10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,680 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2003 Jeep Liberty Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #27

Nov 222010

Liberty

  • 66,000 miles

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

After buying the car as Jeep Liberty renegade 2003 used at about 40,000 miles. The second time I drove the car on the interstate the car started stalling and running very rough. I limped in for about 15 miles to the repair shop and problem was diagnosed as a faulty crank sensor. That was replaced and car ran fine for 4 years. Now with 66000 miles the car stall while driving at low speed. Restarted and took car in and problem was diagnosed as a faulty crank sensor again, but part had to be ordered and car was running fine. So I decided to drive car while waiting for the part and next day the car would not start. When tow truck arrived car stated fine but had car towed to repair shop. The sensor was replaced but the shop still was having periodic stalling problem. It was finally diagnosed as a faulty cam shaft sensor which was replaced and now the car is running fine. Looks like Jeep has a problem with the sensors in the Jeep renegade model.

- Sedona, AZ, USA

problem #26

Nov 192004

Liberty

  • 25,000 miles
At approximately 25,000 miles my 2003 Jeep Liberty renegade's transmission went. I took it too a dealer and they rebuilt it instead of replacing it, I have had nothing but problems and took it back continuous times for them too take care of the problem and they said too just keep doing figure 8's with it too get the fluids to run through properly!! so this obviously didn't work, dah!! and they kept putting me off until they finally said, oh it's been too long now and we can't do anything about it! this company is now out of business and the tranny has not gotten better in fact gotten worse!! it was a default transmission obviously and I'm still having serious issues with it. Is there anything that can be justified for me"??"

- Fleischmanns, NY, USA

problem #25

Nov 112008

Liberty

  • 84,000 miles
2003 Jeep Liberty (freedom edition) power train control module has failed twice first time - June 2007 it was replaced by the dealer November 2008 it needs to be replaced again. It is not covered by the manufacturers warranty and the warranty on the part was up June 2008. Should this have to be replaced twice in a year and a half?

- Canandaigua, NY, USA

problem #24

Jun 032008

Liberty

  • 60,000 miles

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

Transmission hesitates / lurches randomly. Car stalls out, increasingly frequently despite repairs. When engine cuts out, lose all power steering brakes etc - so far only at low speeds but progressively worse - seems very similar to Jeep commander recall at higher speeds. RPM needle goes wild after engine cuts out. Can restart and limp a few miles, then need tow - 2X towed in 1 week, 3X towed in 2 months, and 4 trips to shop without results. Car currently stuck upstate NY where I was trying to vacation -and Chrysler/Jeep not so cooperative. There's plenty evidence of stalling problems on internet for 4-5 years - see edmunds. Theories: Deceleration / rpms below 1000 make engine cut out. Solenoid is pulling battery amps =12 and causing havoc in ignition system, short-circuiting sensors. Thermal computer module damage. Computer scans for diagnostic codes definitely not reliable. By relying only on computer module for diagnosis, dealers are only making the problem worse because they are sending cars back out without fixing root problem, causing more damage. I had wheel sensor found corroded 6/3, crank sensor fail 8/6 and cam sensor failed 8/10. Sensors don't fail sequentially nor so fast. Something is causing sensors to fail. And while sensors not working they are causing damage of their own...computer, ignition coils (all 6 needed repair in 1 case where burned out). Who knows if the spark plugs, fuel pumps, injection cleans, and throttle body cleans work or not. (some say TB cleanout is important if stalls are at lower speeds - less air inflow). Battery seemed to have issues too soon - may be related. One case where harness wiring rubbed against rear something causing probs. My speedometer broke after 1 sensor repair. Separately (unless water and corrosion are the real culprits) brakes and rotors wearing out - replaced 2X in 40K miles. Not right. Some blog on that, too.

- Wilton, CT, USA

problem #23

Oct 052007

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
Vehicle transmission shifts erratically and violently.

