YearToAvoid

2012 Jeep Liberty Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 34 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2012 Jeep Liberty, 9% of its 385 total complaints. That share is higher than the 2010 (6%) and 2011 (6%) model years. No related recalls are on file, and the median mileage at failure was 56,000.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
34
9% of 385
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
56,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the automatic transmission failing to engage from park or neutral, then suddenly slamming into gear, sometimes while parked with the engine running.
  • Some report the vehicle rolling backward unexpectedly while in park, in one case causing the vehicle to strike another car.
  • Several describe hesitation at a stop or when accelerating from a red light, where the truck does not move for several seconds before the transmission engages with a jerk.
  • Torque converter shudder is reported between 45 and 50 mph, described as feeling like driving over rumble strips.
  • One owner reported a loud whining noise and vibration at 50 mph traced to a faulty transmission clutch.
  • A loud clunking noise on upshifts and downshifts was reported near the transmission or driveshaft u-joint, reproduced by dealership technicians.

When 2012 Jeep Liberty transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 28, 2012, latest Oct 22, 2024.

2012 Jeep Liberty transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2012Mar 2015Oct 2016Oct 2017Jun 2018Aug 2019Aug 2020Oct 2023
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Oct 2024; peak Jan 2019 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2012 Jeep Liberty

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

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

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Jeep Liberty have?
NHTSA lists 34 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2012 Jeep Liberty, making up 9% of its 385 total complaints for the year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Jeep Liberty transmission?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this transmission & powertrain complaint area on the 2012 Jeep Liberty.
At what mileage do 2012 Jeep Liberty transmission problems occur?
The median mileage at failure for transmission & powertrain complaints on the 2012 Jeep Liberty is 56,000 miles, though individual complaints range widely.
Did the 2012 Jeep Liberty transmission issues cause crashes?
NHTSA data links 3 crashes and 5 injuries to complaints in this problem area for the 2012 Jeep Liberty, with no fires reported.

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.