2008 Jeep Liberty Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 6%of 541 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Jeep Liberty, 6% of the 541 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 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.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11402870, filed 2021-03, 109,000 miles“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!”
NHTSA complaint #10515463, filed 2013-06, 59,000 miles“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 . …”
NHTSA complaint #10629685, filed 2014-08, 80,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11154341, filed 2018-11, 172,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10561425, filed 2014-01, 89,180 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10221097Apr 7, 2021Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during…
- 10220471Feb 22, 2021Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
- 10221831Aug 19, 2020(Revision A) No Start No Crank ? Starter Will Not Engage And There Are No Related Codes Or Concerns
- 10180221Aug 19, 2020(Revision A) No Start No Crank ? Starter Will Not Engage And There Are No Related Codes Or Concerns
- 10215825Apr 4, 2013Some of the above vehicles may experience a condition where the underbody transmission tunnel shield may partially separate from the vehicle floor pan and contact the aluminum…
- 10188658Apr 4, 2013Some of the above vehicles may experience a condition where the underbody transmission tunnel shield may partially separate from the vehicle floor pan and contact the aluminum…
- 10034229Apr 20, 2010Jeep: manual transmission pops out of gear. The transmission pops out of first gear while accelerating. The condition, may occur intermittently and may be difficult to diagnose…
- 10026168Jul 12, 2008Chrysler/dodge/jeep: flash:diagnostic trouble code, dtc p0740 or p1798 and automatic transmission shift improvements 1-2 or 2-3 cold shift improvements.
- 10025149Jun 24, 2008Flash: torque converter shudder or high cabin temperatures on start-up.
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 2008 Jeep Liberty
156 complaintsElectrical system
124 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
86 complaintsBody and structure
85 complaintsOther or unknown
54 complaintsAir bags
43 complaintsEngine
31 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsExterior lighting
22 complaintsSuspension
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaintsElectronic stability control
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 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