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:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,268 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2012 Jeep Liberty Owner Comments

problem #19

Sep 022020

Liberty

  • 88,000 miles

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

Traveling last night and the lights went up, down then out for almost 20 seconds and doing 40 mph is scary. The lights finally came on but then they dim up and down. Before this last week the cruise control would not disengage. I never know what's going to happen when I drive this vehicle and the worst thing is taking it out at night and having the lights go out. This week was the forth time that has happened thank god it happened on a lighted road but I still had no brake lights. All times this has happened I've been on interstate highways and traveling at night

- Voorheesville, NY, USA

problem #18

Jun 182020

Liberty

  • 88,000 miles
The vehicles doors lock and unlock while the car is in motion. The lights have gone out while moving down the road. The wipers will intermittently go on and off. The lights on the dash and radio will dim while driving. The car shifts multiple times while moving.

- Voorheesville, NY, USA

problem #17

May 022019

Liberty

  • 88,000 miles
The instrument cluster lights intermittently turn off, sometimes just a 1/4 of the RPM gauge, sometime both 1/4 of RPM and mph gauge, sometimes half of one, none of the other, sometimes 3/4 of both, sometimes all of mph and RPM gauge. It is totally random what will be illuminated and what won't be. Digital compass displays only dashes, no direction. Windows will roll down (power windows) but will not roll back up unless you turn off the Jeep and turn it back

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #16

Apr 012019

Liberty

  • 136,800 miles

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

After driving the vehicle to my destination and shutting it off. It will not restart when I go to drive it to the next location.this has happened numerous times. It has left me stranded a couple times. While driving the vehicle to a location the headlights seem to dim on their own. After having a mechanic look at it. I was told it was the tipm causing the issues.

- North Liberty, IN, USA

problem #15

Mar 022018

Liberty

  • 96,000 miles
Since I bought my Jeep almost one month ago I've already had to replace the rear hatch actuator tonight ( 4 weeks after replacing it) my cat is giving me same error message that the rear gate is open and alarm goes off by itself. Panic button doesn't turn it off so apparently it's not the alarm disgaging. I go out to car open and close make sure it's properly sealed and horn goes off again. This is completely ridiculous. Am I going to drop $400 on my car once a month to be able to lock my car or have my dash lights in while I drive at night or is that to much to ask of Jeep?

- Lemoyne, PA, USA

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problem #14

Sep 012017

Liberty

  • miles
My airbag light came on and will not go out. The dealer checked it and said I need a new occupant restraint module. It is my understanding that this is a common complaint for these cars. Is there a recall that covers this problem?

- Sparrows Point, MD, USA

problem #13

Sep 072017

Liberty

  • 39,600 miles

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

On occasion the right side of the speedometer will not light up. Contacted Chrysler about this issue for assistance but said that it was too old (the Jeep didn't leave the dealership lot till 2013 so 4 year old) took it in and they said the dash is failing. They also stated that the light are integrated in to the bored. The Jeep only has 40,000 miles on the odometer and should not be failing so early. This happens while moving or sitting.this is a safety issue due to not being able to see the speed and they came out and said the the dash is failing and needs to be replaced. I will add that a new cluster just for the part is $400.

- Lambertville, MI, USA

problem #12

May 282017

Liberty

  • 85,000 miles
For the past few months I have had electric issues with my car; I.e power doors lock/unlock doesn't work at all, back windshield wiper doesn't work, windows will not roll up, and dimming/flickering of interior/exterior lights which are all due to a faulty tipm. Which I have been informed is a very expensive fix. As of today as I was driving with cruise control on my car had a mind of it's own and accelerated to a higher speed revving the car up to 4000 rpms on a flat straight road. I tried to turn off and cancel cruise control on the steering wheel with which did nothing. I then pressed the break several times and again nothing. After having a complete panic attack and trying everything I could to turn cruise off it eventual went off on it's own. I have been made aware but other individuals having similar electric problems all caused by a faulty tipm. This is a very dangerous issue and there needs to be a recall. Is it going to take someone dying for Chrysler to care?

- Butler, GA, USA

problem #11

May 032017

Liberty

  • 51,349 miles
2nd occurrence., lift gate light came on the instrument panel app 4 days ago, made sure door was closed. Light remain on. Then today, horn sounded while car was parked in my secured garage. I have contacted the dealership. They require a fee to put on dianostic machine. Then $200 for a lift gate sensor which they claim may not remedy the issue plus labor! I don't have money to waste on maybe's.

- Sylvania, OH, USA

problem #10

Sep 052015

Liberty

  • 50,100 miles
When problem starts wipers go on dash lights come on dash gauges do not work no speedometer ac defroster heater do not work brakes do not work right headlights go out no blinkers no lights on inside of car car says no bus where the gear selecter is dash they have replaced the tpn 3 times and the wiring cluster 4 times they brought in specialist from detroit to work on this car and can not figure out what is making this car do this they keep saying it is the tpn or the wiring cluster after replacing several times it still doing the same things

- Robertsville, MO, USA

problem #9

Jan 122015

Liberty

  • 52,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. While driving approximately 55 mph, the instrument panel illuminated and the gauges became inoperative. In addition, the windshield wipers, headlights, and turn signals illuminated intermittently. The dealer diagnosed that the wiring cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000. The VIN was not available.

- Robertsville, MO, USA

problem #8

Mar 252016

Liberty

  • 20,000 miles
Starting two years ago, after a rain, when parked, upon locking my car either manually or with the key fob, the alarm goes off, interior lights illuminate and the dash states the gate is ajar. Repeatedly open and close the gate with no remedy. Have to leave car unlocked and usually the interior lights go off after a few hours. Related is the gate occasionally fails to unlock as well as unable to open the rear gate window. And the rear wiper continues to stay on after being turned off. All appear to be related to moisture somehow affecting the lift gate electrical system. Have taken to dealership three times, first two under warranty and dealer advised unable to find problem. Third time after warranty expired, advised they would need to replace seal at cost of $600. Declined repair.

- Decatur, IL, USA

problem #7

Oct 022015

Liberty

  • 39,000 miles
The "gate" light in my Jeep Liberty came on while driving and would not go off, even though everything was securely shut. As a result, I was unable to lock my vehicle because the alarm would sound. The interior lights also stayed on during this time, which was a hazard when driving at night as it directly affected my ability to see outside my car. I have done some research on this issue and do see that it appears to be a common problem which may be caused by faulty rubber trim around the rear hatch window. The rubber allows water to get in to the latch and eventually ruins it. I recently had the gate latch assembly replaced, which did resolve the issue, .

- Burlington, VT, USA

problem #6

Jul 152015

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,400 miles
The headlights go out randomly when they are on auto driving at night. I then have to turn them on manual when driving at night. This problem has been seen by a mechanic twice in the last two months. MA 10/5

- Morton Grove, IL, USA

problem #5

Jan 202015

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
I noticed the light flashing on and off while driving into town, it was a cloudy day and the lights had come on automatically, it has happened several times since this and I am concerned about a short in the system which could cause a fire and do a lot of damage to vehicle or myself.

- Piedmont, SD, USA

problem #4

Feb 202014

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 13,600 miles
There was an electrical fire that appeared to originate in the driver's side rear tail light and migrated to the bumper and wiring inside the bumper.

- Selden, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 252013

Liberty 4WD 6-cyl

  • 15,600 miles
Februray 26, 2012 8;30 am.I had been driving Jeep Liberty for about 2 hours, parked in parking lot, went shopping, started up, and was driving my Jeep Liberty and notice smoke in the vehicle then I noticed a burning yellow smoke and flames coming from my drivers side door control panel, as quickly as I could I stopped Jeep into parking lot, at that time my windows where malfunctioning and the vehicle was fully engulfed with yellow smoke, turned vehicle off could not get seat belt unhooked, turned switch on put in park and then got seat belt unhook pulled keys out of ignition climb over to passenger side door to open door and then opened driver side door and threw snow and water on door to put fire out... stood there in shock for a moment, second time I drove wifes vehicle and it caught on fire 5 months old!!! noticed that the smoke in the vehicle was starting to dispensed and clearing out. Noticed window switches had melted and sank into door, burned fingers openening driver side door. Reached in and turned key back on, at that point the vehicle started to smoke again, threw the window and speaker of drivers side door, turned key off threw more water in door panel and again smoke slowly dispensed. I was moments from entering a interstate and the thought of what would have happened to myself if I would have not been able to get off the road in time !! I have been a master mechanic for 30 years and have never seen such a thing happen in any type of vehicle before.I took vehichle to dealer, Jeep Chrysler was contacted, dealership monkeys acussed me of jamming some thing in switch, what a bunch of crap.. Jeep said they could not do anything to claim it on my insurance !!!!!! dealer ship is trying to force Jeep too look at problem this vehicle is only 5 mos old and this should have never happened. I'm glad to see this problem regesterd with you... updated 08-20-14 updated 08/21/2014

- Montreal , MO, USA

problem #2

Feb 132013

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 9,300 miles
I've been driving my Jeep around to work and home everyday and I notice the passenger air bag light flashes where it says it's off. Today 2/17/2013 I drove 100 miles from a small trip and the light was on the entire time I was driving. I haven't had any accidents.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #1

Feb 022013

Liberty 6-cyl

  • 2,339 miles
Had vehicle at dealership about 3 weeks prior for a heavy burning smell inside and out side of vehicle.smelled like burnt wiring. Was told by dealer it was a sticker on the exhaust pipe. Was told it was fine and might smell it for a short time..smell is still there and last night vehicle was on snow covered road with on coming traffic and the headlights and all interior lights were lost.. headlight switch was moved back and fourth from auto, on, and off numerous times till lights came back on and it did it again on the way home in the morning. Going to take it back to dealer about an hour away for the second time.. not sure why Chrysler doesnt take time to look at things properly and listen to the owners. A sticker burning off doesnt smell like burnt wiring..

- Wolcottville, IN, USA

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