2012 Jeep Liberty Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Jeep Liberty has 385 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 57, ranking 4th worst out of 8 model years tracked. It carries a Caution verdict, driven mainly by 169 airbag complaints and two recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 57/100
- #4 of 8 Liberty years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 385
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 19
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 14
- Injuries
- 34
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 3 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15.5 city / 21.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 34 / 0
Top 2012 Jeep Liberty problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags169 (44%)
- Electrical System120 (31%)
- Engine57 (15%)
- Structure & Body40 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain34 (9%)
- Other31 (8%)
- Brakes21 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers16 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (3%)
- Fuel System11 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in crashes, with one owner citing a malfunction light that reappeared after a dealer reset following a recall repair.
- Owners describe electrical fires starting near the tail light and bumper wiring or under the hood, with smoke appearing before flames.
- Some report the ignition shutting off while driving after barely touching the key, causing loss of power steering and a crash.
- Engine overheating with smoke under the hood has been linked to failed water pumps and thermostats, in one case leading to stalling and fire.
- Automatic transmissions reportedly allowed the vehicle to roll away after being placed in park, resulting in collisions.
- One owner reported the steering wheel locking up while exiting a parking lot, causing a collision.
2012 Jeep Liberty recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 17V640000Oct 10, 2017Structure & Body363,930 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.
Risk: If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.
- NHTSA 13V282000Jul 2, 2013Airbags442,320 vehicles
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 model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
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. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.
2012 Jeep Liberty fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15.5 MPG
- Highway
- 21.5 MPG
- Combined
- 17.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Liberty years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Jeep Liberty reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 385 complaints and a complaint index of 57 for the 2012 Liberty, ranking 4th worst among the 8 model years tracked, with a Caution verdict.
- What are the biggest problems with the 2012 Jeep Liberty?
- Airbags account for 44% of complaints (169 total), followed by the electrical system at 31% (120 complaints) and the engine at 15% (57 complaints).
- Does the 2012 Jeep Liberty have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2012 Liberty: one for an occupant restraint controller that could stop active headrests from deploying, and one covering airbag/TIPM issues shared with related Chrysler models.
- How does the 2012 Liberty compare to other years?
- The 2012 model's complaint index of 57 is worse than 2008 (43), 2009 (0), 2010 (14), and 2011 (29), all rated Good or Best, but better than 2005, 2006, and 2007, which are rated Avoid or Caution.
- At what mileage do 2012 Liberty problems usually appear?
- Median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 50,000 miles, with airbag issues showing up around 45,066 miles.