- Charlton, MA, USA

problem #22

Sep 242007

Liberty

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The transmission on our Jeep Liberty went about a month and half ago. We brought it to the Jeep dealership in Lincoln, Rhode Island and were told it was covered under the 7 year/70,000 mile warranty; however, they also told us we would have to wait for a new transmission, but a rebuilt one would be faster and just as good. They had our vehicle for about a week. We tried to be patient even though it was difficult to not have the use of our vehicle for this amount of time. We got the Jeep back and now the transmission has gone again. The vehicle was bucking and smelled like it was on fire. It is my opinion that if he had continued to drive it that day, it would have caught on fire. We called the same dealership, but they were not able to take it right away. When we did drop it off, it sat there before they could look at it. They said it was a faulty part in the transmission and again that we would have to wait three weeks for a new transmission, but the part could be ordered and sent by federal express. We cannot be without this vehicle again for three weeks so we chose the rebuilt transmission. I called today, and they haven't gotten the part and haven't called me back with where it is. I called Jeep customer service and they said maybe they could offer "goodwill assistance" with a loaner vehicle, but then said no because it is not covered in our warranty and we are over in mileage, even though our Jeep is not 7 years old and does not have 70,000 miles on it.

- Harrisville, RI, USA

problem #21

Feb 262007

Liberty

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,500 miles

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

I have a 2003 Jeep Liberty, with 36,000 miles. In a span of nine months, my transmission has went out 3 times. I don't haul anything with my Jeep, nor do I drive uphill. The Jeep service department has chosen to either repair the transmission or use a rebuilt transmission, in spit of my consistent transmission problems. The transmission problems consist of my car not able to go over 30 mph, the rpms shoot up to 6 or 7 and will not come down, and when I try to go faster than 30 the car jerks and smells like something is burning.

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

problem #20

Nov 022006

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,050 miles
: the contact stated while approaching a traffic light at 25 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle restarted, the automatic transmission was placed into drive, but the vehicle would not move. The vehicle was shut off and turned back on 4 times, before it was able to move. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who could not duplicate the problem after performing a diagnostic test. The dealer informed the contact that all 4 tires were worn down unevenly and there were pieces of metal showing on the insides of the tires. Also, it was determined that the brakes and rear rotors were worn, and needed to be replaced, along with all 4 tires. A NHTSA recall letter, #06V288000 on the vehicle, regarding the suspension: Front: Control arm: Lower ball joint was received. The parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer confirmed the parts were not available. The contact was placed on a waitlist. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who suggested that the recall work should be performed prior to getting all the other components replaced.

- Harding, PA, USA

problem #19

Feb 212005

Liberty 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,500 miles
2003 Liberty gear was in park made a loud roaring noise and accelerated. When the vehicle suddenly went out of control, it crashed into a brick wall of a building.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #18

Aug 112004

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
Vehicle continuously surged forward. Consumer had to apply both feet to the brakes in order to stop the vehicle. The dealer was not able to duplicate the problem. The consumer stated that the dealership found the problem in the transmission computer.

- Hopkins, SC, USA

problem #17

Jun 102003

Liberty

  • 1,500 miles

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

Bought the 2003 Jeep Liberty brand new in may, 2003. Now a year and seven months later, we still have squealing brakes. The dealer in wichita has replaced the pads 2 or 3 times, and re-surfaced the pads once or twice. They've now decided that they will need to replace the back brakes, including the roters. These parts have been ordered, and we are waiting to have this work done. Additionally, the automatic transmission started downshifting hard from 3rd gear to second gear, and down to first gear. They replaced some parts in the transmission, and this problem appears to be fixed. We'll see! they blamed the rusting brakes to "humidity"...the car now has only 7,200 miles on it, and has been kept inside the garage every night of it's existence. The dealer claims that all the squealing and rusting of the brakes are due to the "humidity" in the air. We live in the exact middle of the us in Kansas. There's not a lot of moisture in the air inside of my attached garage. This brake problem has been ongoing from mid 2003 to the present time in December of 2004. The car only has a little over 7000 miles on it...the dealer said that "the problems might go down if we would drive the car more often." We would not recommend a Jeep Liberty to anyone we like.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #16

Apr 052004

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,678 miles
For most of the year I have been having trouble with my Jeep libert automatic transmission. I have had several problems with it and the dealer still has not resolved the issue. I am being told that they cannot replicate the problem. I describe the following as the problems. At a full stop while holding down the brake the trans mission will shutter and make a banging noise. The transmission shifting at lower gears is rough. It is not in a like new condition. He transmission makes a grinding noise. The vehicle has stalled 3 times do to the transmission problem. Thevehicle has lurched forward at a stop sign/light. If not for holding down the brake the vehicle would hit the car in front of me. The transmission has shuttered as it changes gears while driving. Mainly at slow speeds. I consider this to be a safety issue with the vehicle. I believe the transmission will fail and I fear it will cause an accident. I have made every attempt to resolve this with the dealer. The transmission has been reconditioned twice. Once on April 5,2004 and the other on May 26, 2004. The vehicle was returned to me but the problems reoccurred after a short time. I have called daimler Chrysler customer service line and talked to several reps. I have file numbers 12578676 and 12805501. I have also spoken with service manager david cargail and distric manager bruce shirley. Nothing has been done to address the problems that I am seeing. I have included the copies of the receipts from the service calls that are related to the transmission problems. I am missing some of the earlier once from this year and will send them if I locate them. I did take the vehicle in today and david cargail test drove it and refused to give me a receipt that I had taken it in to get it looked at. He said that I should have enough documentation that I needed.

- Hutto, TX, USA

problem #15

Nov 092003

Liberty

  • miles
The transmission has been repaired, front axle replaced due to vibrations, 5 new tires, radio, etc... this vehicle has been into the dealership numerous times for repairs to the point where the district manager for Chrysler has been involved. The vehicle ran a little better for a brief period of time and the transmission continues to shift incorrectly the vibration is back and the district manager (Mr. Bill keuhrman states "that there is improvement", and I stated that it is funny the words he chose instead of the vehicle is running correctly. The vehicle scares me to drive because of the hesitation during shifting.

- Perkiomenville, PA, USA

problem #14

Sep 092004

Liberty 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 661 miles
While driving at any speed, the automatic transmission did not shift properly from first to second gear. The dealership inspected the vehicle several times and could not duplicate or correct the problem. The consumer experienced a slippage in the first few hundred miles. There were missing and loose bolts around the transmission. The vehicle displayed a hard knock at times and was poor on gas mileage.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #13

Sep 032004

Liberty 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When putting the vehicle into gear it jammed. Consumer kept depressing the brakes to get vehicle into gear. The floater and the shift screw were loose, per dealer mechanic. Consumer maintained that it was unsafe to drive vehicle.

- Kensington, NH, USA

problem #12

Mar 042004

Liberty

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle had power surges. Problem with transmission slipping and windshield freezing.

- Marion, OH, USA

problem #11

Apr 072004

Liberty 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at any speed automatic transmission shifted from any gear to neutral. Dealer on different occasions replaced the computer, and automatic transmission. But problem still persists.

- Perrysburg, OH, USA

problem #10

Jan 092003

Liberty

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200 miles
While driving vehicle suddenly launched forward without the accelerator pedal being depressed. Vehicle was serviced several times, and diagnostic tests were performed before the dealership located the cause of the problem. Transmission was bad and needed to be replaced.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #9

Nov 302003

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles
2003 Jeep Liberty ltd. Car vibrated at speeds of 55mph and above. Fox dealer, auburn NY was great, daimler-Chrysler was not. Changed all 4 tires and 3 wheels which didn't fix. Chrysler closed case "within mfg specs...". dealer continued to try to fix at their expense. Balanced both driveshafts which were out of balance. Still vibrated. Moved alignment of spline/differential. Didn't fix. Finally, daimler-Chrysler regional svc mgr offered a swap for a new car, but with me paying mileage over 8K. NY lemon law allows 12K without mileage fee. I initiated lemon law proceedure. The day before arbitration daimler-Chrysler legal reps offered same terms I'd have won in arbitration. Got rid of Liberty at 11900 miles. Leased a Grand Cherokee. The verdict is still under consideration on this car.

- Marcellus, NY, USA

problem #8

May 012003

Liberty 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission is making clanking vibration/noise when slowing to a stop. The vehicle is not even 1 year old and has been to two different dealers for resolution. Problem still present.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

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