2008 Jeep Liberty Powertrain & Transmission Problems

We had a fire in the engine compartment. Fire started at the engine manifold ! We took pictures of the damage! This could have killed my son in law ! We gifted the vehicle to him so it could be used as a station vehicle. A dangerous situation Exist ! There is no recall or acknowledgment of this problem being identified!

ON 17 FEBRUARY, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I PLACED MY CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO AN AVAILABLE PARKING SPOT AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP ON ITS OWN AND SHOT THE CAR BACKWARD AT TOP SPEED HITTING AND TOPPLING A SAN DIEGO LIGHT POST AND STOPPING WHEN IT HIT A TREE. NO ONE WAS INJURED THANK GOODNESS. I FOUND ON LINE THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED AT LEAST 31 TIMES WITH A SIMILAR JEEP LIBERTY.

I HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH MY 08 JEEP LIBERTY. THE LOCKS RANDOMLY LOCK AND UNLOCK. WHEN I USE THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE TRANSMITTER, IT'LL UNLOCK THE DOORS SOMETIMES RIGHT AFTER OR AT SOME POINT WHEN PARKED. THE HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON AND GO OFF WHEN PARKED. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ALSO RANDOMLY ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT AND EVEN THROWS THE FRONT END OUT OF ALIGNMENT BECAUSE IT WILL BRAKE ONE WHEEL. I'VE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ENGAGING. ALSO, WHEN THE TRACTION/STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGES THERE'S A NOISE FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOLLOWED BY SMOKE AT WHATEVER WHEEL IT'S TRYING TO BRAKE. I TOOK IT INTO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED MY FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS AND THAT HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW DRAFT SHAFT, TIE RODS AND A COUPLE OTHER FRONT END PIECES. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE COMING FROM. IT'S A SCARY SITUATION DRIVING THIS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO MAKE IT WHERE I'M GOING BECAUSE THE STEERING CAN LOSE CONTROL BECAUSE OF THE TRACTION SYSTEM. ALSO, IT'S DEVELOPED A MAJOR LEAK IN THE HATCH AREA BY THE TOP PLASTIC PIECES WHERE IT RAINS AND THE BACK FLOOR LOOKS LIKE A SWIMMING POOL AFTER IT RAINS. I TOLD THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE YET TO TELL ME IF THEY FOUND OUT WHY IT'S LEAKING. I ALSO REPLACED THE BLOWER FAN AND RELAY FOR THE AC THINKING THAT IT WILL FIX AN ISSUE WHERE THE AIR IN THE VENTS ARE BARELY BLOWING. NO FIX. AC IS WEAK. THE HEAT WORKS BEST WHEN IN MOTION. HEAT WILL HEAT UP WHILE DRIVING AND I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING BOILED ALIVE. HAVE TO KEEP ON HIGH TO GET ANY AIR OUT OF THE VENTS, HOWEVER. THE TRANSMISSION IS CLUNKY SHIFTING AND THE FLUID HAS BEEN CHANGED. POWER STEERING IS DIFFICULT TO TURN.

ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND THEN TURNED OFF, IT WILL NOT START FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES UNTIL IT HAS COOLED OFF. IT IS NOT SHOWING ANY CODES,NOT OVERHEATING OR RUNNING HOT, SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2002 LIBERTIES AND NEWER. IT IS APPARENTLY AN ISSUE WITH A TRANSMISSION SHIFT MODULE BEING TOO CLOSE TO A HEAT SOURCE, AND IT CAN'T TELL THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK UNTIL THE ENGINE COOLS DOWN. IF YOU DRIVE IT AND LEAVE IT OFF FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE, BUT IF IT'S TURNED OFF MORE THAN 5 MINUTES IT TAKES BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START. IT STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO SO I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE. I CAN TURN IT OFF AND DO A REMOTE START WITH THE KEY AND IT WILL START BACK UP IF THE REMOTE START TIME HASN'T EXPIRED YET, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT TO BE ABLE TO START IT AGAIN.

THE FRONT AXLES OF THE JEEP ARE EXTREMELY HEAVILY CORRODED BEYOND ANYTHING I'VE EVER SEEN. THE STEEL IS EASILY REMOVED BY HAND AND THE AXLE NUT IS NO LONGER PRESENT. THIS AFFECTS BOTH SIDES BUT NO OTHER STEEL PARTS APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME CORROSION ISSUE. THE AXLES ARE THE ORIGINAL JEEP PARTS FROM THE FACTORY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING/POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE TRANSFER HEAT SHIELD DETACHED AND RUBBED AGAINST THE DRIVESHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V121000 (AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,232. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SUNROOF LEAK, THE HEAT SHIELD BRACKET RUSTED/BROKE AND CAME LOOSE FROM THE AUTO AND HIT THE DRIVE SHAFT, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT BLOW OUT ON THE CORRECT VENTS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF,

THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE ON MY 2008 JEEP LIBERTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS FULLY ENGAGED WITH THE JEEP IN NEUTRAL THE JEEP ROLLED BACKWARD AND STRUCK THE WALL CAUSING MINOR RIGHT FRONT FENDER DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY THE JEEP HIT THE WALL STOPPING IT FROM ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO TRAFFIC OR RUNNING OVER PEDESTRIANS. NOTE; THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2008 JEEP LIBERTY, CHRYSLER RECALL #H28 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION BUT NOT ON THE AUTOMATIC WHICH USES THE EXACT SAME PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE? EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT AND IF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD FAIL. THIS IS A VEHICLE SAFETY ALERT THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOLLOWED BY THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT (USUALLY AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN.) WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND WENT TO JEEP. THEY HAD OUR LIBERTY FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND SWAPPED OUT THE CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS TO "FIX" THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR AGAIN WAS ACTING UP WITHIN A MONTH OR SO, AND WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALER BACK TO BRING IT BACK IN THEY ADVISED US THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR WAS NOW EXPIRED. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THE CODES READ. IT WAS AGAIN CODE C121C, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CODES RELATING TO FAULTY CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. SINCE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. I REPLACED THE NEEDED PARTS AND THIS LASTED MAYBE 20 MILES, PRIOR TO THE LIGHTS COMING BACK ON. I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THEM A SECOND TIME THINKING I MAY HAVE GOTTEN A DEFECTIVE PART OR TWO, BUT IT WOUND UP BEING THE SAME END RESULT; ABOUT 10-20 MILES IN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM SHIFTING INTO OVER DRIVE, IT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING AT A NORMAL SPEED, AND ABOVE 50 MPH THE WHOLE VEHICLE WILL WILDLY SHUTTER WHEN YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS. JEEP WILL NOT WARRANTY THE DRIVE TERRAIN EVEN THOUGH THE STATE THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A 100K MILE WARRANTY ON THE DRIVE TERRAIN. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION PAN IS ROTTING OUT AND LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST , EVERY MORNING WHEN I LEAVE FOR WORK I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. WELL COME TO FIND OUT ITS BEEN RUSTING FOR A LONG TIME NOW SEEING I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS JEEP FOR TWO YEARS NOW , BUT I HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEM WITH THIS JEEP , JEEP TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T COVER RUST AND CORROSION . I FEEL ITS A MANUFACTURING BLEMISH , THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO STAND BEHIND . I AM AND AUTO INSPECTOR FOR LARGE AUTO AUCTION . BACK TO THE PAN , THE PAN IS PAINTED BUT RUSTING UNDER THE PAINT , WHICH MEANS IT WAS NOT PREP RIGHT FOR PAINTING , THE EXHAUST PIPE IS LESS THREE INCHES FROM THE PAN , EXHAUST CONVERTER ARE ON BOTH SIDE OF THE PAN WITH THE Y PIPE RIGHT BEHIND SO THERE IS EXTREME HEAT THERE. *TR

