YearToAvoid

2012 Jeep Liberty Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 3 Liberty years

The 2012 Jeep Liberty ranks worst of the 3 model years with data, with 385 complaints and a complaint index of 100. Airbags account for 44% of complaints, followed by electrical issues at 31%, with a median failure mileage of 50,000 miles.

Complaints
385
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
19 / 14
Injuries / deaths
34 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
3 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
17.5
15.5 city / 21.5 hwy

Top 2012 Jeep Liberty problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags169 (44%)
  2. Electrical System120 (31%)
  3. Engine57 (15%)
  4. Structure & Body40 (10%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain34 (9%)
  6. Other31 (8%)
  7. Brakes21 (5%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers16 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (3%)
  10. Fuel System11 (3%)

What owners report

  • Electrical fires reportedly start near the rear tail light and spread into the bumper and wiring.
  • Some owners describe the ignition shutting off with a light touch of the key, cutting power steering while driving.
  • Owners report engine bay smoke and fire tied to overheating, with faulty water pumps and thermostats cited.
  • Some drivers say the engine stalled, would not restart, and then caught fire while driving at low speed.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a crash despite a prior recall repair and a dashboard warning light.
  • Owners describe the vehicle rolling backward unexpectedly while in park with the engine running, leading to a collision.
2012 Jeep Liberty complaints: complaints filed per quarter302012 Q12013 Q42015 Q32017 Q22019 Q12020 Q42023 Q12024 Q4
530 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q4 (30).

2012 Jeep Liberty recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict0196217.5
2011No verdict50181317.5
2012No verdict100385217.5

All Jeep Liberty years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Jeep Liberty reliable?
Compared to other Liberty model years with data, 2012 ranks worst, with 385 complaints and a complaint index of 100, higher than 2010 (0) and 2011 (50).
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Jeep Liberty?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 44% of complaints and linked to 15 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 45,066.5 miles.
Does the 2012 Jeep Liberty have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Jeep Liberty: one for the occupant restraint controller affecting active headrests, and one involving the Totally Integrated Power Module tied to airbag deployment.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Jeep Liberty?
NHTSA has 385 complaints for the 2012 Jeep Liberty, including 19 crashes, 14 fires, and 34 injuries.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Jeep Liberty?
The 2012 Jeep Liberty is rated at 17.5 mpg combined (15.5 city / 21.5 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $3,700 according to the EPA.

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.