YearToAvoid

2005 Jeep Liberty Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 97 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2005 Jeep Liberty, 9% of all 1,118 complaints for this model year. That is the highest transmission complaint count among 8 Liberty model years. These complaints report 5 crashes, 5 fires, and 3 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 38,939 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
97
9% of 1,118
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
38,939 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2005 Jeep Liberty transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 11, 2005, latest Oct 20, 2025.

2005 Jeep Liberty transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter182005 Q32007 Q12008 Q42011 Q12012 Q42014 Q32017 Q22021 Q1
97 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q3 to 2025 Q4; peak 2006 Q3 (18).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2005 Jeep Liberty

  1. NHTSA 05V460000Oct 6, 2005Transmission & Powertrain256,409 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    On certain pickup trucks, sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 42rle automatic transmissions, the cup plug that retains the park pawl anchor shaft may be improperly installed. If the shaft moves out of position, the vehicle may not be able to achieve 'park' position.

    Risk: If this occurs and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away and cause a crash without warning.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmissions and install a bracket to ensure the park pawl anchor shaft is retained in the proper position. The recall began on november 28, 2005. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Liberty model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200597 (9%)
  2. 200676 (6%)
  3. 200740 (6%)
  4. 200830 (6%)
  5. 20093 (3%)
  6. 201012 (6%)
  7. 201110 (6%)
  8. 201234 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Jeep Liberty have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 97 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2005 Jeep Liberty, 9% of all complaints for this model year, including 5 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 38,939 miles.
Which Jeep Liberty year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2005 Jeep Liberty has the most transmission complaints (97), compared with 97 for the 2005.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Jeep Liberty concerns the transmission: 05V460000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.