2012 Jeep Liberty Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 44about this part
- Share
- 11%of 385 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,700miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 44 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Jeep Liberty, 11% of the 385 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,700 miles. 7 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“After driving the vehicle to my destination and shutting it off. It will not restart when I go to drive it to the next location .this has happened numerous times. It has left me stranded a couple times. While driving the vehicle to a location the headlights seem to dim on their own. After having a mechanic look at it. I was told it was the tipm causing the issues.”
NHTSA complaint #11194593, filed 2019-04, 136,800 miles“I have owned the vehicle for about 10 months three times in the last 3 months while accelerating the accelerator has become locked at full throttle. I pounded the floor frantically to get it to release or become unstuck while applying the brakes. Fortunately I haven't killed anyone or been killed myself. This is a serious issue I'm deeply concerned about even driving the vehicle. What can I do.”
NHTSA complaint #11112347, filed 2018-07, 83,000 miles“Jeep died while driving on the dash it said no fuse then my battery died also my alternator I still haven't been able to fix it because I don't know where to look we took it to a mechanic and he replaced the alternator 5 times and still has issues”
NHTSA complaint #11387181, filed 2021-01, 130,000 miles“On 3 different occasions, first one driving on 95 from new york on december 3, 2014, I put on cruise control and car accelerated out of my control, brakes didn't work and I had to cross over lanes and tried everything to stop car, drove in to a ditch and car died, wouldn't restart for hours. …”
NHTSA complaint #10704102, filed 2015-04, 21,000 miles“Traveling last night and the lights went up, down then out for almost 20 seconds and doing 40 MPH is scary. The lights finally came on but then they dim up and down. Before this last week the cruise control would not disengage. I never know what's going to happen when I drive this vehicle and the worst thing is taking it out at night and having the lights go out. This week was the forth time that has happened thank god it happened on a lighted road but I still had no brake lights. All times this has happened I've been on interstate highways and traveling at night”
NHTSA complaint #11353847, filed 2020-09, 88,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10128948Feb 6, 2013Gasoline Engine Diagnostic Inspection Procedure This bulletin provides a procedure to determine repair versus replacement of a gasoline long block engine assembly. This procedure…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 44 | 11% |
| 2011 | 22 | 12% |
| 2010 | 20 | 10% |
| 2009 | 7 | 6% |
| 2008 | 31 | 6% |
| 2007 | 16 | 2% |
| 2006 | 30 | 2% |
| 2005 | 30 | 3% |
| 2004 | 32 | 3% |
| 2003 | 25 | 2% |
| 2002 | 74 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2012 Jeep Liberty
169 complaintsElectrical system
117 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
34 complaintsOther or unknown
31 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaintsExterior lighting
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
18 complaintsSeats
16 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsElectronic stability control
10 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Jeep Liberty
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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