repaired · 2019 Q3
Suspension: rear
Risk. A fractured control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2005 Jeep LibertyProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,118 owner complaints about the 2005 Jeep Liberty, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-278 the manufacturer reports only 24% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Jeep Liberty has problems
1,118 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
262Suspension20 crash/fire/injury
192Fuel/propulsion system3 crash/fire/injury
184Fuel system, gasoline4 crash/fire/injury
137Structure4 crash/fire/injury
97Power train10 crash/fire/injury
80Visibility
61Steering
60Electrical system
43Engine and engine cooling
29423 other systems73 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 262 | 20 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 192 | 3 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 184 | 4 |
| Structure | 137 | 4 |
| Power train | 97 | 10 |
| Visibility | 80 | 0 |
| Steering | 61 | 14 |
| Electrical system | 60 | 8 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 43 | 4 |
| 23 other systems | 294 | 73 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2005 Jeep Liberty recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
no report yet
Suspension: rear
Risk. A FRACTURE OF THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAY LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
no report yet
Control arm: lower ball joint
Risk. WHEN THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION, THE CONTAMINATION CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLY SEPARATION FROM…
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Jeep.
Mileage at failure
When do suspension problems start?
89kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 178 suspension complaints. 57% were reported before 100,000 miles.
35under 30k miles101under 100k miles77100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Visibility
14 owners mentioned a cost$400median
Middle half: $320 – $400
Suspension
8 owners mentioned a cost$575median
Middle half: $487 – $1,388
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other Liberty year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Liberty median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Jeep Liberty safety ratings
2005 Jeep Liberty 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (21.9% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 Jeep Liberty, and the recalls they led to.
- FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT SEPARATIONLed to recall 06V-288
- Rear Suspension Control Arm FailureLed to recall 12V-085
- Crash Related Fuel Tank FiresLed to recall 13V-252
- DIESEL FUEL LEAKNo recall
- Rear Suspension Control Arm FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Liberty owners report
Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle was shaking erratically. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was…
I was driving on a bridge and my ball joint broke. Blew a hole through my tire and my rim and the fender flare blew off. I had had that same ball joint replaced approximately two years prior maybe sooner. I got this Jeep in 2017 and I have replaced the driver side ball joint twice the passenger…
About 6 months ago the passenger side front end to hit the ground, just after going 60 miles an hour thankfully turning in daughter's driveway. Lower ball joint passenger side came apart. On Monday doing 35 mph the driver side hits the pavement hard! Luckily I ditched in a driveway on the left! The…
Own a 2005 Liberty?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.