There are 16 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2003 Jeep Libertyin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY LUNGED FORWARD UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE INSTEAD ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO STOP, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED REV. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
WHILE TRAVELING ON DAMP PAVEMENT IN DAMP/MISTY (BUT NOT RAINY) CONDITIONS, ON A ROADWAY WITH A MODERATE UPHILL SLOPE AND GRADUAL LEFT CURVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOWN-SHIFTED FROM OVER-DRIVE DIRECTLY INTO 1ST GEAR. THE INCREASED TORQUE ON THE REAR WHEELS/TIRES CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSE REAR WHEEL TRACTION AND THE SUBSEQUENT COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE JEEP LIBERTY SPUN AROUND A TOTAL OF 540 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH OFF THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SOME DAMAGE. THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CRUISE CONTROL DOWNSHIFTING MULTIPLE GEARS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED ON MANY OTHER OCCASIONS IN THIS MODEL OF CAR, NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL DEPENDING ON ROADWAY CONDITIONS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES. HE ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL SO HARD THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER WAS SMOKING AND THE BACK TIRES WERE ALSO SPINNING BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOR TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY FOUR DEALERS. NONE OF THE DEALERS COULD DUPLICATE THE FAILURE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO REPAIR IT. THE JEEP MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND EACH TIME THEY GAVE HIM A DIFFERENT CLAIM NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,800.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKES. THE THROTTLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 03/30/11
I WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE I WAS PRESSING AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR LURCHED FAR ENOUGH FORWARD TO HIT THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO OCCURRENCES. THE FIRST WAS SIMILAR IN NATURE. I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AFTER HAVING THE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATED. I WAS COMING TO A STOP-THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED AND LURCHED UNEXPECTEDLY INTO THE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, NO OTHER CAR WAS PRESENT. AGAIN, I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I QUICKLY CHANGE TO NEUTRAL, WHERE THE ENGINE RAPIDLY REVVED TO OVER 6,000R PM'S. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I DID TO FINALLY MAKE IT STOP-TO FRIGHTENED TO REMEMBER!*JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED. HE CALLED A TOWING SERVICE THAT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK. THE TOWING SERVICE WAS ABLE TO FREE THE THROTTLE CABLE, AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING RT. 36 ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF ROARING SPRINGS, PA MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HAD NO BRAKING CONTROL. I SWERVED ACROSS THE 2 LANE HIGHWAY ONTO THE BERM, FOR FEAR OF HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL THAT I LATER FOUND TO BE A BROKEN TIE ROD ON THE RIGHT FRONT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN A CIRCULAR MANNER AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED AND WITH TWO FEET PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. I COULD NOT STOP. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A STONE EMBANKMENT AND FELL ABOUT 15 FEET AND FINALLY CAME TO REST ON A PLATEAU JUST ABOVE A CREEKBED. BECAUSE OF A MULTIPLICITY OF VERY LARGE STONES, EVERY PANEL OF THE JEEP LIBERTY WAS SEVERELY, WITH ONE EXCEPTION AND THAT WAS THE ROOF. MY WIFE AND I WERE SERIOUSLY AND HURT AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE THE CLOSEST TRAUMA CENTER, THE ALTOONA HOSPITAL. MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN BACK AND I WAS INTENSIVE CARE. THE STATE POLICE INTERVIEWED ME OVER THE PHONE WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND BECAUSE OF THE UNEXPLAINED NATURE OF THE ACCIDENT, DECIDED TO WRITE ME UP FOR EXCESSIVE SPEED. THEY ALSO CHARGED ME TWO POINTS ON MY LICENSE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY A USAA AUTHORIZED APPRAISER. I NEVER CONTACTED YOU, BUT I DID CONTACT USAA AND TOLD THEM SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS HAPPENED TO THAT VEHICLE. THE GREAT PUBLICITY OF THE RUNAWAY TOYOTAS MADE ME RECALL THIS INCIDENT. *TR
THREE CAR CRASHES SINCE OCTOBER 2004. ALL BETWEEN 5-15 MPH. ALL WHERE REAR-END COLLISIONS BY MY VEHICLE. DID NOT MAKE ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THREE ACCIDENTS UNTIL THE THIRD ACCIDENT YESTERDAY WHEN I REAR-ENDED A CAR. FROM A STOPPED POSITION I WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF CAR LENGTHS BEHIND A VEHICLE. THE CAR IN FRONT MOVED FORWARD BUT STOPPED, I DID THE SAME, BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. IN ALL THREE ACCIDENTS IT SEEMED MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I HAD ROOM FOR THE BRAKES TO PREVENT THESE ACCIDENTS. I CONSIDERED THE FIRST TWO ACCIDENTS UNAVOIDABLE UNTIL THE ACCIDENT YESTERDAY SO I DID NOT CONSIDER THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE FAILURE IN THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS. I'VE BECOME VERY AWARE OF TAIL GATING AND LEFT ROOM BETWEEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BEFORE OCTOBER 2004 I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT IN 15-20 YEARS. IN THE LAST 8 YEARS I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON I'VE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS.
MY HUSBAND WAS SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A WALGREEN PHARMACY DRIVE-THROUGH HE STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AS HE WAS LEAVING, AND QUICKLY LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO MAKE THE TURN TO GO AROUND THE BUILDING. HOWEVER, THE JEEP KEPT PICKING UP SPEED. HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, AND KEPT PRESSING ON THEM, BUT THE JEEP KEPT GOING FASTER, ONLY STOPPING WHEN IT JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A BRICK WALL. HE HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO REACT. THE DISTANCE FROM WHERE HE ACCELERATED TO THE BRICK WALL WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET. THE SKID MARKS STARTED AFTER HE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 14 FEET, AND WERE APPROXIMATELY 34 FEET LONG BEFORE HE HIT THE CURB. THERE WAS ANOTHER 2 FEET BETWEEN THE CURB AND THE WALL. IT DAMAGED THE BUMPER, TORE OFF RIGHT FRONT FENDER, CRUMPLED THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL, DAMAGED SOME OF THE LIGHTS, FLATTENED BOTH FRONT TIRES, AND BROKE THE RIGHT RIM. HE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND FILED A COMPLAINT. CHRYSLER SENT AN ENGINEER TO EXAMINE THE COLLISION , AND AFTERWARDS THEY SENT A LETTER DENYING OUR CLAIM. CAR WAS STILL SITTING AT DEALER WHERE IT WAS TOWED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ON I684 THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK AT 60 MPH, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I GOT OFF THE EXIT TRY TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR, WENT THROUGHT THE STOP SIGN, PULLED OVER AND HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF WHILE IN DRIVE TO STOP IT.*AK I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE 1 MORE YEAR LEFT ON THE LEASE AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT TAKE ME OUT OF THE LEASE.
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *NLM DEALER FOUND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LOOSE AND WITHOUT PRESSURE. DEALER REFASTEN LOOSE THROTTLE CABLE. *TT
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. *NLM
UPON SHIFTING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. CONSUMER TURNED IGNITION SWITCH OFF TO COME TO A STOP. *AK
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, AND IT SURGED FORWARD, ACCELERATING TO 50 MPH, HITTING OBJECTS IN FRONT UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WHILE CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
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