Jeep Liberty - History, Major Flaws, & Why It Got Cancelled! (2002-2012) - 2 GENS

Biggest piece of junk 'I've ever owned...Bought new in 2009 and I am finally done with it and its 700$ repairs every few months.

Your claim that people liked the Cherokee's square styling but not the rounder Liberty is proven wrong by the fact that the Gen 1 Liberty sold very well, while the shoe box Gen 2 Liberty couldn't be given away. Nobody liked the looks of Gen 2. You could even see it in the faces of the poor sales people whose job it was to move the things.

First time jeep owner, got a used liberty and am now running into a lot of issues. Thank you for sharing this video

I still have Jeep Liberty 2011 3.7 V6 Sport Edition Trail Rated. Bought it from a Gvt Auction in Montreal , QC.

I use it for a long distance trips let say from Montreal to Niagra through Toronto.

Problems:
Gas Cap
Power windows
Windy noise on the high way
Tire pressure sensors.

Performance is remarkable. Unlike most people think, it’s averagely fast but not compared to my Touareg VW 2011 3.6 sport.

I will keep my Liberty unless otherwise. It’s really a Snow beater and powerful.

The power of the engine is actually very good, its not a unibody so its an actual truck, in my case a 5 speed is a big positive and it tows decent for a small suv I have a 09 kk with 130k, it had problems at 67k with the gears popping out of 1st, hard to engage 2 and 5th. Suspension was failing, ac went out at 90k alternator at 110k and the tensioner is failing now. The interior was falling apart at 67k, now the head liner is falling... I would not recommend 2nd generation liberty, the interior is cramped, the drivers side is worse, the back seats are only for kids.

I have a 2009 Jeep Liberty my daughter drove for college. I use it now on the ranch. Never had any issues with it. It’s been very reliable.

My jeep just exploded

Hi, I have a 2008 Jeep Liberty, does anyone know where the headlight fuses are? When I try to turn on my headlights, they both flick on then off and won’t turn on?

Bro ima buy a 05 with 125k on it for my first car. Seems pretty taken of and ima test drive it in a week. Think it would be reliable enough to last me a 1 1/2 to 2 years if good?

Well, I won’t address all of the complaints about the liberty, I can say that they dropped the Cherokee name for the KJ for a reason. It was going to be the new Cherokee as it remains so in all of the non-US markets.

What prompted them to change the name to liberty were the September 11, 2001 attacks on the world trade center. Chrysler thought that giving the new KJ a patriotic name would drive sales and I’m speculating they thought that they would be honoring the memory of the event.

As to properly replacing the XJ, it was never really meant to do that. It was meant to provide most of the off-road capability with better on road manners. They definitely succeeded in doing that. The problem was that after 20 years, XJ owners were more diehard, off-road Owner and didn’t really care so much about being a better driving vehicle on the pavement.

I just replaced a waterpump in a 2012 because vaporlock dried out the seal. Which is a common issue I guess in the 2nd gen

The liberty was discontinued due to drop in sales

I have a 2012 liberty, limited edition and I’ve had it for about two years very few problems had to replace the window regulator, which is a common problem on the liberties I am honestly amazed how well this car has aged, especially with the amenities are very similar to what you get now

Terrible video The sound is like RFK jr narrating the story...

I have a 2008 liberty with 240k still kicking. Love the car.

As an automotive engineer, I think Chrysler should bring it back!

I understand brand loyalty, but the Cherokee Nation has asked Chrysler to stop using Cherokee as a name for one of their vehicles, and Chrysler unkindly declined. There actually is a way to rename a car without hurting its sales. For example, Chrysler's minivan was named the Town & Country for over two decades, and they renamed it the Pacifica in 2017, and it actually sold better despite the name change after that long. The reason the Liberty did not work out that way is probably because that name has nothing to do with wildlife, and that is what Jeep's platform is about. There were also reliability issues and old-fashioned design as you mentioned, but the name has no impact on those things. I would try changing the name of the Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee L to the Habitat, Grand Habitat, and Grand Habitat L. I bet a lot of Jeep fans would like the name Habitat better than the name Cherokee when Liberty would not help because Habitat is highly wildlife related.

I have a 110k miles 2010 jeep liberty, barely any rust. Had some issues here and there but nothing major just some basic maintenance. Still drives like a charm love that 4WD during our harsh canadian winter.

What kind of transmission? CVT?

I like the rear spare tyre.

What do you think about the Jeep compass north

I have a 2013 compass north heater not working

I have a 2004 Jeep Liberty 3.7 2 wheel drive I have P0172 code car idols rough but drives great... I've replaced all fuel injectors, coil packs, spark plugs, oil change, idol air control valve, pvc valve and oxygen sensor. Code P0172 still there still rough idol.... And ideas of what it could be I'm lost....Also when at idol lights seems to be surging slightly. Noticed this at night at a stop light... HELP PLEASE !!!

I bought a used 2012 Jeep Liberty with 50k miles. I've not had any problems with it during my first 10k . I like it.

I have a 12 library and it still looks like brand new, no rust on it no damage or anything, the only thing wrong with it is it doesn't have a working rad fan

Libertys are all over the roads. Tons of the them, 10-20 years after being discontinued! I’m driving a 2012 myself. I don’t see any other halted vehicles with this amount of staying power. How bad can they be?

I have a 2004 liberty with 370,000 miles. Hard trailer towing miles. Still runs like a champ. Recently bought a 2008 to eventually replace the 04 when it finally dies. For now it is just a spare vehicle. Got too god of a deal on it to pass up.

The first gen saved my life got shot at by a car passing us on the highway and they got the back pillar and front one and they both stopped the bullet I would’ve got hit in the back and my friend driving would’ve got one too

I don’t get it! Jeeps are not purchased for creature comforts! You buy them to use hard! I’ve had most models they’ve made starting with a 47 cj2a. I’ve loved ALL of my jeeps including my 2016 patriot! I used it as a truck till my son wrecked it. I’ve not had a Jeep that didn’t give me 200000 miles! People need to quit bad mouthing them!

I reluctantly bought my 2004 Liberty Sport in May 2005 with 19k miles on it. It wasn’t what I wanted at the time but what I could afford, I hated it, but after a few weeks I was in love and I still have it today with 176k miles on it. It’s been the absolute most reliable, fun to drive vehicle we’ve ever owned. We’ve had to put less than $1,000 total in actual engine repair costs into it costing roughly $200-$300 per repair and it still runs perfectly like the day I bought it. I love it so much I want to be buried in it!
I looked at the 2nd Gen in 2009, but I didn’t like the way it drove. The engine was way too small for it and had a really squishy ride, it wandered all over the place, it felt like driving a marshmallow compared to the super tight handling and ride of the Liberty. I’m so glad that I never upgraded to a newer model, I know I wouldn’t have been nearly as happy with it as the Liberty and would have regretted it. My husband is on his 4th vehicle in the 18 years that we’ve had my Liberty… He finally got a Jeep!!

I'm in the market looking for a jeep, I have a 2000 jeep grand cherokee limited 4.7 runs well but! after seeing the 2005 jeep liberty' I'm reconsidering about buying one! i dont know what to do?

I currently drive a 2006 Limited 4x4 with the diesel engine. It also only has 105k miles on it in 2023. I love it. I have mine built with a 2 inch lift w/new suspension, bumper, roof rack, and bigger tires and it is a beast off road. I have taken it on 4 night overlanding trips in Colorado with no issues, keeps up with all the other bigger off roaders. And I only paid $7k for it.

Why wasn't the liberty recalled for their issues. I have a 2006.

Junk Chrysler vehicles...always Chrysler...pure junk

I bought a 2007 Jeep Liberty and liked it so I bought a 2012 Liberty and loved it, I still have it and I have not had any issues with it. Have 91,000 miles on it too!

I have a 06 liberty CRD with 220k on it! Still runs strong and has very little problems!

The KJ Liberty was a fantastic little SUV. Far more capable than its eventual successor (the KL Cherokee). It's only real problem was faulty roof drainage that eventually led to rust at the bottom of the doors and the rockers.

I know several persons who have purchased a Jeep vehicle… just one and then NADA. Build quality and reliability non-existent

I have an 08 Sport. Got it in a package deal on an rv. Set up for 4 down towing, but use it as my daily driver. Gas mileage is my biggest complaint. Long way from being the best vehicle I've had, but it is great in this MN snow. Reliable enough that I will keep driving it until it has a major breakdown. Stereo has a short in the aux jack, drivers door window switch glitchy, cruise works when it wants to, rear fender wells rusting out, rear glass corroded out hinge, and 4x4 starting to have some glitches. But, all that is in a vehicle that has 196.000 but just keeps going. Might get another one when this one dies.

The 3.7 V6 wouldn't pull the skin off a cold rice pudding.

In Europe the Liberty was called Cherokee KJ(1.gen) and Cherokee KK (2.gen)

Seventeen minutes shot in the a$$. How about the effed up heat system on Jeep Liberty?

I have a second gen jeep liberty 08... Im shitting myself watching this 🥺

Bought a 2.5 diesel in the uk back in 2003, love the curves and style plus it is a jeep, still have it probably hold on until I can't get spares returns around 32 mpg which is ok so long as fuel prices keep stable. great info on liberty.

I would say the 3.7 engine is the reason. Every listing i see, they are cheap and say bad 3.7 engine.

Wow! I must be doing something right.
My 2005 Liberty now has 270,000 miles. It is the diesel version with 2.8Liter engine.
The only problem I have had is the rear windows. Right now I have some vacuum things stuck to the window holding them shut. They quit working about five years ago and I just haven't bothered to tear into them. LOL If it happens to you, go to Walgreens and buy the assist bar for people to use in the shower. Smear a bit of veggie oil around on the rubber cup and it will stuck for about six months. You can see if it is losing a seal by just looking at how the rubber is stuck to the glass

I had three recalls done at the dealer. The torque convertor upgrade, the rear suspension arms, and one I can't remember. All before the warranty ran out. Just had alignment done and all four ball joints are tight. I live in WI so she gets a lot of salt on her. I had to replace all four of the rubber brake lines that connect to the calipers, the triangle shaped thing on the rear axle and all four shocks/struts. I had the dealer replace the timing belt at each 100,000 mile interval otherwise it could break and do about $5000 damage. I estimate I have put $5,500 in repairs since new.

The gas tank fires were the result of being hit from behind. The fix was for dealer to install the trailer towing bracket which protects the gas tank.

All fluids were synthetic from the factory and they are changed at scheduled intervals.
The thing that amazes me most is the transmission. I started driving in 1965 and I remember it wasn't very long before people were having the auto trans rebuilt at 50,000 miles. Now here I am with 270,000 miles and it works like a Swiss watch.

I really like the little Jeep. Easy to park, good visibility, goes through deep snow. I'll keep repairing her so long as she doesn't rust away.

The Jeep Liberty has a shitty transmission, and windows that constantly fall. If you fixed those two things it actually could've been a pretty good SUV.

En el 2012 compré un Jeep Liberty usado 10 años después con más de 300 mil millas y sigue manejando

I’m inheriting a 2008 from my parents and it’s a 6 speed 😊

Great, I already have anxiety, now I have to worry about my gas tank exploding??