2005 Jeep Liberty Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,461 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Jeep Liberty, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 57/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Fuel system leads the reports, typically around 72,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2005 Jeep Liberty sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2009–2011.
Avoid
Where 2005 sits among all Liberty years
What owners report
“My 2005 jeep liberty spews gas after filling up every time. Estimate was $1800 to replace the fuel tank assembly.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Liberty
“While driving on a1a in cocoa beach- ball joint completely came out on drivers side tire- undrivable and towed to my business.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Liberty
“Manual transmission reverse pops out of gear. Sunroof blew off and whipped behind into traffic while driving to work on highway 1 at 55mph.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Liberty
“Vehicle abruptly disengages from 1st gear (6 speed manual transmission). Occurs at any speed in first gear and is unpredictable. Also has popped out of first gear after shutoff and stationary. No recalls or service bulletins relating to this issue.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Liberty
“Window fell into door and is preventing the door from opening. Broke window regulator like so many other people have complained about. My daughter was driving the car and said the window just fell. I have the window up with a wedge to keep it from falling again. Luckily the window did not break.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Liberty
“While driving down the read all the lights inside and out blink on and off. Then the speedometer quit and wont work now”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Liberty
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 926 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,841 miles. Half of those reports fall between 36,000 and 107,989 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The rear suspension lower control arms can fracture due to excessive corrosion, causing a loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts.
Fix: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will…
Timken is recalling certain non-formed, front wheel hubs, part number HA599467, which were sold to retail and automotive distributors in the automobile aftermarket as front wheel hub replacements designed only for use on certain 2002 through 2005, 4X4,…
Fix: Timken has notified retail stores that have received the subject parts. The front wheel hubs will be replaced free of charge. Owners who may have purchased the affected units should contact Timken…
IN JUNE 2012, CHRYSLER EXPANDED THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2006 AND 2007 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES, REPRESENTING AN ADDITIONAL 137,176 VEHICLES. THIS RECALL NOW CONCERNS CERTAIN MY 2004-2007 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES. THE TOTAL NUMBER VEHICLES BEING RECALLED…
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA,…
ROCK KRAWLER IS RECALLING 44 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE. THESE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WERE PRODUCED WITH GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS INSTEAD OF THE PROPER GRADE 5 CARRIAGE BOLTS. THE IMPROPER…
Fix: ROCK KRAWLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15. 2008. ALL THE AFFECTED UNTITS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROCK KRAWLER AT…
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE CONSTANT TENSION FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE CONTAMINATION. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE WEAR AND LOOSENESS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 42RLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE CUP PLUG THAT RETAINS THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE SHAFT MOVES OUT OF POSITION, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSIONS AND INSTALL A BRACKET TO ENSURE THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT IS RETAINED IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 13V252000.
Led to recall campaign 12V085000.
Led to recall campaign 06V288000.
Technical service bulletins
78 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and electrical — are on file for the 2005 Jeep Liberty. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2005 Liberty TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2005 Jeep Liberty reliable?
The 2005 Jeep Liberty drew 1,461 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 57/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2005 Jeep Liberty problems?
The top reported problems for the 2005 Jeep Liberty are fuel system (404 complaints), suspension (272), and body & structure (137).
At what mileage do 2005 Jeep Liberty problems show up?
Owners most often report 2005 Jeep Liberty problems around 70,841 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 36,000 and 107,989 miles.
Does the 2005 Jeep Liberty have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 Jeep Liberty. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.