2003 Jeep Liberty Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 64about this part
- Share
- 5%of 1,352 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 34,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 64 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Jeep Liberty, 5% of the 1,352 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 34,500 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Vehicle will not move in any direction except reverse. We drove to a store and when reversing out of parking spot, the vehicle seized in reverse and wouldn't shift to drive initially. We managed to drive home and pulled into driveway. When we went into reverse to adjust vehicle position, it wouldn't move when we shifted to drive. We had to drive car in reverse around our loop in order to park car. We just had to have car towed to repair shop and are now waiting to find out cost to repair. …”
NHTSA complaint #11128269, filed 2018-09, 123,000 miles“Parking brake failure while loading my boat nearly cost my son and myself our lives. Backed truck and trailer onto ramp to load boat. Noticed the truck slipping on the ramp and suddenly rolled off the ramp hitting my boat and my son had to crawl out the door and swim for safety. He is six years old. Vehicle was not running with the transmission in gear and the parking brake engaged.”
NHTSA complaint #10227430, filed 2008-05, 26,751 miles“I am the second owner of this vehicle, when I acquired it, I had it serviced at the dealership and they preformed all recall work. It has been kept serviced and up to date on any recall work since. During the day on christmas eve 2019 I was returning home from a visit at my mother's home and suddenly lost control of the Jeep. There was loud noise and things breaking off the vehicle as I fought to control it and pull over. Upon inspection, saw the passenger side front wheel had come loose from the suspension, tore off the fender wheel well and broke a piece off the right-side running board. …”
NHTSA complaint #11320572, filed 2020-04, 182,000 miles“While I was driving westbound on washington avenue approaching main street the transmission began slipping. Upon closer examination I discovered the transmission fluid was leaking along the fresh fallen snow behind me.”
NHTSA complaint #10556410, filed 2013-12, 53,196 miles“Takata recall I am steadily burning through front drive shaft assemblies where it goes into the transfer case. The bearing head keeps failing by throwing the bearings through the assembly, I have owed the vehicle for 2 years and have replaced it twice with the same parts failing. The part seems to just go with no warning and when the assembly comes apart it would leave the front shaft spinning since the Jeep has full time locked hubs which could cause it to go through the floorboard or send bullet type projectiles through the assembly metal which could damage other components”
NHTSA complaint #11052880, filed 2017-12, 135,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10220471Feb 22, 2021Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
- 10021239Aug 25, 2006Powertrain control module initialization.
- 10017000Sep 1, 200545rfe/545rfe trans - delayed engagement due to cooler return filter replacement.
- 10013731Mar 2, 2005Powertrain control module initialization.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 34 | 9% |
| 2011 | 10 | 6% |
| 2010 | 12 | 6% |
| 2009 | 3 | 3% |
| 2008 | 30 | 6% |
| 2007 | 40 | 6% |
| 2006 | 76 | 6% |
| 2005 | 97 | 9% |
| 2004 | 52 | 5% |
| 2003 | 64 | 5% |
| 2002 | 84 | 5% |
| 2000 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2003 Jeep Liberty
437 complaintsAir bags
392 complaintsFuel system
172 complaintsBody and structure
111 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
97 complaintsElectrical system
72 complaintsSteering
52 complaintsBrakes
49 complaintsEngine cooling
42 complaintsSeat belts
36 complaintsExterior lighting
32 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Jeep Liberty
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology