2012 Jeep LIBERTY
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Jeep LIBERTY has 551 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: air bag lights stay on continously. manufacture date 10/2011. suspect clockspring since jeep wrangler has this problem. *tr. ⚠️ 18 fire reports filed.
551
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
6.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
169 complaints- • AIR BAG LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINOUSLY. MANUFACTURE DATE 10/2011. SUSPECT CLOCKSPRING SINCE JEEP WRANGLER HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- • AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. *JS
- • AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LAMP LIT. *TR
“AIR BAG LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINOUSLY. MANUFACTURE DATE 10/2011. SUSPECT CLOCKSPRING SINCE JEEP WRANGLER HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
116 complaints- • ON FRI MAY 11, 2012 8;30 AM .I WAS DRIVING MY JEEP LIBERTY AND NOTICE A STRONG ODOR IN THE VEHICLE THEN I NOTICED A BURNING BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CONTROL PANEL , AS QUICKLY AS I COULD I PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT , AT THAT TIME MY WINDOWS WHERE MALFUNCTIONING
- • 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
- • PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WONT TURN OFF FROM DASH BOARD AND LIGHT FROM UNDER THE RADIO. NO ISSUES AS FAR AS AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. *TR
“ON FRI MAY 11, 2012 8;30 AM .I WAS DRIVING MY JEEP LIBERTY AND NOTICE A STRONG ODOR IN THE VEHICLE THEN I NOTICED A BURNING BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CONTROL PANEL , AS QUICKLY AS I COULD I PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT , AT THAT TIME MY WINDOWS WHERE MALFUNCTIONING”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
51 complaints- • VEHICLE HAS A ECO-MODE TO RESERVE EXCESSIVE FUEL USAGE. WHEN TRAVELING AT A SPEED TO EXCEED 45 MPH THE VEHICLE REACTS WITH A BAD VIBRATION AND SHAKE AS IF THERE IS A FLAT TIRE OR SOMETHING. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE SHAKES AS IF THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE ROTORS OR BRAKES. WHEN TAKI
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE LIGHT BLUE/GRAY SMOKE EMITS FROM THE EXHAUST/TAIL PIPE UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SMOKE WAS WATER VAPOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOT OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE UPON STARTING, SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE PCV VALVES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAI
“VEHICLE HAS A ECO-MODE TO RESERVE EXCESSIVE FUEL USAGE. WHEN TRAVELING AT A SPEED TO EXCEED 45 MPH THE VEHICLE REACTS WITH A BAD VIBRATION AND SHAKE AS IF THERE IS A FLAT TIRE OR SOMETHING. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE SHAKES AS IF THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE ROTORS OR BRAKES. WHEN TAKI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
34 complaints- • THE 2012 JEEP LIBERTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" SEVERELY WHEN UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING. A LOUD "CLUNK" IS NOTED AT EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVESHAFT U-JOINT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP AND TECHNICIANS REPLICATED THE DISCREPANCY. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO TRIED ANOTHER VEHICLE (A
- • 1) BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR, 2) STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION PRESSED ON THE THROTTLE VEHICLE PAUSED AND THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR (HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES)AND HAS CONTINUED THIS BEHAVIOR INTERMITTENTLY. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES.
- • I AM EXPERIENCING TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER AT BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH AT 1500RPM OR LOWER. I FIRST REPORTED THIS DEFECT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 800 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT'S DRIVING OVER RAIN GROOVES OR RUMBLE STRIPS WHEN I'M EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE IS 100% REPRODUCIBL
“THE 2012 JEEP LIBERTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" SEVERELY WHEN UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING. A LOUD "CLUNK" IS NOTED AT EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVESHAFT U-JOINT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP AND TECHNICIANS REPLICATED THE DISCREPANCY. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO TRIED ANOTHER VEHICLE (A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
31 complaints- • ON JUNE 17, 2014 I WENT TO FIELDS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE IN SANFORD FL. DUE TO STARTING ISSUES WITH MY 2012 JEEP LIBERTY WHICH I PURCHASED ON DECEMBER 2012 UPON ARRIVAL I ENTERED THE SERVICE LANE AND WAS GREETED BY A COMPANY EMPLOYEE. HE SAID ?SOMEONE WILL BE WITH YOU SHORTLY? NOT LONG AFTER ANOTHER EM
- • NOTHING MAJOR YET..THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIPM,MY JEEP JUST WENT OVER 50,000 MILES AND NOW I HAVE THIS THAT IS OUT OF WARRENTY.BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS OUT THERE AND NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT AND AM GOING TO BE FORCED IN TRADING IN,I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH ALL THE SUDDEN ISSUES.CHRYSLER IGNORING
- • I WAS DRIVING 35 MILES PER HOUR, THE ESC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, CAR IS JERKING WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP. THE ESC IS FLASHING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2012 ,THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THREE WEEKS THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TWO TIME LIGHT WHEN OFF WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF NOT THIS TIME. CHECK
“ON JUNE 17, 2014 I WENT TO FIELDS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE IN SANFORD FL. DUE TO STARTING ISSUES WITH MY 2012 JEEP LIBERTY WHICH I PURCHASED ON DECEMBER 2012 UPON ARRIVAL I ENTERED THE SERVICE LANE AND WAS GREETED BY A COMPANY EMPLOYEE. HE SAID ?SOMEONE WILL BE WITH YOU SHORTLY? NOT LONG AFTER ANOTHER EM”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 551 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: AIR BAG LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINOUSLY. MANUFACTURE DATE 10/2011. SUSPECT CLOCKSPRING SINCE JEEP WRANGLER HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: ON FRI MAY 11, 2012 8;30 AM .I WAS DRIVING MY JEEP LIBERTY AND NOTICE A STRONG ODOR IN THE VEHICLE THEN I NOTICED A BURNING BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CONTROL PANEL , AS QUICKLY AS I COULD I PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT , AT THAT TIME MY WINDOWS WHERE MALFUNCTIONING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: VEHICLE HAS A ECO-MODE TO RESERVE EXCESSIVE FUEL USAGE. WHEN TRAVELING AT A SPEED TO EXCEED 45 MPH THE VEHICLE REACTS WITH A BAD VIBRATION AND SHAKE AS IF THERE IS A FLAT TIRE OR SOMETHING. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE SHAKES AS IF THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE ROTORS OR BRAKES. WHEN TAKI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: THE 2012 JEEP LIBERTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" SEVERELY WHEN UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING. A LOUD "CLUNK" IS NOTED AT EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVESHAFT U-JOINT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE JEEP DEALERSHIP AND TECHNICIANS REPLICATED THE DISCREPANCY. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO TRIED ANOTHER VEHICLE (A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Jeep LIBERTY — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 551
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 18
- Crash reports
- 26
- Injury reports
- 49
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Jeep LIBERTY