2005 Jeep Liberty Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
86/100
#2 most-complained of 8 Liberty years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2005 Jeep Liberty ranks 2nd worst out of 8 model years, with a complaint index of 86 and 1,118 complaints, most tied to the fuel system. NHTSA lists 5 recalls, including fuel tank rupture risk and rear lower control arm fracture, earning it an Avoid verdict.
- Complaints
- 1,118
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 73 / 27
- Injuries / deaths
- 53 / 5
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2005 Jeep Liberty problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System409 (37%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires287 (26%)
- Structure & Body154 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain97 (9%)
- Engine92 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers91 (8%)
- Electrical System75 (7%)
- Steering61 (5%)
- Airbags41 (4%)
- Other38 (3%)
What owners report
- Rear-impact collisions caused the plastic fuel tank to rupture and leak, in one case after just a 15 to 20 mph hit.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal or angled collisions at speeds between 15 and 40 mph, sometimes resulting in head and neck injuries.
- Front lower ball joints separated or wore out, with owners reporting loss of steering control during highway driving.
- One owner reported the vehicle suddenly lost steering while turning on a wet road, leading to a crash.
- An electrical fire started under the hood while the vehicle was running rough, with no clear cause identified.
- A driver's seat belt reportedly failed to restrain the occupant during a rear-end collision at a stop light.
2005 Jeep Liberty recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V278000May 1, 2018Suspension, Wheels & Tires239,904 vehicles
Suspension:rear
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The rear suspension lower control arms can fracture due to excessive corrosion, causing a loss of vehicle control.
Risk: A fractured control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U38. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 12V-085. Vehicles included in that campaign are not included in this recall.
- NHTSA 13V252000Jun 19, 2013Fuel System1,560,000 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support proper installation. On vehicles in the recall that are equipped with an aftermarket tow hitch, Chrysler will assess whether the hitch and surrounding areas show evidence of sharp edges or other puncture risks. If so, Chrysler will replace the tow hitch with a Chrysler designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support proper installation. On vehicles already equipped with a Chrysler designed tow hitch, Chrysler will inspect the area around the tow hitch installation, and if any installation issues are identified, they will be repaired free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign numbers are N45 (for the Grand Cherokee vehicles) and N46 (for the Liberty vehicles).
- NHTSA 12V085000Mar 5, 2012Suspension, Wheels & Tires346,900 vehicles
Suspension:rear
In june 2012, chrysler expanded this recall to include model year 2006 and 2007 jeep liberty vehicles, representing an additional 137,176 vehicles. This recall now concerns certain my 2004-2007 jeep liberty vehicles. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 346,900. These vehicles were manufactured from july 3, 2003 through june 29, 2007. The recall addresses those vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Some vehicles may be equipped with rear lower control arms that can experience a rear suspension lower control arm fracture due to excessive corrosion due to application of road salts during winter weather conditions.
Risk: A fracture of the rear lower control arm may result in a loss of vehicle control and may lead to a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lower control arms on all affected vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 26, 2012. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
2005 compared with other Liberty years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Jeep Liberty reliable?
- Compared to other Liberty model years, the 2005 ranks 2nd worst out of 8 years tracked, with a complaint index of 86 and 1,118 owner complaints, resulting in an Avoid verdict.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
- Fuel system complaints make up 37% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 69,992 miles, and include reports of tank rupture in rear-impact crashes.
- Does the 2005 Jeep Liberty have a recall?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2005 Liberty, covering fuel tank leakage risk, rear lower control arm fracture, front ball joint wear, and a transmission park pawl defect.
- How does the 2005 Liberty compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 86 is close to the 2006 model's 100 (the worst year), while later years like 2010 (index 14, Best verdict) and 2009 (index 0, Good verdict) show far fewer reported problems.