Is the 2004 Jeep Liberty a bad year?
1,099 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Liberty years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2004 Jeep Liberty are in line with other Liberty years. Suspension, visibility and wipers, fuel system and 1 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Liberty owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 53,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 455 (41%) | 35k–106k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 121 (11%) | 47k–88k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 186 (17%) | 98k–133k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 128 (12%) | 95k–142k miles · ahead | — |
| Steering | 54 (5%) | 40k–145k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 52 (5%) | 26k–97k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 40 (4%) | 52k–101k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 38 (3%) | 26k–134k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 37 (3%) | 35k–129k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Latches and locks | 25 (2%) | 31k–88k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 20 (2%) | 16k–67k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Tires | 20 (2%) | 18k–56k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Equipment | 10 (1%) | 34k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 79 (7%) | 72k–131k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 53,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,099 complaints: 85 mention a crash · 39 mention a fire · 52 report an injury · 21 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was driving to work and my car started smoking under the hood and the exhaust was coming into the cabin. When I looked under the car, oil was pouring out of it.
We were at a berry farm picking raspberries, we looked up and saw our vehicle rolling towards us. The transmission must of popped out gear(Park) the car continued gaining speed down the hill as it slammed into a tree.
Check engine light is on, rough idle, no power on acceleration, vibrates, burns gas, smokes.. Had a compression test done and at the 3rd cylinder has a compression of 65..
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 53,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Jeep Liberty: 13
The rear suspension lower control arms can fracture due to excessive corrosion, causing a loss of vehicle control. A fractured control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
These front wheel hub units can be mistakenly sold to owners and installed on 4X2 versions of the Jeep vehicles. If the non-formed hub unit is installed on a Jeep Liberty 4x2 model (which does not use an axle nut for hub retention), the vehicle wheel will not be secure and a front wheel separation may occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were manufactured from july 3, 2003 through june 29, 2007. Some vehicles may be equipped with rear lower control arms that can experience a rear suspension lower control arm fracture due to excessive corrosion due to application of road salts during winter weather conditions. A fracture of the rear lower control arm may result in a loss of vehicle control and may lead to a vehicle crash.
These suspension systems were produced with grade 2 carriage bolts instead of the proper grade 5 carriage bolts. The improper grade 2 carriage bolts could experience a loss of clamping force for the bottom strut fork. This condition could cause a loss of effective lift and lowering of the affected vehicle, possibly creating the driver to panic which could possibly lead to a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
On certain trucks, the constant tension front lower ball joints may experience contamination. If the vehicle is operated for an extended period with this condition, the ball joint may eventually experience wear and looseness. When the driver continues to operate the vehicle with this condition, the contamination can lead to corrosion, accelerated wear and possibly separation from the steering knuckle causing a loss of vehicle steering control increasing the…
Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.7L engines only, two valve cover studs may interfere with the fuel injector and alternator wiring harnesses. Damage to the alternator wiring harness could result in an under hood fire.
On some sport utility vehicles, certain remote keyless entry (Rke) input may cause the body control module (BCM) software to actuate the door lock motors continuously. This can cause the lock motor bearings to overheat and seize. If this occurs, the door lock system will become inoperative.
On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a recent software programming error, the tire, wheel, and inflation pressure information was inadvertently omitted from the vehicle certification label. The vehicle owner would not be aware of the tire, wheel, and inflation pressure information for their vehicle.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 17
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Jeep Liberty. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number
Jeep grand cherokee 1993-1998, Jeep liberty 2002-2007
New Safety Recall Advanced Communication - N45062013 During recent discussions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…
MIL Illumination - DTC P1776 Solenoid Switch Valve Latched in LR Position
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
Front suspension ball joint separation
Front suspension ball joint separation
Neighbouring years
2003 Liberty: 1,352 complaints, keep it · 2005 Liberty: 1,118 complaints, keep it.
Every Jeep Liberty year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · All Liberty years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Cherokee · Jeep Commander · Jeep Compass · Jeep Gladiator · Jeep Grand Cherokee · Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe · Jeep Grand Cherokee L · Jeep Grand Wagoneer · Jeep Laredo · Jeep Patriot · Jeep Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Jeep Liberty a bad year?
1,099 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Liberty years. At 53,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Jeep Liberty?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: suspension (455), visibility and wipers (121), fuel system (186), body structure (128), steering (54).
How many recalls does the 2004 Jeep Liberty have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 18V-278), Body structure (NHTSA 13V-252), Suspension (NHTSA 12E047000), Suspension (NHTSA 12V-085) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.