Used 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited 4WD 4dr SUV (3.7L 6cyl 4A) Consumer Reviews
beware jeep falling apart from day one
I purchased this jeep less than a year old. I have had to have the front end replaced three times within 5 years. The air conditioner breaks every single year, had the compressor replaced twice. There have been several recalls on this jeep. One of the recalls was for the windows and was only an extended warrante where you had to pay $100 to have your windows fix when they fell down and stopped working. So here I sit now with a window down and the Jeep dealer is telling me oh your too late for the extended warrante if you want your windows fixed it will be $400 a window. Well you know what I think? I think Chrysler is a junk company and should have stepped up from the beginning and fixed then
Don't Buy a Jeep Liberty!!
We have had numerous major mechanical breakdowns on our Jeep Liberty resulting in thousands of dollars in repairs. Just had to have the transmission fixed for almost $3000. Check it out, it happens all the time on these vehicles. Don't buy one!!
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,20030 mi away
- Renegade 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,49533 mi away
- Sport 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,995100 mi away
Electrical engineering nightmare.
Check the electrical system before you purchasing.
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2005 CRD Liberty
The outstanding engineering behind the new CRD engine qualifies as such a joy. And I am here to tell you that this engine blows away (no pun intended) all the myths and conventional thinking that we have come to associate with diesel engines over the years. With no visible smoke, no apparent diesel smell and a whisper quiet engine sound at highway speeds, this vehicle actually out-ran many gas engine vehicles in the mountains of California, Oregon and Washington on a recent trip. At one gas station, a trucker even walked up to my son and unwittingly said: Excuse me son, but do you know that youre putting diesel fuel into that Jeep? No one seems to know about next gen diesel technology.
Kermit the Jeep
Runs very well, gas consumption a little low. Handles like a car not a truck, new brakes front and back, four wheel drive fantastic, a little small for a large family. Very comfortable seating, leg room could be better in back. Tow bar added as a result of recall for safety reasons, cargo space a little small for large family shopping. All in all this Jeep is a wonderful SUV but because our family is getting bigger we need a larger vehicle. Whom ever ends up with him is extremely lucky. Keeps us safe.
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Love my jeep
I have to say i love my jeep and am keeping it till it falls apart. I have owned a 2005 bought used in 2005 with only 5000 miles on it and now has 56000 miles. I usually only do city driving. It wonderful in the snow. The biggest downfall is the mpg. Horrible! That would be the only reason not to buy one. Fun car to drive and small/compact. No major problems at all.
Eh.
I've had my Liberty for about two months now. In these past few months I have spent over $1000 in repairs. First, the rear-axle had problems, and second there was a crack in my radiator. The Liberty's gas mileage is absolutely horrid. I at least get 17 mpg hwy. The interior design of the Liberty is impressive, but the audio system is bad, too. The speakers in the car do not go loud enough. It is also very loud, getting up to 70 mph in the car is like being on a jet plane. Otherwise, does good in bad weather, and is rather stylish looking. If it weren't for all the repairs and horrid gas mileage, this car would be perfect.
They don't make them like this anymore!
I love my jeep Liberty. I've had it since 2005, it's now 2021 and it still runs like a champ. As long as you treat it right and do the routine maintenance and up-keep, a liberty can take care of you!
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Jeep Liberty Limited CRD - blown engine
Bought my CRD brand new. Fairly reliable and occasionally quirky. Good highway economy at 30-31 MPG. During a recent trip, the #1 connecting rod disintegrated and sent shrapnel throughout the engine at 77,594 miles. Have a case setup with Chrysler and waiting to hear if they will fix it. The diesel tech at the dealer where it is and the engineer at Chrysler he spoke to had never heard of this diesel blowing up like this.
Gotta love it.
This is my second Liberty. The 2002 had the gas engine and averaged 18-19 on the highway at best. This diesel version approaches 30mpg at 58-65 mph. I love the tight turning radius which makes parking a breeze and the fact it is much more nimble than the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has proved very capable of pulling a heavy trailer and pushing through snow. We are very happy with it. The diesel is barely audible with the radio or CD player on and never smells like a Greyhound bus.
