2002-2007 Jeep Liberty: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Cargo room
- Off-road capability
Cons
- Fuel economy
- Wind noise/engine noise (higher speeds)
- Ride comfort
Vehicle Highlights
Serving as a replacement for the aged Cherokee, the new compact Liberty was a roomier SUV with a more sophisticated suspension and available curtain side airbags. Built with unibody construction, like the Cherokee, the four-door Liberty wagon rode a wheelbase about three inches longer, and measured seven inches longer overall. Width and height also grew, and the Liberty weighed about 400 pounds more than the Cherokee. A coil-spring front suspension replaced the Cherokee's solid-axle, leaf-spring setup. The Liberty's tailgate opened to left and held an outside-mounted spare tire. Sport and Limited trim levels were available. Equipped with a 150-horsepower four-cylinder engine, the Sport had contrasting-color body cladding. The Limited Edition had a monochromatic exterior and brushed metallic interior trim, as well as a new 210-hp, 3.7-liter V6 that was optional for the Sport. Four-cylinder models came only with a manual transmission, while the V6 got either manual or automatic. Liberty offered rear-wheel drive or a choice of two four-wheel-drive systems, both with low-range gearing. Jeep's Command-Trac 4WD must be disengaged on dry pavement; Selec-Trac 4WD can be left engaged at all times. Standard equipment includes 16-inch wheels and a 65/35 split/folding rear seat. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a sunroof were available. Curtain side airbags and antilock braking were optional. Liberty's 5000-pound towing capacity was tops among compact SUVs, This Jeep competed against the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Mazda Tribute. As a running change phased in during the 2002 model year, the ride height of all Libertys was lowered by about an inch. Jeep said the change was intended to improve stability in turns. A bolder-looking Renegade model joined the group during the 2002 season.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Jeep Liberty Sport Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 3 | |
| Fuel Economy | 3 | |
| Ride Quality | 3 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 4 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 7 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 43 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty.
Year to Year Changes
2003 Jeep Liberty:
Standard four-wheel disc brakes were the main 2003 addition to Jeep's midlevel SUV. Chrome 17-inch wheels were newly optional for the Limited Edition, in place of the Liberty's standard 16s. Sport, Renegade, and Limited Edition models were offered. Renegades had unique appearance features, including a roof light bar, "bolt-on-look" fender arches, and special alloy wheels. As before, the Liberty Sport came with a 150-horsepower four-cylinder engine. Optional on the Sport and standard on Limited and Renegade was a 210-horsepower V6.
2004 Jeep Liberty:
A tire-pressure monitor and hands-free cell phone were newly available in 2004. Sport models gained a standard CD player. All Liberty models could now maintain accessory power for 10 minutes after the key was removed from the ignition. New options included a rear cargo organizer, as well as the Uconnect feature, which used the Liberty's audio system as a hands-free wireless link to any cell phone in the vehicle.
2005 Jeep Liberty:
An available turbocharged diesel engine and two new transmissions highlight 2005 additions to Jeep's 4-dr compact SUV. All models get a modest styling update for '05, with Renegades gaining a flatter hood, taller grille, fender flares, and other specific touches. New options include satellite radio, navigation system, and Chrysler's UConnect, which uses the audio system as a hands-free, wireless link to cell phones.
2006 Jeep Liberty:
Jeep's 4-dr compact SUV gains an antiskid system for 2006, but drops its 4-cyl gas engine.
2007 Jeep Liberty:
Unavailable for 2007 is the 160-hp diesel 4-cyl offered for 2006.
Our road test for the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
About 85 percent of Libertys sold had the V6 engine. Top seller has been the V6/automatic-transmission 4WD Sport. Acceleration with the V6 is good off the line, but a Liberty can feel labored in highway merging or passing. A deep stab at the throttle is needed to coax the automatic to downshift two gears. Selec-Trac allows set-and-forget 4WD running, but requires initial driver activation. Most rivals have no-fuss all-wheel drive. Fuel economy falls short for a compact model. A 4WD Limited Edition averaged 14.8 mpg in mostly highway driving. In similar usage, a 4WD Sport managed 16.6 mpg. Liberty uses regular fuel. Ride quality could be better, too. The suspension is not overly firm on bumps, though big ruts and ripples mean a jiggly--but not uncomfortable--ride. Rocking-horse motions and annoying side-to-side swaying on uneven surfaces are reduced somewhat by the lowered ride height, but still noticed. Steering is not as responsive as that of a Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, or Mazda Tribute. In turns, grip and balance are good, but body lean remains pronounced, even with the reduced ride height. The Liberty's rack-and-pinion steering feels firm and accurate, but transmits too much kickback off-road. Brakes feel strong and have the added benefit of rear discs for 2003-04. The lowered suspension seems to reduce nosedive in quick stops. Liberty ranks best-in-class in terms of isolation from unpleasant body resonance. But the full-throttle exhaust note and high-speed wind rush are intrusive. Tires sing on coarse surfaces, and one test model's Selec-Trac emitted 4WD gear whine. Gauges are large and legible. Low-set audio and climate controls are a little far from the driver, but generously sized and clearly labeled. Door-mounted power-lock buttons are easily mistaken for power-window switches, which are inconveniently located on the center console. The new-for-2003 overhead console includes controls to customize such functions as which doors unlock with the first press of the remote key fob. Interiors have numerous padded surfaces and sturdy-feeling materials. Expect fine head and leg room up front. Seats set unusually high, and could use more lumbar and lateral support. The front passenger gets a narrow footwell. Head clearance is bountiful in the rear. Rear leg room is reasonable, but the footwell shape is uneven. You get good toe space under the front seat, though. Like the front, the back seat is unusually high, and has subpar thigh support. Step-in is higher than in an Escape or CR-V, but not excessive. Door openings are narrow. With the rear seat up, the cargo bay is wide and tall, but not long. Rear-seat sections easily fold in one motion, without removing headrests, but they don't lay flat. Folding the seatbacks exposes brackets on walls of the cargo bay that intrude into load space. The swing-open tailgate takes getting used to. Its window pops fully open via a remote key fob or a pull of the tailgate handle, but that convenience is undercut by an awkward reach into the cargo hold.
Value for the Money
Solid and capable, the Liberty was competitively priced when new. It's been the off-road leader among compact SUVs, which prompts our Best Buy rating. For better or worse, Jeep avoided making it as carlike as most rivals. That dictates some compromises in rear-seat comfort and on-road handling.
Solid and capable, the Liberty was competitively priced when new. It's been the off-road leader among compact SUVs, which prompts our Best Buy rating. For better or worse, Jeep avoided making it as carlike as most rivals. That dictates some compromises in rear-seat comfort and on-road handling.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Jeep Liberty Sport Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 3 | |
| Fuel Economy | 3 | |
| Ride Quality | 3 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 4 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 7 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 43 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Jeep Liberty includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Jeep Liberty .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Air conditioner:
Water leaks onto the passenger side floor requiring a new A/C evaporator drain hose. (2002)
Brakes:
Rear brakes moan on light application requiring anti-rattle strips. (2003-06)
Electrical problem:
Instrument panel lights flicker requiring replacement of the body control module. (2006-07)
Engine noise:
Snapping noise from 2.4L engine in the 600-1400 rpm range caused by camshaft bearing caps and is corrected by chamfering the caps. (2002-04)
Exhaust system:
After a short trip (about three minutes) to the gas station, the tank may be difficult to refuel because the emission system is pressurizing the system and installing a flow management valve fixes the problem. (2002)
Exhaust system:
Squeaks that seem to come from the front are often from the parking brake cables in the rear rubbing on their guides while a rattle from the front is probably coming from the exhaust crossover union on which the springs should be eliminated. (2002)
Fuel pump:
The engine my crank several seconds before starting due to loss of fuel pressure caused by a bad check valve in the fuel pump assembly. (2002)
Gauges:
Temperature gauge reads higher than normal on vehicles equipped with 2.8L turbo diesel engine when under load requiring reprogramming instrument cluster. (2005)
None:
The carpet in the cargo area wears out prematurely requiring replacement. (2002)
None:
Chirping noise under hood caused by serpentine drive belt secondary idle pulley which should be removed and a shorter belt installed. (2003-05)
Transmission problems:
Transmission may suffer delayed engagement after sitting overnight due to split in the filter in fluid cooler return line. (2005-06)
Transmission problems:
Transmission may suffer delayed engagement after sitting overnight due to split in the filter in fluid cooler return line. (2005-06)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $510 |
| Alternator | $640 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $1,950 |
| Brakes | $600 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $650 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $1,325 |
| Exhaust System | $375 |
| Radiator | $425 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $1,105 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $650 |
Our price chart for this generation Jeep Liberty details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 2007 | |||
| Liberty Limited | $13,800-15,500 | $12,600-14,100 | $8,300-9,300 |
| Liberty Sport | $12,200-14,000 | $11,000-12,600 | $6,800-7,800 |
| 2006 | |||
| Liberty Sport | $10,200-12,800 | $9,200-11,500 | $5,300-6,700 |
| Limited, Renegade | $11,600-14,500 | $10,400-13,100 | $6,400-8,000 |
| 2005 | |||
| Liberty Sport | $8,800-11,500 | $7,900-10,400 | $4,600-6,000 |
| Limited, Renegade | $10,200-13,000 | $9,200-11,700 | $5,300-6,800 |
| 2004 | |||
| Liberty Sport | $7,500-9,200 | $6,800-8,300 | $3,800-4,600 |
| Limited, Renegade | $8,800-10,300 | $7,900-9,300 | $4,600-5,400 |
| 2003 | |||
| Liberty Sport | $6,300-8,000 | $5,500-7,000 | $2,800-3,500 |
| Limited, Renegade | $7,500-9,000 | $6,800-8,100 | $3,800-4,500 |
| 2002 | |||
| Liberty Sport | $5,200-6,800 | $4,400-5,800 | $2,100-2,700 |
| Limited, Renegade | $6,300-7,800 | $5,500-6,900 | $2,800-3,400 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Jeep Liberty include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 4-door wagon | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 104.3 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 174.7 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 71.6 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 70.2 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3826 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 69.0 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.5 | |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 40.7 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 40.8 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 42.1 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 37.2 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Either a four-cylinder engine or a V6 could be installed. The dual-overhead-cam, 2.4-liter engine produced 150 horsepower, versus 210 hp for the 3.7-liter V6. Four-cylinder models came only with a five-speed manual transmission, while the V6 worked with either the manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. A Liberty may have front-wheel drive, or either of two four-wheel-drive systems. An available turbocharged 160-hp 4-cyl diesel engine and two new transmissions, a 6-speed manual paired with the 4-cyl gas engine and a 5-speed automatic paired with the 4-cyl turbodiesel engine, are new for 2005. Unavailable for 2007 is the 160-hp diesel 4-cyl offered for 2006.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohc V6 | 3.7 / 226 | 210 | 235 | 5-speed manual: 16/22 4-speed automatic: 16/20 |
5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: 14.8 |
| dohc I4 | 2.4 / 148 | 150 | 165 | 5-speed manual: 20/24 6-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: -- |
5-speed manual: -- 6-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: -- |
| Turbodiesel dohc I4 | 2.8 / 171 | 160 | 295 | 5-speed automatic: -- | 5-speed automatic: -- |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: USA
Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Jeep Liberty include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
2002 Liberty:
In the event of a crash, sharp edges on the power steering pressure hose bracket could cut the wiring and cause a short. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.
2002 Liberty:
The knee blocker trim panel on the driver's side may disengage and startle the driver. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.
2002-03 Liberty:
A loss of lubrication in the lower control arm ball joints could lead to corrosion, resulting in steering control loss. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.
2004 Liberty:
On 3.7-liter engines, the valve covers may interfere with the fuel injector and alternator wiring, resulting in possible fire. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.
2004 Liberty:
On vehicles with remote keyless entry, the software may malfunction and cause the door to continuously lock and unlock. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.
2004 Liberty w/3.7-liter engine:
Two valve cover studs may interfere with fuel injector and alternator wiring harnesses; damage could possibly result in underhood fire.
2005-06 Liberty w/42RLE automatic transmission:
Cup plug that retains park pawl anchor shaft may be improperly installed; if it changes position, vehicle may not be able to achieve "Park" position.
2006 Liberty:
An incorrect right front door latch reinforcement plate may have been installed, which may cause the secondary door latch to become inoperative, increasing the possibility of passengers being thrown from the car in a crash. Dealers will inspect the latch assembly and replace the right front door latch reinforcement plate free of charge.
2006-07 Liberty w/Valeo HVAC:
The blower motor may overheat. This could cause an interior fire. Dealers will replace the HVAC blower motor free of charge.
2007 Liberty w/automatic:
The powertrain control software can cause a momentary lock up of the drive wheels if the vehicle is traveling over 40 mph and the operator shifts from drive to neutral and back to drive. If the drive wheels locked up, loss of vehicle control could occur. Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module free of charge.
2007:
The antilock brake system control module software may cause the rear brakes to lock up during certain braking conditions. This could result in a loss of vehicle control and cause a crash without warning. Dealers will reprogram the ABS electronic control unit.
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