving my kids late for school. Please help.

- Grayson, GA, USA

problem #26

Jun 022014

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
Occasion 1. vehicle parked. Lights began flashing, horn sounding, washers squirting, door locks operating. Unable to exit vehicle. Trapped inside with 4 year old grandson for ten minutes. Ignition key inoperable. Finally managed to get vehicle ignition going, and drove home. Vehicle power fluctuating causing uncontrollable power surges. Occasion 2. vehicle approaching junction at 10 mph. Lights. Horn, washers, doorlocks operating - pulled vehicle over, unable to engage park, removed key from ignition - vehicle engine still running but managed to engage park, however then could not get it out of park. Exited vehicle, engine still running, lights, horn etc actuating, and could not re-enter vehicle. Numerous complaints of this on this website as well as various Jeep forums. Contact with Jeep gives no response other than vehicle out of warranty see your dealer. This is a systemic problem, not a spurious one off specific vehicle fault and could be a safety concern given the lack of control you have over basic vehicle powertrain and driveabiltiy functions. Jeep had already repaired the vehicle under warranty once before for same fault. Removing battery connections resets the system until the problem re-occurs.throws error code P0883 occasionally when in this malfunctioning mode.

- Deposit, NY, USA

problem #25

Apr 232014

Liberty

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the fuse box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage and VIN was not available.

- Playa Del Ray, CA, USA

problem #24

Aug 312012

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
Check engine light come on and gas cap light also come on the auto start will not work & dash light gets real dime also gps light get real dime/ and there is a real strong smell of gas that comes inside the vehicle while going down the road. The vehicle has been to 4 difference Chrysler dealer ship and computer has been replaced sensor have all been replaced gas tank replaced gas cap replaced.this vehicle has been for these problem 11 times and has never been fixed called Chrysler customer service 6 different times all we get is the run around. The dealer ships drive the vehicle and have put 1,500 mile on the vehicle driving it. Need some know to why this can not be fixed.

- Charleston, MO, USA

problem #23

May 242013

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
While driving the vehicle, water began to seep out of the maplights and down both A-frame pillars. Panoramic moon roof stopped closing all the way after a wind storm and was open enough to cause major leakage (upwards of 3 gallons of water). I feel this is defective and could have caused a major accident, as traveling at high rate of speed, this could have resulted in the roof flying open. Manufacturer has stated it is not an issue that they provide any assistance with, and the repairs will be over $7000.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #22

Jun 112013

Liberty

  • 40,000 miles
The radio has a short and the front speakers do not work. Radio needs to be replaced.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #21

Apr 012013

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
The door locks in the car no longer lock, the windshield wiper fluid doesn't come out anymore, and the windshield wipers works some times. All of the problems listed after can affect the owner of the car, and any passengers. Especially the door locks I know me myself I have two younger children who could be effected by this hazard do to the doors not locking on their own. Also the windshield wipers are a big must to clean debris off the front windshield is needed, and the fluid as well.

- Washington, DC, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »