CarComplaints.com Notes: On August 16th, 2012 Jeep stopped production of the the Jeep Liberty, marking the end of a troublesome journey for the SUV.

All in all, the 2012 Liberty actually excels off-road, but since 99% of drivers never take this thing off pavement, that becomes somewhat of a moot point. The Liberty suffers from the worst fuel economy in its class (16/22 MPG) and offers an uncomfortable ride with suspect braking ability.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,876 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.

2012 Jeep Liberty drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Jeep Liberty Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Mar 082021

Liberty

  • 120,000 miles

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

.The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle delayed getting up to speed while making abnormally loud sounds. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond and stalled while making a turn. The check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road but could not restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. Then, the vehicle was towed to an independent transmission specialist, where it was diagnosed that the transmission torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #28

Feb 032022

Liberty

  • miles
My heater takes 45-60 mins to heat up my car, and it doesn-€™t blow full force when it-€™s on the highest setting. On cold days I literally have to start my car up 45 before I need to leave just to have a slight warmth inside. Once I-€™m moving, it barely blows any heat through the vents. The highest setting feels like it-€™s on the lowest setting.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #27

Nov 122020

Liberty

  • 76,000 miles
I was hit on my passenger front, while attempting to cross into a parking lot, so hard until my tire rod bent at a 90* angle. My passenger airbag didn't deploy. None of my airbags deployed. There was no blind spot warning. Even after the impact, there was no alarm or notification of the damage, as the firemen were attempting to drive my car out of the road.

- N Charleston, SC, USA

problem #26

Aug 062020

Liberty

  • 87,000 miles

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

I experienced rapid unintended acceleration when starting up slowly from a complete stop, resultimg in the vehicle leaping a curb and striking a stop sign, scraping the side of the vehicle.

- Rockville, RI, USA

problem #25

Mar 022020

Liberty

  • 130,000 miles
On 3 /2/2019 went to back out of my driveway put in reverse didn't move I assumed it was the linkage. So I had towed to transmission shop near my house. Got a call today saying the linkage cabel was routed the wrong way in such away that he cant explain why that would be. I've never had major work done to beside your normal oil changes.

- Fort Gratiot, MI, USA

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problem #24

Nov 152019

Liberty

  • 62,000 miles
Vehicle is attractive and functional. Air bags probably saved the wife's life in a T bone accident. The air conditioner and heater work great. There is too much plastic...everywhere! seats are uncomfortable on long trips. Water pump locked up with just over 50K miles. Transmission is self destructing at 62K miles this month. It seems the transmission has no dip stick for the owner to check the fluid. If it did the transmission problem could have been noticed sooner. Now we must pay for a transmission and labor because it is out of warranty, $4K! the vehicle gets regular use in county, city and highway trips. On nice paved Texas roads. It is well maintained and only driven by two adults, age 72.I believe there is a quality issue with the drivetrain parts. We have owned other Jeep. They had the old reliable inline 6cyl engine and three speed transmission. Very reliable.

- Georgetown, TX, USA

problem #23

Feb 012019

Liberty

  • 50,000 miles

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

The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. When the contact's daughter parked the vehicle in the garage, an oil leak was noticed under the vehicle. The contact was unaware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to victory Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (located at 5827 rome-taberg rd, rome, NY 13440, 315-337-0512) where it was diagnosed that the transmission pan and oil pan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Rome, NY, USA

problem #22

Aug 052019

Liberty

  • 255,000 miles
I had to have my rf hub bearing replaced 3 times. My vehicle was purchased new. The first time milage was around 75000 mile second was at about 150 and again around 255 its appears once a year. I am now having problems with leaks. My transmission is leaking, water pump leaking and oil all at once. Going in for inspection today. Started with trans leak followed by these other leaks. I noticed the vehicle was leaking trans fluid and it was jerking hesitate to go into gear. Added trans fluid was find but found myself adding more fluid within next 2 days so I know it has to be checked out. Now the vehicle is running hot my reservoir was not at max so I filled it up. Needle started go up to hot mark but did not get hot no smoke nothing. Would go back down as long as I was driving. Checked today ending oil and it is low. Just had oil change over a month ago. Will keep you informed after inspection. My vehicle is now at 255 thousand miles. I have had regular maintenance.

- Novi, MI, USA

problem #21

Apr 192019

Liberty

  • 57,516 miles
My wife informed me on Friday evening 04/19/19 a warning light was on vehicle. Took to my mechanic 8:00am on Saturday 04/20/2019 once vehicle reaches cruise speed it hums & pulls back speed. My mechanic told me faulty code read transmission solonoid a. I then took vehicle to browns Jeep in medford, NY at 9:15am Saturday 04/20/19. On Tuesday afternoon 4:30pm browns Jeep is telling me that vehicle needs rear differential. Informed me cost of parts alone could be over $1700. Technician went home & won't write up until Wednesday morning. Vehicle has only 57,561 miles. Vehicle was purchased new at browns Jeep on 01/14/2013.

- Lake Grove, NY, USA

problem #20

Dec 072018

Liberty

  • 43,000 miles
In Dec 2018, my vehicle had been parked in my garage for about 3 weeks and when I went to drive it, it did not move once I put it in reverse. I looked underneath and there was transmission fluid on the ground. I had my Jeep towed and my mechanic stated that the transmission pan was rusted out and sent me a picture. Had my transmission pan replaced and my Jeep on had a little over 43,000 miles.

- South Euclid, OH, USA

problem #19

Jan 112019

Liberty

  • 46,300 miles

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

I was driving my vehicle on the street when my check engine light came on and the car started to run rough and then the engine light started flashing. I parked it on a side street and had it towed to mechanic. I was told that the 3 & 5 cylinder was misfiring. Code P0303 & P0305 had to have spark plugs replaced along with boots & wires. My vehicle only has a little over 46,000 miles.

- South Euclid, OH, USA

problem #18

Jan 102019

Liberty

  • 50,000 miles
At 50 thousand miles on my vehicle a maintainance technician noticed two missing bolts in the front coupling of the rear drive shaft. There were also loose bolts in the real coupe long. A call to Chrysler customer care reveals that the company will not pay for this repair. Had the drive shaft come loose at highway speed it would have caused catastrophic los of life, limb or property. This problem needs to be addressed as a national recall. The Chrysler customer care complaint number is 578 216 92.

- Elizabeth City, NC, USA

problem #17

Dec 142018

Liberty

  • 56,000 miles
The 2012 Jeep Liberty only has 56K thousand mile and transmission pan was leaking and rusting. How is this possible and why isn't this a safety hazard/product defect. There are numerous other complaints of this issue. The oil pan also showing signs of rusting as well. When the vehicle is hot and leaking fluid is this not a safety issue.

- Pgh, PA, USA

problem #16

Jun 192018

Liberty

  • 56,000 miles
Transmission pan leaking at 56,000 miles. No way to check fluid level for novice. No warning light for low fluid level, pulling out into traffic, car no longer moves stalling in on coming traffic. Open further investigation, pan rusted was seeping trans fluid under carriage soak, no smoke from exhaust burning as short trips. Long trip fire hazard due to cat. And hot exhaust. This is very premature to rust out. Many complaints across the internet and Jeep forums.

- Walton, IN, USA

problem #15

Mar 072018

Liberty

  • 45,000 miles
I have had 3 transmission breakdowns in the last 6 months.9/23/17, 12/6/17 and 3/9/18. The repairs were done at the same dealership. Autonation Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of pembroke pines, 13601 pines blvd. Pembroke pines, fl. 33027. In each incident the transmission cutoff and would not engage above 2nd gear. This last time in March the dealership has had my vehicle for 2 weeks and just stated that it was a faulty part. I do not believe it is the part. Something in the transmission is making the parts fail. They refuse to fix the transmission and want me to risk driving again knowing that this part has failed 3 times already in 6 months. I am a 56 year old male with poor eyesight. This part failure has happened to me twice while driving on the highway almost causing an accident both time. I have also contacted Jeep and been assigned a case # 33606208. I have had to rent a vehicle to continue to work and am already out of pocket $468.34 in the last weeks. The dealership refuses to give me a loaner. I do not believe my car is safe to drive based on the 3 breakdowns of the same parts in the last 6 months yet the dealership refuses to replace the transmission which is the cause of the breakdown. I have uploaded the billing from the previous 2 breakdowns. I need your help to investigate this issue for me as I am terrified to drive this vehicle without the transmission being corrected. I feel I am in danger of an accident.. this part will continue to breakdown as evidenced from the repeated repairs. This may be systemic in other Jeep. Please help me.

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

problem #14

Jan 162018

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • 38,100 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact noticed that the transmission pan was fractured without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 38,100.

- Ipswich,, MA, USA

problem #13

Nov 192017

Liberty

  • 69,000 miles
The airbag light has gone on and off when driving then went back on and has stayed on. The car was making a humming noise and hesitated on acceleration. Had to replace fuel pump due to barring lose, replace spark plugs - cost $787

- Chase City, VA, USA

problem #12

Oct 182017

Liberty

  • 50,000 miles
While driving my Jeep I will press my gas pedal and will either go 20mph or not move. The RPM go up but will barely move. In order to get it to stop I have to shut off Jeep and restart it and then it works fine. Also check engine light came on with a code P0869. Took back to dealership showed them the code and video of what my Jeep is doing. They said there was nothing they can do unless it happens when they have it. It's been to the dealership 5 times. Does anyone have any idea what my cause this problem?

- Westfield, NY, USA

problem #11

Sep 232017

Liberty

  • 36,000 miles
Severe corrosion on both oil pan and transmission pan. This vehicle is less than 5 years old with only 36,000 miles. Loss of either fluid could cause engine - transmission failure on a highway leading to an unsafe situation.

- Bohemia, NY, USA

problem #10

May 202017

Liberty

  • 150,000 miles
I placed this vehicle's automatic transmission shifter, with the engine running into the park position on 05/20/17 at approx. 12:15 am. I sat in the vehicle for a few minutes. I exited drivers side, closed that door after placing patrol items onto the front seat. I moved to passenger front door, opened it and and retrieved a patrol bag and items from that seat. After closing passenger door and walking away from vehicle the shifter "moved" down into reverse. Was it in "false park"" then the Jeep to back up off concrete parking pad and into a shallow lagoon on fripp island, St. Helena, SC. The fripp island property owners association auto insurance company, travelers, totalled out the vehicle stating it was no longer safe to drive"

- Beaufort, SC, USA

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