Love it!
Ya know someone said they would rather have a toyota, yeah go ahead it'll be recalled in no time. I did have a foreign car before I got my Jeep. But I hated it, it was awful on the highway. I've had no problems with my jeep with the past five years that I've had it. And here I am almost 100,000 miles later and I'm still driving it. And I actually started a trend because right after, I let both my sisters, my best friend and my cousin drive it and ya know what they traded in their foreign cars for a JEEP as well. And I'm not trying to be mean, but maybe y'all don't know how to drive. The only thing I dont like are the seats, but if that's the price I have to pay to buy AMERICAN so be it!
RUN AWAY!!!
Let me start by saying I am a JEEP fanatic! I have owned 2 Wranglers, 2 Cherokees, and 2 Libertys...SO I have nothing against Jeep but I will NEVER buy another Liberty and I will NEVER recommend this vehicle to my friends or family!! I purchased my last Jeep Liberty used after rolling my first Liberty and this was a huge mistake. These vehicles are very top heavy and the steering is very touchy making it easy to lose control. Also the lower control arms in the front and rear were made very poorly and may snap without any warning causing complete loss of control!! Gas mileage sucks for such a small SUV too and interior is very cramped.
Rust Bucket
Owned the vehicle for 4 years and with only 19,500 miles had to replace the brake rotors (and pads) twice. The last straw was the rusted-out transmission coolant line. Body bolts (under the top of the hood in the engine compartment) also rusted. Nostalgia aside, this car is the epitemy of the US car industry of the 50-60's. Poor fuel economy, handling, performance, body integrity, etc. When we purchased the car four years ago, we had to search hard to find one with the "optional" ABS package and side air bags. Doesn't everyone who wants four wheel drive also want four wheel (controlled) stopping too? Our 2005 Liberty was finally replaced with a 2010 MB GLK 350 4-matic...GOODBYE JEEP!!!
FRONT DRIVE SHAFT
I bought my Liberty RHD new in 2005 for my mail route. I am on my 7th front drive shaft. Instead of replacing U-Joints in the drive shaft you have to buy the whole shaft. The rubber boot around it leaks dust which in turn ruins the drive shaft. The back doors have such a poor wrap around design, the doors get frozen shut during any bad weather. I have had to have the transmission rebuilt and have had numerous problems with the front end. If I didn't need a RHD vehicle I would never recomend this vehicle. Very expensive to maintain!
Not a good choice
We bought our 2005 Liberty new. Also purchasing the 5 year warranty which exp Feb 2010. Last week (Dec 2010) it started acting up so we took it into the dealer. Bad head gasket, takes $1500.00 to fix. While tearing it down they found a timing belt guide broken and had to buy the entire kit from Mopar for $534 additional. We don't have it back yet but a 90,000 mile vehicle should not be requiring a $2500.00 repair. It is the last Jeep/Dodge we will buy. We are looking again soon but will probably look towards a Toyota.
Liberty driven from new to 101000
Front Drive Line problems - Speedometer fluctuates and even stalled the car - idler pulley went out - AC failed 2 times. At 101 cruise control is not working and the drive line is thumping again. Not a great car.......
Great vehicle!
Bought this Liberty in 2008 used and with around 45,000 miles on it. For the last four years, I had absolutely nothing wrong with it other than some recalls and brakes. Had to replace the roaters because of previous owner (boo). Drives just the way I would expect a Jeep to. It's compact and easy and has a lot of get up and go (not a great every day car though - more Jeep than commuter car). Recently have had to replace the transmission cooler lines, front drive shaft and had a leak in the head gasket but considering what I've gotten out of so far, I'm not terribly concerned and I expect to get many more years out of this Jeep. Great buy for me and will keep for a long time!
Worth the Money!
It seems like a lot of people who write reviews on the Jeep Liberty do nothing but complain- about the ride, about the poor gas mileage. It will never be confused with a BMW or Mercedes SUV, but neither of those vehicles will ever perform the double duty of driving to a concert on Friday night and then hitting the trail on the weekend. That is where the Jeep Liberty excels- being a little bit of everything. Sure, the interior is plastic, the seats are rock hard and the 3.7l six cylinder engine is sluggish and a gas guzzler. But, the Liberty looks stylish enough to be an "adult" vehicle and provides enough performance to get you to any destination your heart desires.
Chrysler quality
We purchased our 2005 Liberty as a lease return with 80km. During a trip to the US we started to notice a howl from the rear diff which got worse as we travelled. no oil leaks evident. since we had purchased an extended warrenty to 120k, the dealership replaced pretty much everything in the housing at 92km. At 115 km the dealership mechanic said that the rear diff needed service, meaning of course the oil needed to be changed. no big deal we thought although it seemed odd that the oil was dirty so soon after a rebuild. At 153k the rear end started to howl again. $2000+ later and most components replaced. Normally a rear diff ought to out last the rest of the vehicle or so we thought.Wrong!
Brakes down bi-weekly
Don't buy this vehicle. I'm not kidding. It has extraordinary design defects and is a safety nightmare. It should be recall before someone gets killed. I have owned it for 13 months and to date it has been at the dealership for warranty repairs 19 times. Other consumers have the same problems...they start at approximately 15,000 miles and by the time you are at 25,000 miles you'll be afraid to get behind the wheel. I have limped it into the dealership numerous times.
Thinking of buying a Liberty - Don't!
I bought my car new and liked it at first. Now I'm having many problems with it - mainly brake issues. At 22,000 miles I had to replace the caliper and brake pads. Now, only a year later and only 4,000 miles later the brakes are bad again and they say I need to replace front and back brakes completely. They claim this is because I live on the ocean (which corrodes breaks faster) but I have lived on the ocean all my life and have never had to replace breaks at 26,000 miles on any other car! The seats put my legs to sleep when driving (and others have told me the same), the horribly designed seats stain extremely easily.I've also had no luck w dealer. Do yourself a favor don't buy this car!
It was what I was looking for, I didn't know it
This review revised August 05, 2025 My 2005 JEEP LIBERTY is still great! Oh it has had its fight with time, the well known factory electrical problems, the crappy seat material never looking clean and the rust areas that plague the car. They all have these problems. At about 128,000 miles I had to have the transmission rebuilt. The prev owner could have been an off roader, there are some curious damages that indicate that could be the case. BUT: The car runs GREAT! ! ! The engine runs sweet. The engine growl when running went away when I added lukas to the oil. The engine runs smooth and strong, the transmission is strong. The 4wD system works great as well. I use the JEEP when I travel to my cabin, never a problem. I currently have to deal with the rust. They all get the rust. Daimler did not design a rust free model and maybe they didn't add any rust preventive media. For those who forget, Daimler Owned JEEP until 2007. But all Jeep Liberty's get the rust in/on the rockers and the doors. If you don't have it yet (unlikely) YOU WILL. I most likely will consider an open rocker design to enhance air flow to try to keep that area dry and I will spray it with abundance with either rust proofing or mineral oil which I have had great experiences in stopping rust. All in all, the JEEP LIBERTY by Daimler is fabulous. Yes it has a couple of problems that comes with the car by design, but it is super reliable and is my main driver. I replaced the fog lights, which were terrible, with LED focused beam lights. You can use them for drivers, they are that bright. Replaced the Factory radio with a SONY with USB for music and Audio books. Better than a CD player, Great upgrade. I absolutely love the hard cover dash. Daimler used a hard dash opposed to the softy vinyl one that cracks over time. This dash has not cracked, and I don't expect it to. Other than the crappy seat material that forever looks dirty no matter what you do, the interior looks good, controls are easy to use. The window control on the center console, the bain of some owners, turns out to be most accessible, easy to use. Other than having windows with the manual crank, I believe I prefer the control on the center console. One rather important thing to look out for is the shifter cable. The end that attaches to the transmission has a plastic attachment. Over time this plastic wears a larger diameter hole. evenutally, it can simply slip off of the transmission attachment and you are stuck. Do note, it is NOT easy to get to, you most likely wont be able to repair it on the road, so watch for this one. Having owned the JEEP Liberty for many years now, I feel safe and secure in knowing it will be ready whenever I need it.
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Jeep Liberty Limited
I did a lot of research to find what automobile would suit my needs, and I was very excited when I bought my Liberty. Ten months later I can't wait to trade it in. I only get 16.5 mpg and I am cautious about putting my foot in it. There is a mysterious rattle in the back that drives me nuts, I put the radio up loud so I can't hear it. I also hate the way the transmission shifts ... very jerky. I also don't like that it reminds you that you need service every time you turn on your car (while having to wait for my oil change appointment). I also have put in a 3rd windshield because the smallest rock cracks the windshield. I had a Toyota before and never had a problem ... I'm definitely going back.
2003 Liberty LTD
I have had no problems with my '03 Liberty LTD. For the price it includes features I have never had in any other vehicle I've owned.
Jeep 2005 Ltd (3.7L)
Great vehicle for running around locally in all terrains. Sensational handling. You must stay alert when driving long distances as vehicle needs constant steering. Gas mileage for weight could be better. No driver interior thoughtfulness when designed. No place for storage other than small glovebox, no place for coins. Cargo area for its size is very good with the fold down seats. Gas gauge should be on right side of dash because you cannot see it as it sits behind steering wheel. Also after rainfall, I notice water under the rear door when I open it.
Liberty doesn't measure up
We had 7 flat tires. Recall on ball joints and transmission turbo charger. Have had egr airflow control valve and gasket replaced. Now it is leaking power steering fluid. Flat tires occurred with bad tire sensor valves and inferior equipped tires. The automated tire sensor system needs some work. If you buy this vehicle, purchase the extended warranty. You will need it. Also brakes make grinding, moaning noise. Friends who own Liberties have this problem also. Safety commission is investigating fires in dashboard.
Nice Jeep
So far I think it is a great vehicle. Drove from Iowa to California no problems. Average of 23mpg for the trip doing 78mph average. Would only buy one with leather for the power seats. I'm 6ft tall and without power adjustment I would have a hard time fitting. It is a bit noisy but hey it's a diesel.
Brakes
I have had concerns with the rear brakes so took it to Codiroli Service department. They checked it out and said they couldn't find anything wrong. Continued to feel something wrong with the way my car was acting when I used the brakes. Also, had a noise coming from the rear of the car. Sounded like something was moaning. This noise is loud when I first start driving and than gets less loud after I have driven it a few miles. Took car in for first service (3,000 mile) and was told there is a recall for the brakes but can't fix them until the recall notices have been sent out. I find this very upsetting.. This problem should be fixed immediately. Why do I have to wait? Other than this I like my car.
MY 3rd Jeep pc of crap
My Jeep is a pure highway vehicle, as my previous 3 were. My first 2 had $3K transmission problems at 80K miles, my 3rd, a lease, made several dealer repair visits. I bought the CRD because of the Mercedes built diesel but realize that anything Chrysler touches get messed up. I have 70K miles on the Jeep as it sits in the repair shop getting a new turbo. Stay away from Jeep, my 400,000 miles in 4 different models has shown they are recall/repair nightmares!
Nice to own
Went on a trip just after buying the Jeep. I was impressed with the fuel mpg. It got 30 mpg on average. I had a small oil leak on the transfer case but got fixed under warranty. Other then it`s been fine. Put about 4500 km on that trip in one week with no problems at all.
Jeep Junk
After owning 3 Limited/Grand Cherokees, the Liberty is a solid disappointment. The gas gauge and oil lights go off/on randomly. There is a wheel rub noise at low speeds. The dealer can't fix it.Chrysler doesn't care. The seat sits 2 inches too high and doesn't adjust. The door locks are right where you want to rest your arm. The Sirius radio is static prone.
Liberty CRD
Fun diesel to drive, lots of torque, good fuel mileage, but the seats are constructed out of park bench material. The hardest seats I have ever set in. Even my Wrangler was better.
Poor engineering
Vehicle is less than a year old with 11,000 miles. We drove it with utmost care, and now have to have major repairs. Oil is foamy, loss of coolant, gurgling sound while driving. Can you say - blown head gasket, cracked head or both?
Great Vehicle
I purchased my 2004 Jeep Liberty Ltd. in November, Fortunately we have had plenty of snow for me to try this thing out. Found an empty parking lot with about 8 to 12 inches of snow in it and i was very very pleased at what this Jeep will do. With this motor it had plenty of torque and went through it without bogging down one bit. I currently have 5200km on it and have no major complaints.The only thing i can complain about and that most other people do is the gas mileage(20-21 imperial miles per gallon in mixed driving). The other is a small and useless glovebox.That being said i still would recommend this vehicle to anyone .
The best fun for the most economical price
The best fun for the most economical price in a small compact SUV on the market today! Try this 6 cylinder with 4WD.Take it everywhere - mountains with ice and snow and watch this baby perform. Yes the Cherokee is nice too but check the handling and quick natured torque of this puppy of a Jeep and you will just see that maybe it isn't just a puppy after all. All weather conditions, try it! It's amazing fun, need to do a quick turnaround - go for the 360~ on a dime. Tight parking no problem, fits right in with NO effort, None! A must try first vehicle before you make any other compact SUV purchase!
Great car if it were reliable
We have owned several diesel cars and had hoped this car would perform as the others. It has a lot of nice features. My wife loves the heated seats and the 6 cd changer in the dash but the cup holders are awkward. Our trouble is with the engine reliability: Turbo boost hose, EGR valve and the numerous recalls. The transmission is now making noise and popping out the dip stick. The sevice engine light is always on. I'm thinking of trading it for a VW
Drinks but it Drives
Just recently bought a limited AWD floor-room model Liberty with chrome exterior package. I would recommend the chrome exterior/interior package as it gives the Liberty a more aggressive and athletic stance and separates yours from everyone else's. Plenty of great safety features and enough places to grab onto if you need an extra boost into the Jeep. Traded in a 2001 Ford Focus for the Liberty and amazingly the insurance costs remained the same. The 3.7L engine has very little lag, but don't expect 220 horsepower to be a comet either as the Liberty is no lightweight. Great extras I recommend are the sunroof, satellite radio, Infiniti speakers, leather seats, and rear view mirror with HomeLink
replacing great Jeep Grand Cherokee
I love it. I hope it holds up, I think parts and service could be costly with so few sold. $25.00+ for a fuel filter?
BIODIESEL ready Sweet economy 4WD SUV
They could have easily made the diesel get better mileage. The seats need more cushion - nice leather surface but they are hard as a rock on 8 hour trip. Feels like metal skeleton inside the seat is sticking in your thighs, maybe made for large heavy person? Windshield is almost straight up like a nice wind blocker reminds me of a Suzuki Samurai, worst jack system ever conceived - not very usable and takes forever to use, could use a particle filter for better mileage and lower emissions. Auto Only shifts gears at certain speeds, 4th at 50mph. Should be variable and able to hit 5th in city driving 40-45. Really nice to tow with, even pulling large trailers, like my 30', 600# camper.
Repeat Liberty buyer
I bought my 2005 Liberty in Dec.2004 to replace my 2002 Liberty. I did not expect to do this since I had bought the 2002 as a compromise vehicle because my Audi could not navigate a rough trail to a cabin in New Hampshire due to low ground clearance. To my surprise, I got to like the Liberty (although not its thirsty habits) and once the brakes and tires were upgraded in the 2005, I could not resist renewing the experience. The lights are much better in the 2005 also. Some say the cargo volume is small. However, I got a full dresser, nightstand, mirror and various other bedroom items inside the Jeep with all doors and windows closed and put the two headboards on the roof. No problem!
Very disappointed.....
I have to say I love the way the Liberty looks on the inside and outside. I was so excited to find an SUV that was so classy. Unfortunately, I have experienced some problems with the transmission/4WD. The car gets stuck in reverse. I then I have to turn it off and on. It's been in to get fixed and no one can find anything wrong with it. Although Chrysler does a fantastic job of making their vehicles look good, but the reliability is just not there. It's a shame! Mine only has 12,000 miles and I'm going to get rid of it. I just can't trust it.
great SUV
Real solid SUV ride you can feel the quality of Jeep reputation. Interior is comfortable and classy. Got me out of a lot of snow clogged spaces.
2005 Jeep Liberty
This vehicle is fun to drive. I love the size although the cargo space is a bit limited. The rear seats fold down easily for more storage area. The ride is smooth and tight without being stiff. The seats are well padded and sit comfortably, but are very narrow (and I'm only 160 lbs). I have the leather trim option which means the seats are mostly vinyl with a little bit of leather on the sides. The back and seat bottoms become very hot and "sweaty" in the summer. The highway ride is comfortable but has a lot of wind noise above 60 mph. I have 7000 highway miles since purchased new in Sept '05. The EPA sticker boasts 22 mpg highway and I can't even break 16 mpg.
Long Term CRD
Bought new back in April 2005. Have had the normal problems that all CRD owners have had, including 3 EGR replacements. It is a great vehicle for every day use and for some off- road fun as well. I have 500 miles left on my extended 100k warranty, so I'm hoping all will stay well. Most recent problem was my 4wd/2wd sensor going bad - said I was in 4wd, but wasn't. I have learned not to get upset with the dealer when there are issues, but rather DC. I think they put this vehicle out, but weren't ready to support it with stocked parts. I will hit 100k by this weekend, and even with all the CRD issues, I would still buy another, but hoping they put a diesel in the Wrangler Unlimited!
Liberty CRD That NO ONE can fix.
I have owned four Jeeps. This is the biggest "Hunk Of Junk" I have owned EVER!! multiple, multiple problems. To be fair, It is great when it is not in the shop. However, it has been in the shop 14 times in the first year. I have parked in my drive way and have a 'Lemon Law" Attorney. The dealership does not care and blow off all complaints. JEEP will not help. This Liberty Limited CRD stinks! Worst auto I have EVER owned. If you want to buy one, know your state's "Lemon Law" and hire a GOOD Attorney because, you're going to need it! Jeep/Chrysler will do NOTHING & dealer ship blames Chrysler and ANOTHER RUN AROUND!
Lemon
My 05 Liberty diesel was in the shop for four of the first six weeks I owned it. It had to be towed 3 times for starting issues and could not be taken though any car wash as it would stall and not start again for 6-8 hours. It had an oil leak which was never fixed and the Chrysler Rep. from St. Louis was as rude and inconsiderate person as I have ever met. This was a very unfortunate situation that could have been handled much differently to keep a loyal Chrysler fan happy. Chrysler needs to take a close look at their customer service issues. Good bye Chrysler, Love my new Toyota!
Diesel Liberty
This truck has reaffirmed my faith in diesels. The power and towing capability is reasonable and all with decent mileage. DCX needs to expand the use of diesels in their product line. With fuel prices as they are this would be a great service to the customer and the country.
If you are thinking of buying one, don't
Engine runs poorly, fuel economy is poor, FWD only works some of the time. The dealer has been very cooperative in attempting to repair it, but MoPar won't help them. We have owned a lot of new cars over the years and I have to say this one is the worst.
Jeep Liberty CRD Diesel
I purchased this Liberty used with 65K on it. Drove it home 350 mi. Ran great for the first 3K miles and then trouble hit. I had an oil leak that turned into a need for a new turbo, then a new thermostat. Great truck but the dealer can't get parts very fast. No parts available from the warehouse, so parts must come from other dealer inventories, if they will give them up. If you can, stay away from the Liberty CRD.
First Jeep
Bought it mostly for the engine. Excellent fit and finish (near Toyota quality). Amazing amounts of torque. Very wide band of usable torque (1400 - 3200 RPM). Merging onto a highway is effortless, very quick around town. Hills and mountains are no problem. Good handling but tends to wander a bit on the highway. Firm yet comfortable ride. Good seats once you get them adjusted the way you want them. Powerful A/C takes little or no power from the engine. Potent brakes with ABS. Very easy to modulate. Smooth five speed automatic transmission. Shifts could be a bit firmer and bit quicker.