10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
121,542 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Jeep Liberty engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Jeep Liberty Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Jan 252023

Liberty

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Misfirers replaced engine one year later same problem misfires took to mechanic replaced spark plugs and coils. Drove 30 mile. S check engine light flashing, pulled over turned engine off.check engine light went solid for another 10 miles check engine light started flashing again. I had to pull over 30 times to make it home. Took back to mechanic replaced fuel pump. Still misfire. There is a serious problem with Jeep. Please recall.I have paided so much money in repairs. Still not fixed.

- Hanford, CA, USA

problem #24

May 162019

Liberty

  • 178,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that the driver's side lower ball joint detached from the vehicle. The tie rod fractured and the vehicle dropped to the ground. In addition, the check engine indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Chrysler Dodge walton beach (541 mary esther cut off nw, fort walton beach, fl 32548, (850) 244-7611), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 178,000. The VIN was unknown.

- Ft Walton Beach, FL, USA

problem #23

Jun 062014

Liberty

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The dealer diagnosed that the motor failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

- Bossier, LA, USA

problem #22

Apr 012014

Liberty

  • 175,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that the engine stalled numerous times without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure code with the oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensor was replaced several times however, the failure was not corrected. The vehicle continued to stall without warning and the engine warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.

- Desplaines, IL, USA

problem #21

May 012015

Liberty

  • 220,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. While the vehicle was in park, the air bag deployed without warning on the front passenger side. The air bag and check engine warning lights illuminated. The dealer stated that because the light had approximately 1,000 hours on the air bag warning light, no repair was able to be provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 220,000.

- Debary, FL, USA

problem #20

Aug 252015

Liberty

  • 103,000 miles
Engine failure..engine will not run.an electrical overload causes main fuses to blow.the Jeep has been with a Jeep dealer for thirty days..with no solution in sight.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #19

May 172015

Liberty

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. While in park, the air bag and engine warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V046000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who stated that the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown....updated 09/28/15

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #18

Nov 092013

Liberty

  • 211,050 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. While driving at 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not able to restart and smoke started emitting profusely. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 211,050. Updated 09/21/15

- Springfield , IL, USA

problem #17

Oct 152014

Liberty

  • 126,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Jeep Liberty. While driving 25 mph, the engine failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

- Cranberry Township, PA, USA

problem #16

Jan 042015

Liberty

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. While driving approximately 25 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle suddenly stalled and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt had not restrained the contact. As a result, the contact sustained back and neck injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #15

Apr 232014

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We was driving home from work and the Jeep started losing power we pulled it over and turn it off.we sat there for awhile and then try to start it back up the engine was running real rough and it stalled.then it wouldn't start after that. We had a mech take a look at it and he said that the heads was cracked.we always done monthly maintains on the Jeep.so after he replaced the 2 heads he started it up and he said it would lock up.now he telling us that it needs a new engine.I know a couple other people that has a Jeep Liberty and they are having the same problems..so cause of the bad head that Jeep Liberty have I now have no vehicle.

- Paris, IL, USA

problem #14

Feb 102015

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 114,047 miles
Turned left out of the doctors office, drove approximately 50 yards and attempted to stop at the stop sign (making a right). The vehicle's engine, however, began accelerating and despite applying extreme pressure to the brake, continued to move forward while the engine accelerated faster. I ultimately ended up throwing it into park and then turning off the ignition to kill the accelerating engine. I have no idea what the RPM was, but it was loud! this also happened 2 weeks ago (first time - very cold morning) and I ended up throwing it into park and turning off the key like today. Todays temperature was around 40 degrees. Fyi - I was in the process of making a right hand turn when this happened and had slightly turned the wheel. After the first incident, I began doubting that this had even happened. In hindsight, despite several blogs on the internet, I am absolutely positive that I did not push down on both the accelerator and brake at the same time. After todays incident, I immediately called our local car dealership to schedule an appointment and then attempted to recreate what happened. Under various scenarios I bumped the steering wheel cruise control buttons (while stopped, while stopping, while accelerating) but could not cause the runaway acceleration to repeat itself. We have an appointment at our local dealership this Friday, or as soon as we can drop it off. Candidly, I'm scared to drive this vehicle at this point!

- Marbleton, WY, USA

problem #13

Oct 192014

Liberty

  • 240,000 miles
I T-boned a taxi that tried clearing 3 lanes of roadway last minute to make his exit. I was going 30mph. Upon impact, the priuses airbags went off, and I noticed my airbags in the Jeep did not go off. For an impact at that speed, and hitting the car full frontal, it should have definitely gone off.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #12

Sep 042013

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
Engine shut off while driving. We flipped and wrecked. We just got major engine work done, before the accident, due to the engine shutting off twice before.

- Wakefield, KS, USA

problem #11

May 032014

Liberty

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while she drove at approximately 30 mph. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000 and the current mileage was 111,000.

- Henderson , NV, USA

problem #10

Mar 012013

Liberty

  • 150,000 miles
I have known 2 other people with this issue, I have been the only one with fire. My Jeep is leaking oil from the engine seal that is just above the passenger side upstream exhaust (right before the passenger side catalytic converter. I smelled burning oil and I got under the car and there was a small fire which I extinguished with my rag. The problem is also a huge health issue. If you are stopped at a light, or stop sign and have the heat or A/C on. The interior of the vehicle becomes filled with the burning smell. Smoke bellows out from under the vehicle at these stops also. I am afraid of the thing bursting into flames at a light and being helpless. I know 2 other people that have this exact issue. One of them got rid of their vehicle, the other still has it. This is a major defect that will result in fire, or as I see it cancer due to the smoke entering the vehicle. I have to clean the oil saturated area at least once a week.

- Fallston, MD, USA

problem #9

Jul 232013

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
My father in-law was driving home from NY to Ohio when the engine started to lose power then over heated I took off the valve cover found that the #2 cyl valve came off and cracked the head went on line read this is a major problem I have pics.

- Garfield, OH, USA

problem #8

Mar 182014

Liberty

  • 105,000 miles
The car had been acting funny, going fast then making a noise and going ok again. I am not a fast driver as in November my husband of 32 years, passed after being in a hit and run, from people with no insurance, my life is pretty much hell. I was starting to smell something funny like burning and I thought I maybe a tire or strut. I was at a signal second car in and loots of traffic, including school buses. There was a gas station about 30-40 feet from me, but the first car went in to get gas, so on second thought going by the pumps was not a good idea, so I put on signal and tried to pulled over. Car were speeding past me and the car began to accelerate and it will to the right, I turned left or pulled to the left, crashed into a pole hard. Seat belt went flying off, air bags on side did not go off, but front ones did. I broke my leg and bruises, plus a black eye. Since the week before I lost my job, I am doomed, have to try to find a job, because I can:T my car get unemployment. I loved my car first and only car I have ever had.is there anything you could do to help as I have had many recalls and had them checked, but those is just so strange I thought I had.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #7

Sep 022013

Liberty

  • miles
The Jeep begin to smoke and then cut off. Upon arriving at the mechanic he stated the air condition clutch caught fire.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #6

Sep 032013

Liberty

  • 194,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the crankshaft sensor, camshaft sensor and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the vehicle failed to start. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 194,000.

- Columbus, OH, USA

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