Jeep Liberty Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2002 to 2012, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Jeep Liberty model years through 2024, 2009 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2006 has the most (9). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Jeep Liberty: Key Facts

Model years with data
11 (2002–2012)
Distinct recall campaigns
30
Fewest recalls
2009 (0)
Most recalls
2006 (9)
Most recalled system
Suspension (17)

Jeep Liberty Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Jeep Liberty — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2002–2012
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2012 2 3 stars Air bags, Seats
2011 3 Not rated Air bags, Seats, Steering
2010 2 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic
2009 0 Not rated None on record
2008 4 Not rated Visibility, Parking brake, Structure
2007 6 Not rated Suspension, Electrical system, Power train
2006 9 Not rated Suspension, Electrical system, Power train
2005 5 Not rated Suspension, Power train, Structure
2004 7 Not rated Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment
2003 7 Not rated Air bags, Suspension, Structure
2002 8 Not rated Air bags, Suspension, Structure

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20122 recalls
  2. 20113 recalls
  3. 20102 recalls
  4. 20090 recalls
  5. 20084 recalls
  6. 20076 recalls
  7. 20069 recalls
  8. 20055 recalls
  9. 20047 recalls
  10. 20037 recalls
  11. 20028 recalls

Jeep Liberty: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Jeep Liberty recalls are suspension (17), air bags (8), structure (7), power train (4) and electrical system (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 1 of these 11 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Jeep Liberty Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Jeep Liberty?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2009 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Jeep Liberty model years have the most recalls?

2006 has the most, with 9 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Liberty", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy