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Jeep Liberty: Problems & Solutions
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Comments
Only problem (this is a problem column) has been a squeaky turn signal multi function switch. They replaced it but it still squeaks very slightly on left turns. If this is all I will have to deal with I'm happy. It sure beats 3 valve jobs on a Toyotal corolla I had in the past.
P.S. I love this vehicle! It handles and rides much better than the '97 Grand Cherokee Laredo I traded in.
I took my Liberty in for an oil change and to have the part replaced that was ordered (the front left strut/shock absorber.) Very pleased: no more rattle! Quiet ride and great drive!
9000 miles and still loving my Liberty!
All you naysayers are right though, it doesn't get the best mileage. BUT that's because it isn't some 4 banger, little car with a lift kit (CRV etc.)that bogs down when 4 people pile in. Amazingly enough it will tow the same about as a F-150. Yeah, it also doesn't corner as well as a sports car through a shortened slalom and higher speed. Amazing statistic isn't it? I bought it because nothing out there matches it's capability, headroom, trailer tow capacity, value (heated seats and a $1000 of accessories for $25k) or the fact that looks better than anything out there. Talk about a Home Run Vehicle.
----gypsy---
I don't have a Liberty (my aunt & uncle do - so I check in on this forum.)
I had a similar experience with my 92 Continental. I went to a local tire shop to replace all of the tires. They did and said that one of them needed a lot of "weight" on the rim to make it balance correctly - he suggested that the rim might be bent.
I then proceeded to another business to have a 4-wheel alignment done - since the car was pulling to the right. After the alignment - I noticed that the "PULL" to the right was STILL THERE! I went directly to the tire shop and they rotated front to back and PRESTO - the Pull was gone.
Well, I could never put that tire on the front, because of the "bent rim."
25,000 miles later I began to notice a shimmy at higher speeds (during passing or interstate travel) and during braking (thought my rotors were going.)
Took it to the tire shop and finally realized that the tire was the problem since the beginning. It must have been made with a bad belt, because it had actually worn low and high spots on the tread. (The rim was almost perfect when we balanced it alone.)
So, my guess is a tire with a bad belt - but who knows... I would definitely get it checked out again. (don't wait as long as I did.)
60----21MPG
65----20MPG
75----18MPG
I think that it gets great mileage, especially for a heavy duty truck motor.
I know it sounds ridiculous.
Maybe this is worth a shot.
Hope I could help.
Let me know if that was it
It might be worth a shot to check the lugs to make sure the tire is secure, and nothing is touching the door.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to pin point just where the noise is coming from when in the driver's seat. Your dealer can surely pull up information on his computer that will reveal problems that other owners (anywhere in the Chrysler network)have had repaired. For example, the strut replacement on my Liberty is documented on their database. This can be helpful for a service manager to view and give himself/herself some insight as to what to look for. Remember...we are the first generation of Liberty owners and they are still a mystery to the mechanics.
We have had many vehicles throughout our years as we are in our early 50's, including 2 Mercedes, and my wife seems to love the quality and "feel" of her Liberty more than any of the previous vehicles. I get to drive it to the dealer for service work.
If you want to really turn some heads, add the chrome front grill for $150. SHARP!
I love the styling of the new Liberty. The thing looks great. Maybe I'm biased as a Nissan salesman, but there's a few reasons i would never buy one...
A. The gas tank is right behind the rear bumper. Can you say Pinto? There's a reason the spare is on the back door.
B. The air intake is right above the grill, and just under the hood. There is nothing to stop rain from coming in.
C. Autoweek got it to roll over twice in a regular slalom test.
If Jeep would take care of those problems and prove the reliability, they would have so much more market share. After all, its a great looking vehicle with a great peppy engine.
Just my two cents.
Sid
-Actually, it's not. It sits farther up. Also, if you get hit from behind in a car, you will hit the bumper and not the gas tank. If you get hit from a Chevy Suburban from behind, then I'm sure the tail gate will cave in, like the results of the crash test. Not an explosion.
B. The air intake is right above the grill, and just under the hood. There is nothing to stop rain from coming in.
-Funny, but it's rated to be able to go through 20 inches of water.
C. Autoweek got it to roll over twice in a regular slalom test.
-Autoweek subjected the Liberty to a "car" test. It's not a car, it's a truck. Drive it like a truck, and you won't flip over.
Of course your Nissan salesman is going to tell you these things. He wants you to buy a Nissan. He'll use anything he can to keep you in the showroom, that's his job. Purchase what you want, and hope your happy with it.
I love this vehicle. I also realize it's not the same as driving the Pontiac Grand Prix I traded in for the Liberty. So, I can't drive it as though it's a car, or it will roll over. I don't need some magazine to tell me that.
It is a truck. That's why I bought the Liberty.
I have taken it to the service dept. but they can not find any problems with it. At least none that registered in their computers.
I have had my jeep since august 2001 and have experienced this at least 6 times.
Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Handle like a Kenworth...
Feel Cheaper than Daewoo...
Have the room of a Civic...
The roof rack capacity of a Civic (150lbs even with the huge tubing...)
