Overview & Reviews

Sold from 2002-'12, the Jeep Liberty was the successor to one of America's original compact SUVs, the Cherokee (which returned in 2014). True to its tough, capable Jeep lineage, the Liberty has considerable off-road capability, thanks to steep approach and departure angles and exceptional suspension travel and articulation. The Liberty was also rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds, a robust figure for its class. These are qualities not found in most other small utility vehicles from this time period, which saw the rise of crossover SUVs optimized for the suburban lifestyle.

Demerits for the Jeep Liberty include a weak engine lineup, with sluggish acceleration and dismal fuel economy from both the four-cylinder and V6 engines offered over the years (the first generation's briefly optional diesel engine is impressively fuel-efficient, however). Interior quality and comfort are also lacking, and by today's standards, the Liberty's general lack of refinement leaves much to be desired.

User Reviews:

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  Reliable - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By 2003 Liberty - March 20 - 2:00 pm

  Mom bought this car brand new in 2003, and I received it when she left the country in 2006. Overall, it has been reliable. Only major things I had to fix so far are the rear tailgate handle (pulled the handle, tailgate wouldnt open) & stock speakers started rattling and had to be replaced. Tailgate was EXPENSIVE to fix. Comfort-wise, I have started to notice some back discomfort after mid- to long-range trips, but otherwise leather seats are nice. Aesthetic-wise, the "abruptness" of the dash (or lack thereof) is a major detractor. It feels like you are sitting facing a wall, not a car dash. Gas mileage is downright awful. I average 17.5 with basic commuting.

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  1st time Jeep - 2009 Jeep Liberty
  By Car Buy Guy - March 18 - 11:53 am

  This is my first American car after many years of driving foreign. I feel very fortunate to have purchased a new vehicle during such hard times and decided to give the American car companies another chance. This is my first Jeep and so far I pretty impressed. Quality and workmanship have definitely improved but the amount of product has lessened. Metal and materials have taken a back seat to technology. One of the reasons I chose Jeep was for safety. A full frame,rear wheel drive,and superb styling brought some of the important basics back to an industry that has become "boring". Looking at other SUVs, they all looked and drove the same until I met Jeep. Its a buy recommendation for me..

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  Excellent Jeep - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By John P. McFall - March 13 - 6:23 am

  Mileage is better than I thought. Needs more cup holders in the front area. Cant find front hitch receiver for after market add on for the CRD. This upsets me. But the Jeep Liberty can park on a dime. Has lots of power and it will get good mileage if you drive decent.

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  Transmission problems - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By Cubs1021 - March 12 - 1:03 am

  I purchased my Livery when it was 2 years old. I loved it!!!! Very comfortable and fun to drive. At 58,000 miles, I began to experience transmission problems. The transmission slips constantly in damp and snowy weather and the check engine light comes on. Took it to the dealer 3 times and they still cant find the problem. Calls to the Jeep customer service have been useless. I am also having trouble with the rear passenger window going down. My warranty will expire soon and I am concerned I will be stuck with a huge repair bill. I love the looks and the comfort, but I will NEVER buy another Jeep vehicle. The gas mileage stinks as well. About 15 city. 18 hwy.

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  not too bad - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By jeepers - March 4 - 9:26 pm

  We too noticed right off the bat that the gas mileage was horrible: about 16 mpg average: we took our jeep to a great mechanic who laughed and said you need to understand that Chrysler uses crap parts: he started by lubing with amsoil synthetic, threw away crap spark plugs and installed Bosch Platinum +4s, nitrogen in the tires and now we average 25 mpg which is a great improvement. Dealership wanted $500.00 + to change spark plugs every 30k said would take 1 1/2 hour, they lied: mechanic showed me how easy it was, took 20 minutes and Bosch plugs are 100k mile plugs. Dont trust dealerships they steal your money.

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  love my Jeep - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By G. Carter - February 28 - 8:46 pm

  Ive had the Liberty for 1200 miles and so far really like it. Weve had 3 major snowstorms in Maine recently and the Jeep performed as though there was no snow on the roads. Its comfortable, handles nicely and forward visibility is great. I like that Jeep has removed the spare tire from the rear door which opens vertically with a pop up window. Theres plenty of space for storage when you fold down the rear seats and with my model the right front seat also folds flat for longer items. All in all its a great vehicle especially with all the incentives and financing available.

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  Windows - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By taurus84 - February 28 - 11:53 am

  I enjoy my Jeep but my only problem is the defect in the Windows! I bought my Jeep in 08 and the same year one of the Windows fell just the other day either the same or opposite rear window fell again. They just need to do a recall already!

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  Biggest Complaint, Gas Mileage - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By novarene - February 27 - 10:00 am

  Everything about this SUV is great. It is very maneuverable and short enough to park in tight spaces. Never had a problem with it that I didnt cause. I have it lifted 2.5" and I would definitely recommend lifting it, it looks way better and handles better. The only thing they could have done different is that they could have put a 4.0 or a V8 in it because the 3.7 is a little small for the Libertys weight. I would say if they had matched the engine with the weight the Lib would get far better mileage. This is a great SUV that can handle just about anything you through at it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone used, but you have to get a mechanic to look at it beforehand.

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  So far so good - 2010 Jeep Liberty
  By Laura - February 27 - 10:00 am

  I previously owned a Chrysler PT Cruiser. Living in the upper Midwest I want a 4WD, taller truck-based SUV. My cruiser was just getting beat up during winter because it sits low. So far I enjoy the Liberty. The ride is smooth and comfortable. Cons-I live in a pretty windy area and compared to my cruiser or other vehicles I have driven, I notice the wind noise is rather loud when all windows are closed. I have to turn the radio up pretty high, just for me personally the outside noise can be a bit annoying.

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  More weight same engine - 2009 Jeep Liberty
  By rkr - February 23 - 8:43 pm

  The car is very comfortable in terms of driving, with a better chassis and suspension. Handling is also very controlled and easy for such a heavy SUV. The engine on the other hand is very slow, and the car feels like it drags even when you are flooring it. In terms of fuel economy, it is not the best either. Some exterior details are overdone, and back end looks somewhat squished (done for ground clearance)