Jeep Liberty questions

DaninKansas · Mar 26, 2014

I've decided that its time to buy a 4X4 SUV and for what ever reason it appears the Liberty might be the way I go. Is there anything to be aware of (or scared of) on them? I like the fact that they have a tradition 4X4 set up (2WD Hi, 4WD Hi, and 4WD Lo).

Is it just me or do they appear to be more resistant to rust - even the older ones with trashed interiors have pretty decent bodies with out much paint damage.

I've seen a couple that have 2WD high, 4WD Part time, 4WD Full time and 4WD Lo. If I understand it correctly 4WD "full time" is set up for driving all the time in 4WD - but after reading (if I understand it correctly) it sounds like a gimmick that is worse than a regular 2WD (front or rear). The way I read it "Full Time" turns the transfer case into an open differential - sending power to either front or back or possibly both if perfectly balanced. The issue is that with most open differentials power goes to the wheels with the least resistance. So if you have it in 4WD "full time" it would seem the tire (or tires if it has locking axles) that will spin the easiest will be the ones getting all the power - to me that is hardly "4 wheel drive" if you could be down to one tire spinning on a 4X4 set up and it will be the tire with the least traction.

in-too-deep · Mar 26, 2014

We have an '06 Grand Cherokee with the full-time/automatic whatever. Don't like it much. When you need 4 whl drive it makes some strange noises and engages the front wheels. I don't know about how the differentials work, though. I would much rather have control over the transfer case instead of some computer telling it to lock up as the rear wheels are spinning. Something's bound to go wrong.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2014

My daughter has a Grand Cheroke with that strange setup, no trouble over 200,000 miles and I have a '79 Ford full time 4X4 that I like. The only time I have to lock it is if I am using low range.

hd6gtom · Mar 26, 2014

Dan we have sold lots of them. Don't have much trouble with the 4X4's in them. In Iowa with all the salt they rust just like anything else. They are sorta light, the ride might be kind of rough. Make sure you drive them in a hilly area if you can. Some of the motors tend to be really underpowered and I cant remember which of the motors it is. If you are a younger fellow you might be ok with the ride, as an older guy, I prefer the ride of a Trailblazer or Durango. Good Luck and Happy hunting.

Mike M · Mar 26, 2014

Guy at work has one and likes it. Know another person who like hers. Gas mileage is not all that good on them is why we shy away from one. Plus the questionable Chrysler quality.
Our family has 6 Honda CRV's 99,00,01,03,08,12 model years. So far all have been among the most trouble free cars we have ever owned ! Gas mileage is decent on them too.
So I'd say if you want a small SUV look no farther then a Honda CRV ! well you might be alright with a Toyota RAV4.

chevytaHOE5674 · Mar 26, 2014

My wife has one. Personally I dislike it with a passion.

It is rusted just the same as anything else. It seems to eat brakes for whatever reason (4 sets in 130k miles). At 125k the pinion bearings in the rear axle destroyed themselves and left us stranded on the side of the road (dealership said "o'yeah that's common). The ride is choppy and bumpy. Worst part is it gets about the same fuel economy as a fullsize pickup or SUV (20mph on the highway at 55mph going downhill with a wind, about 12-14 around town).

In the snow and slush it is terrible because it is light weight and has a very short wheelbase. It gets tossed around like a rag doll. In the hundreds of thousands of miles I've driven the liberty still remains the only vehicle that I've done multiple 360's in and put in the ditch on two occasions.

She used to use it to commute to work because she thought she needed 4x4 for winter time driving. I bought a little FWD car and put snow tires on it and now she drives that year around and says she prefers it to the liberty in the bad roads.

If it was up to me it would find a new home.

just another old geezer · Mar 26, 2014

I have one with the four-wheel-drive set up that you speak of. As I understand from the dealer this is designed for you to basically Put it in 4 wheel drive in September and leave it there until April. It's not as good as a 4x4 part time but it's usable under all conditions. So this would be great for if you have a wife who's mechanically challenged, you can simply put it in 4 wheel drive and leave it there for the winter for her. it's also nice when you are in an area where you have basically good conditions but with occasional slippery spots and stretches you're not constantly shifting in and out of 4 wheel drive.P. S. I love my 2005 Liberty diesel.

Kenneth R Ohnstad · Mar 26, 2014

They are junk. (I mean that in the nicest way)
K

Wile E · Mar 26, 2014

My wife had one a few years back, On a lease.
I ditto all that ChevyTaHoe says, Gas mileage was 21MPG, for a small truck, crappy.
It was a rough ride from what I remember, we turned it in in 2008 I think.