To fold the rear seat down you have to dispose of the bottom cusion (which is 4 oz of foam for the entire cusion!...)
For the money you spend, you get much much more with the Liberty...
Jeep People are nicer, friendlier people...
Owning a Jeep really is something special...
Stying of the Xterra is "awful and cheap looking"...
I am a Jeep salesman who just bought a Liberty for my wife.
The air cleaner is designed to work even when it is full of water. There are drainage holes in the bottom under the filter to allow excess water to drain.
1. Xterras ride like a tank...
They may ride a bit stiff, but that's because they are a truck. Its designed to be an off road vehicle. Thats why skid plates are standard, not and option.
2. Have the room of a Civic...
Wow. Thats a tough one. Let me see, last time i checked, Xterras have about 20 more cubic feet of cargo space than a Liberty. You won't even need to fold the seats down, most likely. If the Xterra is a Civic, the Liberty is a Yugo.
3. Owning a Jeep really is something special....
I hope you guys give a tour of the service department at delivery. Because thats where you will be. You dont see a message board called "Xterra problems" with 235 posts. Consumer Reports never said, and I quote, "Reliability is among the worst we've ever seen," about a Nissan. I guess its special if you make friends with a service advisor. I guess the "cheaper than Daewoo" Xterras hold up a little better.
But, when you're not at the service department, or rolling over, or thinking about whether or not your truck will blow up if you get rear-ended, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Jeep has a very loyal customer base. People who buy one Jeep after another do so for a reason. And that reason isn't because they like going to the Service Department. It's because Jeeps are special.
Sounds as though you had a bad experience with a Jeep. Could it be that you simply don't know how to take care of a vehicle? You pound it and pound it, then wonder why it breaks down?
I find it humorous that you claim Nissan (LOL Nissan!!!) is a more reliable car or SUV than a Jeep. I had the misfortune of owning a Nissan once. Worst car I've ever owned. I vowed to never drive a Nissan product again. It was in the shop more than on the road.
Your "Liberty is a Yugo" comment simply reveals you as someone who doesn't know what you're talking about.
Comparing a Nissan to a Jeep is like comparing Mario Mendoza to Mickey Mantle. Compared to a Nissan, the Jeep is head and shoulders better and much more reliable.
Reliability is one thing you mentioned that is really funny. I really can't tell you how many Jeeps I have seen with 100,200,300,400 thousand miles of hard...let me change that...sever work. They just keep going. You are talking to the wrong guy about reliability. Now, I am not knocking Nissan. I am a Pathfinder fan somewhat, in fact it is the only SUV that beats the Grand Cherokee in reliability (JD Power).
Keep your Daewoo/Kia looking, cheesy cheap Hyundai Santa Fe wanna-be X-terra. I'll stick with decades of experience and 200,000 miles from now we'll talk.
THE JGC can be hardly considered one of the most reliable SUV's.
I have been told by the dealership that the work was being held up by the inability of Daimler Chrysler to supply the proper documentation to order the parts. Apparently in the parts manual there are some parts missing/or not shown that were needed to repair the vehicle according to the auto body service people. In addition to the problems blamed on Daimler Chrysler, there is the problem of dealer. I have been lied to by the dealership about the fact that the parts were all in and ready to install and this was three weeks ago. At that time they were waiting for only a fog light they said.
I have spoken to the people that are jokingly referred to as Daimler Chrysler CUSTOMER SERVICE people to no avail. The first person I spoke to "investigated" and found "the part" was on order and that was all he had to say about that other than there was a "reorganization" of parts suppliers over the holidays, and that might be one of the causes of the delay. It didn't matter apparently that the dealership had LIED to me and probably still is about the parts for the vehicle. I felt that I received the brush off from this man. His response regarding the service from the DAIMLERCHRYSLER dealer was that I should "take it up with the dealer".
Daimler Chrysler has since said that they don't have enough parts available for this vehicle. I have never been told that by the dealership though.
I have found that contrary to the high-faluting stuff V.P. of Sales and Service Patrick Dougherty writes in the Daimler Chrysler "OWNERSHIP PORTFOLIO" such as "customer service should be based on integrity, respect, and commitment", and "your neighborhood Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep dealer is dedicated to serving you EXPERTLY AND EFFICIENTLY", actual service and satisfaction from Daimler Chrysler and their representatives is nonexistant.
I have also experienced a number the skidding that has been talked about in the other threads on wet and dry. As well, the front left strut was replaced. There was a sort of rattle that seemed to be under the dash/winshield that signaled this.
Rob Simmons
I had a 1999 CR-V, liked it until I tried to use it for hauling the first time. With 2 adults and the back loaded with TV, clothes, and misc college stuff the Honda groaned the whole 200 miles to my son's campus. Next trip I took was with 4 friends for a day of clothes shopping. Same problem. And yes I did take it out of overdrive. I have never heard an engine complain so much.
I traded it for a 2002 Jeep Liberty. No more problem.
I wanted a truck-based SUV, so I purchased the Jeep Liberty. I'll let the soccer moms drive the CR-V and take their precious little kiddies on picnics. I'll stick with Jeep.