OCCASION 1. VEHICLE PARKED. LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, HORN SOUNDING, WASHERS SQUIRTING, DOOR LOCKS OPERATING. UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. TRAPPED INSIDE WITH 4 YEAR OLD GRANDSON FOR TEN MINUTES. IGNITION KEY INOPERABLE. FINALLY MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE IGNITION GOING, AND DROVE HOME. VEHICLE POWER FLUCTUATING CAUSING UNCONTROLLABLE POWER SURGES. OCCASION 2. VEHICLE APPROACHING JUNCTION AT 10 MPH. LIGHTS. HORN, WASHERS, DOORLOCKS OPERATING - PULLED VEHICLE OVER, UNABLE TO ENGAGE PARK, REMOVED KEY FROM IGNITION - VEHICLE ENGINE STILL RUNNING BUT MANAGED TO ENGAGE PARK, HOWEVER THEN COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF PARK. EXITED VEHICLE , ENGINE STILL RUNNING, LIGHTS, HORN ETC ACTUATING, AND COULD NOT RE-ENTER VEHICLE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON THIS WEBSITE AS WELL AS VARIOUS JEEP FORUMS. CONTACT WITH JEEP GIVES NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY SEE YOUR DEALER. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, NOT A SPURIOUS ONE OFF SPECIFIC VEHICLE FAULT AND COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN GIVEN THE LACK OF CONTROL YOU HAVE OVER BASIC VEHICLE POWERTRAIN AND DRIVEABILTIY FUNCTIONS. JEEP HAD ALREADY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY ONCE BEFORE FOR SAME FAULT. REMOVING BATTERY CONNECTIONS RESETS THE SYSTEM UNTIL THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS.THROWS ERROR CODE P0883 OCCASIONALLY WHEN IN THIS MALFUNCTIONING MODE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V121000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL SERVICE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V121000 (AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN , STRUCTURE) SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AFTER RUNNING FOR A SHORT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V121000 (AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN AND STRUCTURE) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE DAMAGE WAS NOT RELATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000. *TR

EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO TO FILL UP THE VEHICLE, IT SPEWS GAS ALL OVER THE PLACE (THE VEHICLE, ME, GROUND) IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU FILL IT UP, IT GOES ALL OVER EVERYTHING. ITS DANGEROUS AND VERY IRRITATING! I HATE THIS VEHICLE VERY MUCH, ITS AN EPIC FAIL OF A SUV! THEY DRIVE AWFUL AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS OFF ALL OF THE TIME! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V121000 (AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE), BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR

CHRYSLER SAFETY RECALL N10 / NHTSA 13V-121 UNDERBODY TRANSMISSION TUNNEL SHIELD MAY SEPARATE AND RUB DRIVESHAFT CAUSING DRIVESHAFT TO BREAK. IN TURN THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. ORIGINAL LETTER CONCERNING THE RECALL RECEIVED OVER THIRTY DAYS AGO. LETTER ADVISING THAT DEALERS HAVE PARTS AND TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT RECEIVED ONE WEEK AGO DEALER IN LEXINGTON, NC STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AND IS NOT SURE WHEN THEY WILL BE RECEIVED. VERY CONCERNED SINCE TEENAGE DAUGHTER DRIVES CAR EVERY DAY TO WORK AND SCHOOL. *TR

MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF FIRST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT FELT AS IF I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED. JEEP DEALERSHIP REPLACED FIRST AND SECOND GEAR SYNCHRO ON JANUARY 25, 2013. BY MAY 2013 THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY AND BY AUGUST ROUTINELY. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR ON AUGUST 15, 2013 AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE A WEEK AND CLAIMING THEY COULDN'T "REPLICATE THE PROBLEM." THEREAFTER, GEAR POPPING INCREASED TO THE POINT THAT I WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY TURN LEFT TURN AGAINST TRAFFIC OR MOVE FORWARD WHEN STOPPED ON AN INCLINE. ON DECEMBER 23, 2013, I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER JEEP DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH DURING WHICH TIME IT WAS DRIVEN 13 MILES AND A "COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC" PERFORMED, BUT ONCE AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO "REPLICATE." ON JANUARY 21, 2014, I PICKED IT UP ONLY TO HAVE IT VIOLENTLY POP OUT OF FIRST GEAR JUST TWO MILES FROM DEALERSHIP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE 23RD AND EVEN MORE VIOLENTLY THE AFTERNOON OF THE 24TH. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JANUARY 24, 2014 VIA AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC (I-25 IN DENVER, CO) THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED LEAVING MY HUSBAND UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR WHATSOEVER. AFTER SLAMMING IN 2ND GEAR WITH BRUTE FORCE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AT ALL FORCING HIM TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. AT THE SHOULDER, HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO PLACE INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE SIMPLY ROLLED BACKWARDS WITH NO ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP THIS EVENING (JANUARY 24, 2014) FOR REPAIR. CHRYSLER ISSUED A REVISED SERVICE BULLETIN # 21-001-10 IN APRIL 2010 CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT OF FIRST AND SECOND SYNCHRO; HOWEVER, I AM EXPERIENCING INCREASING PROBLEMS DESPITE THAT VERY REPAIR IN JANUARY 2013. THIS VEHICLE CANNOT BE SAFELY OPERATED. *TR

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM CHRYSLER REGARDING A RECALL STATING THAT "THE TRANSFER CASE HEAT SHIELD MAY DROP DOWN AND RUB ON THE DRIVE SHAFT, WEAKENING IT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO BREAK.". CHRYSLER'S RECALL LETTER FAILS TO MENTION WHAT IS OUTLINED IN THE NHTSA LETTER: THE FIRST POTENTIAL CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM THE ABOVE REFERENCED DEFECT: "IF THE DRIVE SHAFT BREAKS, A SECTION OF IT CAN STRIKE THE TRANSFER CASE TUNNEL WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT THE AIRBAG COMPUTER WILL BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS IN A CRASH AND THUS DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS.". I LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE 2008 JEEP LIBERTY OWNERS WITH ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION WHILE THEY "FIX" THE "PROBLEM". CUSTOMERS NEED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES AND CHRYSLER ONLY MENTIONS THIS THE TRANSFER CASE HEAT SHIELD MAY DROP DOWN AND RUB ON THE DRIVE SHAFT, WEAKENING IT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO BREAK. IN ADDITION, I SPOKE TO CHRYSLERS "RECALL HELP DESK" ABOUT WHETHER I SHOULD BE DRIVING MY JEEP OR NOT AND I WAS TOLD "YOU'VE BEEN DRIVING YOUR CAR FOR 53,000 MILES AND NOTHINGS HAPPENED SO PROBABLY NOTHING WILL HAPPEN BUT LET US KNOW IF IT DOES." HE SAID THAT THE "HEAD HONCHOS" WERE MEETING ABOUT THE FIX AS WE SPOKE. I ASKED HIM TO LET THE CEO KNOW THAT IF THEY REALLY CARED FOR CUSTOMER SAFETY THEY WOULD GET US RENTAL CARS AND THAT I WOULD TAKE THE CHEAPEST RENTAL ON THE MARKET. WOULD THE CEO OF CHRYSLER CONTINUE TO DRIVE A 2008 JEEP LIBERTY UNTIL THE FIX?? WOULD HE HAVE HIS SON, DAUGHTER OR WIFE DRIVE ONE IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION? . NHTSA IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, WHERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT TELLS 2008 JEEP OWNERS HOW MANY AND AT WHAT MILEAGE ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. I AM UNABLE TO EASILY ACCESS THIS INFORMATION ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND AM AN INTERMEDIATE COMPUTER USER. *TR

2008 JEEP LIBERTY, 4X2 WITH TOW - HAUL MODE, ON 2/12/2010 POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE (COMPLETELY BURNT) TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, SEIZED IN GEAR; I.E. DRIVING 45MPH = 4000RPM'S. WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. TOWING 9X12 U-HAUL TRAILER WITH LESS THEN 300 LBS IN UNIT. *TR