DaninKansas · Mar 26, 2014

Lots of salt in Kansas too. I also see lots of pickups 6-8 years old with rusted out cab corners and rear fender wells but I haven't seen one Liberty with "rust through" yet.

Most have the 3.7 V6 and a few have a 4 cylinder - I wouldn't think of buying one of those.

Tony Vidlak · Mar 26, 2014

I have an 02 Liberty
I bought it in 07 with 40,000 miles
it now has 81,000 I"ve never done anything to it besides regular oil changes. It gets around great in the snow. Gas mileage is not that good 12 - 14 mpg in town 18-20 highway.

chevytaHOE5674 · Mar 26, 2014

(quoted from post at 14:07:37 03/26/14) I haven't seen one Liberty with "rust through" yet.

Then you haven't looked hard enough. The rocker panels rust through just like everything else. Reason you don't see rusted fender wells and corners is they are all covered up in plastic, so the metal rusts out behind but the plastic hides it all.

Also around the 3rd brake light on the back the screw bosses that hold the light in are known to rust off. That means that there is nothing to hold the light so water leaks into the headliner and cargo area. The fix is either a new roof or do like I did and silicon seal the light in.

I wouldn't wish a Jeep liberty on my worst enemy.

55deere70 · Mar 26, 2014

My wife and I tried one out at a dealer a few years back...It rode terrible, the doors were very small, and the V6 seemed to have a lot of engine noise. We didn't like it at all.

showcrop · Mar 26, 2014

Consumer reports just released that Jeep Cherokee has the highest cost of ownership of any regular production car, so I would expect the Liberty to be high as well

DaninKansas · Mar 27, 2014

I've driven a couple. I was shocked at the difference between a "sport" and a "Limited". The sport is very "twitchy" and just seemed unstable. The Limited with a bigger tires drove much more "normal".

chevytaHOE5674 · Mar 27, 2014

Despite all the warnings against them and troubles with them you already seem to be set on buying a Liberty so in that case best of luck to you.

As my dad used to say "there's a sucker born every minute"

johndeerefan · Mar 27, 2014

I have a liberty limited I purchased new in 05. For the most part it is built like a tank. Everyone here says they are light, but I strongly disagree. For the wheelbase size, it is very heavy. You are correct about the full time 4x4 description. Only use the part time when off road in the mud. Never Never use part time on the highway under any circumstances for any length of time.

The worst part about a Jeep is the 4 speed transmission. To put it lightly, they are junk. The trans shop said I was one of the very few to get 150,000 miles on one. He said most are under 100,000 miles. You can search the web for all the Chrysler issues with it. Also, the universal joints go out rather often. That isn't a major cost item, but it is something that needs to be fixed. Most Jeeps have torque converter shutter. It vibrates at low rpm when in overdrive going up hill. You learn to live with it and just mash the pedal to force it to downshift.

Besides the tranny and the u-joints, they really are a solid vehicle. Only thing that stinks on a regular basis is the 18 mpg fuel mileage. They do ride on the rougher side. This is to be expected as they are trail rated with stiffer shocks. I have always driven sports cars with stiff suspension, so I never really pay attention to it. It does not ride anywhere near as smooth as all the other SUVs.

Tony Vidlak · Mar 27, 2014

Tahoe ,Why you have to be like that? Apparently you don't like Libertys. So you have to tell the man there's a sucker born everyday. Maybe you got a lemon I didn't mines been a very good dependable car. So why do you find it fit to call this man a sucker because he wants to buy a Liberty. What are you 14 or 15 years old?

showcrop · Mar 27, 2014

(quoted from post at 17:28:27 03/27/14) Tahoe ,Why you have to be like that? Apparently you don't like Libertys. So you have to tell the man there's a sucker born everyday. Maybe you got a lemon I didn't mines been a very good dependable car. So why do you find it fit to call this man a sucker because he wants to buy a Liberty. What are you 14 or 15 years old?

He is apparently not old enough yet to know how to earn people's respect.

chevytaHOE5674 · Mar 27, 2014

You guys are too funny. Life is too short to take meaningless things on the internet so seriously.

showcrop · Mar 27, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:09:11 03/27/14) You guys are too funny. Life is too short to take meaningless things on the internet so seriously.

Now that's more like it. now you are sounding more like a good ole' boy.

T in NE · Mar 27, 2014

I've got a 24 yr old Isuzu Amigo that will get 22+ on the highway at 65 MPH, on 31 inch tires.

It does better when I take the hard top off it in summer, too.

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