There are 50 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2002 Jeep Libertyin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
VEHICLE HAS 70,000 ORIGINAL OWNER MILES. PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK BUT THE LINKAGE HAD FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STAYED IN D AND STARTED TO ROLL OFF. THE LINKAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED, THE PART IS: MANUAL CONTROL LEVER - MOPAR 52104177. IT HAS BEEN REVISED TWICE SINCE THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE. THE GRADE WAS VERY SLIGHT AND MY WIFE WAS STILL IN THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL BUT COULD NOT FIND ONE. THE SAME PART IS USED ON MANY JEEP, DODGE, CHRYSLER VEHICLES AND HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SOME MODELS. IT IS A GREAT SAFETY HAZARD AS THE SHIFT LIVER IS IN PARK BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT. I HAVE MADE A PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT PART BUT THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER A NEW ONE WHICH IS NOW: MANUAL CONTROL LEVER - MOPAR (52104177AC) AFTER HAVING BEEN REVISED TWICE.
ON JANUARY 2, 2018, I SUBMITTED A REPORT DETAILING THE DEFECTS FOR AN EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN. THAT REPORT ALSO DETAILED SAFETY DEFECTS. THAT WAS FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY WHAT IS NOW FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES. CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO THE SYSTEM ALLEGEDLY BEING PUT INTO PRODUCTION WERE ALSO EXPLAINED TO THE AFOREMENTIONED OFFICE. HAVE THEY CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM AND THUS DO NOT KNOW IF ANY ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN. I AM THE ENGINEER WHO DID THE ANALYSIS ON THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM AND PREPARED THE REPORT.
MY ENGINE FAILED LIKE MOST PEOPLE WITH A 2002 ENGINE THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH. THIS WAS A BAD YEAR FOR THESE ENGINES SO I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE NOT RECALLED. EVERY MECHANIC KNOWS THESE ENGINES WOULD FAIL FOR NO REASON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED TO DISPLAY THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING FOR THE SENSOR THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION BECAME FRACTURED WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SELECTOR FAILED TO MOVE INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE GEAR LEVER IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AND NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FRONT END WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, THE SHIFTER LINKAGE CABLE SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. THE RUBBER THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE PLASTIC HOUSING ALSO SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AND LINKAGE CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,603. AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,737....UPDATED 08-24-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE AND THE MANUFATURER WAS CONTACTED. UPDATED 09/04/2012 *JS
DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE ONE MORNING AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND SHUT OFF, WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TOWED IT BACK TO HOUSE AND READ CHECK ENGINE CODE ABOUT CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. IT MELTED IN PLACE BECAUSE OF WHERE IT IS IN RELATION TO THE EXHAUST, TOOK 4-5 MONTHS TO FULLY DIG OUT THE MELTED SENSOR AND REPLACE. HAD TO PUT A HEAT SHIELD OVER IT MYSELF AND HAS SINCE LASTED 2+ YEARS WITHOUT TROUBLE. VERY POOR DESIGN AND A HASSLE TO FIX. *TR
AFTER LOTS OF TRIES AND NO HELP FROM JEEP, I AM TRYING TO FIND HELP WITH A PROBLEM WITH AN SPEED SENSOR THAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ROUTING OF THESE WIRES CAUSING THEM TO RUB, SHORT OUT AND IT CAUSES THE SENSOR TO QUIT, AND ANYTHING OPTIONS RUNNING OFF THIS SENSOR (EXAMPLE TRANNY SHIFT POINTS CAUSING THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO NOT UNLOCK AND CAUSING STALLING OF VEHICLE). *TR
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT "THE VEHICLE WILL BE REAR ENDED AS A RESULT TO THE FAILURE". *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE. I ACCELERATED TO PASS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHO WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. WHEN I ACCELERATED, THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD BAND THAT CAME FROM MY CAR. I MOVED INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND PULLED OVER, OFF THE ROAD AND STOPPED THE CAR. THE LOUD BANG FRIGHTENED AND STARTLED ME FOR A MOMENT AND I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. UP UNTIL THEN, I HAD NO PROBLEMS. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME, I DROVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY. THE CAR KEPT STOPPING, AS IF SOMEONE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE JEEP DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID PACK AND FLUID, HAD A BROKEN CLUTCH, AND INTERNAL DAMAGE (TRANSMISSION). AFTER THAT INCIDENT, OTHER ISSUES STARTED SUCH AS NO HYDRAULIC UNDER FRONT HOOD (HAVE TO HOLD HOOD UP WITH ONE HAND WHILE USING OTHER). THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE HOOD FELL DOWN ON MY HEAD. THE BACK HYDRAULICS TO KEEP THE HATCHBACK OPEN SOMETIMES WORK OR NOT AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS BROKEN. MIND YOU THIS ALL STARTED WITH LOW MILEAGE BETWEEN 72,880 - 74,000. NOW I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LATEST RECALL FOR FUEL TANK EXPLOSION IF HIT IN REAR AND THE OTHER RECALL ABOUT THE AIR BAGS. *TR
PROPELLER SHAFT BEARING WAS EXPOSED CAUSING GRINDING/RATTLING NOISE AND POSSIBLE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD CLICK AND RATTLING NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT HE COULD SEE THE BEARING EXPOSED FOR THE PROPELLER SHAFT AND THAT IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY LTD EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS ON A DIRT ROAD DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN SHE CROSSED OVER A CREEK. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON. THERE WERE 3 PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE AND ONE OF THE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT NOTICED THAT SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 02/11/11
ON DEC 8, 2008 I PICKED UP MY JEEP LIBERTY FROM MY MECHANIC, HE HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN THAT RUSTED OUT AND DRAINED ALL THE TRANSMISSION OIL OUT. ON JANUARY 6, 2009 ON MY WAY TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING THE TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT TOTALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK HOME AND ONCE AGAIN THE MECHANIC HAS THE LIBERTY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN RUSTING OUT AND LEAKING CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION BLOWOUT A MONTH LATER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON IN DECEMBER AND I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE ENGINE LOOKED AT WHEN THE WHOLE PAN BLEW OUT. THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY DROPPING IN JANUARY COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF I WERE DRIVING LATER, AND I FEEL THIS COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS ON THE ROADWAYS ACROSS THE NATION. I HAVE COMPLAINED VIA THE WEBPAGE AT JEEP TO NO AVAIL, THIS SHOULD BE AT LEAST A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR
AUGUST 2006 CAR WAS SERVICED FOR DEALERSHIPS FAILURE TO CHECK REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID DURING SERVICE. REAR DIFFERENTIAL DAMAGED AND PARTS WERE REPLACED. TOTAL REPAIR BILL $1,800. SEPTEMBER 2007 - TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 95 WHEN SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY CHANGED DIRECTION AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED A "WHOLE NEW REAR END" (AXEL, BEARINGS, HOUSING, GEAR KIT, CUP DRIVE, CUP DIFFERENTIAL, SPACERS, SEALS) AND THAT IT COULD HAVE COLLAPSED AT ANY TIME AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. TOTAL REPAIR BILL WAS $2,600. CAR IS USED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK - NO "OFF-ROADING" OR "TOWING". MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS 88,000. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PLATE SHEARED THE BOLTS OFF THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE METAL TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. AS OF AUGUST 31, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000.
IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN ONCE IT IS IN THE IGNITION. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. THE GEAR SHIFTER CANNOT BE MOVED INTO NEUTRAL. THE KEY, ROCKING THE CAR, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, WORKING THE GEAR SHIFTER, CHANGING THE TILT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, HAVE NO AFFECT ON THE SITUATION. WILL NOT RELEASE THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE HAVE BEEN VARIATIONS OF THIS HAPPENING OVER THE LAST YEAR AND AFTER A FEW JIGGLES IT WORKED JUST FINE, BUT NOW THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. *TR
VEHICLE VIBRATES LOUDLY FROM FRONT DRIVELINE BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH AND OVER 70 MPH, CONCERNED THIS IS A SEVERE, UNSAFE, AND COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE OF MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME DEFINITION FROM OTHER LIBERTY OWNERS. *JB
DRIVING THE JEEP AROUND 20 MPH. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, BUT WOULD GO INTO PARK. I TURNED THE JEEP OFF, RESTARTED IT AND IT WENT INTO GEAR FOR ABOUT 30 FEET, THEN WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. IT WOULD MOVE AFTER A RESTART EVERY TIME, THEN STOP AGAIN VERY SHORTLY AFTER PUTTING IT INTO GEAR. HAD THE JEEP TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY FOUND NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND ARE NOW SAYING THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FILTER TO CLOG. *JB
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026