JEEP LIBERTY · model year

2009 JEEP LIBERTY

146 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009JEEPLIBERTY carries 146 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 4 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 LIBERTY is electrical system with 19 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (15) and unknown or other (13). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2009 LIBERTY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

146
Complaints
2
Crashes
4
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

146 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER13
STRUCTURE:BODY13
AIR BAGS11
WHEELS10
SUSPENSION7
ENGINE7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
TIRES4
VISIBILITY/WIPER4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY3
TIRES:VALVE3

Recalls (1)

09E03900019/06/2009

SUSPENSION

ROCK KRAWLER IS RECALLING 44 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE. 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 LOS

Recent Complaints

20250618AIR BAGS

1. Air bag light stays on 2. ABS light stays on 3. ESP BAS light stays on The vehicle has not been inspected and is available for inspection

20250618ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1. Air bag light stays on 2. ABS light stays on 3. ESP BAS light stays on The vehicle has not been inspected and is available for inspection

20250618SERVICE BRAKES

1. Air bag light stays on 2. ABS light stays on 3. ESP BAS light stays on The vehicle has not been inspected and is available for inspection

20250521AIR BAGS

Had the car for too years and just now all of a sudden air bag keeps coming on and off in the Red.

20250515STRUCTURE:BODY

snapped rear control arm. I own this vehicle in a salt state. no issues prior, it literally rusted and snapped with myself and my 5 year old in the car, causing me to lose control and almost crash.

20250515WHEELS

snapped rear control arm. I own this vehicle in a salt state. no issues prior, it literally rusted and snapped with myself and my 5 year old in the car, causing me to lose control and almost crash.

20240220FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel Spit Back During Refueling. When refueling at any gas pump, flammable fuel almost always spits back out of the filler hose, down the side of the vehicle and pools on ground by the tire. There has been a recall issued for the same issue and same vehicle model: Jeep Liberty KK, which runs from 2008-12. However, the recall only covers year 2008.

20231111SUSPENSION

While driving I heard a popping sound and felt the vehicle sway slightly. The vehicle continued to making intermittent banging noises towards the rear passenger side. Upon stopping and investigating I found the rear control arm had failed on the passenger side. I also examined the driver side rear control arm. It was intact but has significant rust, which likely contributed to the passenger side failure, as it also has significant rust. Car has been parked since the incident. I would like to know if the manufacturer/dealer will replace both components free of charge. There was a safety bulletin for the same issue for the 2004-2007 model year of the vehicle (18V-278). A search on the internet found the same failures in my model year for the lower control arms.

20230504SUSPENSION

The Rear suspension lower control arms were rusted and cracked to the point they were close to breaking into pieces. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms that alerted us to this problem - we happened to look under the car one day and noticed this. This problem was inspected, confirmed, and repaired by a local mechanic and reported to Jeep via their customer service. I am aware that this particular part caused a recall for the 2007 Jeep Liberty (and I'm guessing this is correlated with similar recalls in other manufacturers, e.g. the 2007-2011 Honda CRVs were recalled due to corrosion in the lower frame due to de-icing agents).

20211229STRUCTURE:BODY

I'm the original owner of a 2009 Jeep Liberty with a Skyslider roof that I barely used. I was driving when the Sky Slider roof suddenly blew open and back, snapping the cables and launching pieces of parts like missiles. It was a terrifying experience for me and my young children. I have dealt with the very loud wind noise for the past 12 years after having it evaluated several times by dealerships and being told there was nothing that could be done about it. It can be even more overwhelming for children with Autism and/or sensory issues. Fortunately, I was able to avoid an on-road accident, but still was hit with those projectile pieces and now have the added financial component of having to pay for repairs on a vehicle that the dealership has said most of the replacement parts have been discontinued on. The internet is full of complaints regarding these Sky Slider roof life-threatening issues. Something needs to be done to protect consumers from the physical and financial harm of the

20211229UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I'm the original owner of a 2009 Jeep Liberty with a Skyslider roof that I barely used. I was driving when the Sky Slider roof suddenly blew open and back, snapping the cables and launching pieces of parts like missiles. It was a terrifying experience for me and my young children. I have dealt with the very loud wind noise for the past 12 years after having it evaluated several times by dealerships and being told there was nothing that could be done about it. It can be even more overwhelming for children with Autism and/or sensory issues. Fortunately, I was able to avoid an on-road accident, but still was hit with those projectile pieces and now have the added financial component of having to pay for repairs on a vehicle that the dealership has said most of the replacement parts have been discontinued on. The internet is full of complaints regarding these Sky Slider roof life-threatening issues. Something needs to be done to protect consumers from the physical and financial harm of the

20211210SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, he heard abnormal banging sounds coming from the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle was shuddering violently. The contact veered to the side of the road and exited the vehicle to determine the cause of the failure. The contact noticed that the rear tires had moved forward and were close to the wheel well. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that all four rear control arms were fractured. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V278000 (Suspension). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.

Mileage: 101,000

20201008ENGINE

I HAVE JUDT BROUGHT MY JEEP IN MAY IT IS OCT AND I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PLEASE CAN YOU ASSIST IF THIS IS A RECALL

20200210ENGINE

CAR TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO SHOW A PROBLEM... CAR HAS TURNED OFF ON HIGHWAY AND WHILE MAKING TURNS. HAVE TO PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK AND START CAR AGAIN TO WORK. LIGHTS AND RADIO ALL STAY ON.

Mileage: 145,000

20191018ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I HAVE HAD LIGHT SENSORS ON MY DASH, ELECTRONIC STABILITY, SLIPPERY ROAD. SERVICE 4WD, AND MISFIRE #2 CYLINDER, AND SERVICE ABS. I TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS THEY SAY THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, OR IT HAS A CRACKED HEAD ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE IN THE #2 CYLINDER. THE LIGHTS COME ON A COUPLE AT A TIME, WHEN DRIVING, AND THEN GO FF EITHER WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF, OR A DAY OR TWO LATER.

Mileage: 155,641

20191018ENGINE

I HAVE HAD LIGHT SENSORS ON MY DASH, ELECTRONIC STABILITY, SLIPPERY ROAD. SERVICE 4WD, AND MISFIRE #2 CYLINDER, AND SERVICE ABS. I TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS THEY SAY THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, OR IT HAS A CRACKED HEAD ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE IN THE #2 CYLINDER. THE LIGHTS COME ON A COUPLE AT A TIME, WHEN DRIVING, AND THEN GO FF EITHER WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF, OR A DAY OR TWO LATER.

Mileage: 155,641

20191014STRUCTURE:BODY

THE SKY ROOF HAS BROKEN A 2ND TIME, AT LEAST SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. I JUST HAD IT REPLACED 2YRS AND 5 MONTHS AGO. JEEP STOPPED MAKING THE ROOF FRAME AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE IT. THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET PARTS AVAILABLE. JEEP REFUSES TO HELP IN ANY WAY, AND I'M STILL PAYING FOR A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE BECAUSE IT CANNOT E REPAIRED. YES, I WAS SITTING STILL. IT HAS TO BE IN PARK IN ORDER TO RETRACT OR CLOSE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ROOF FRAME. IT BROKE IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT THAT IT BROKE IN 29 MONTHS AGO. THE WARRANTY ON IT WAS ONLY FOR 2 YEARS. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? HELP PLEASE

Mileage: 143,193

20190805VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT VENTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING AND PREVENTED THE WINDOWS FROM DEFOGGING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DIRECTIONAL FLAP THAT TURNED THE VENTS, INCLUDING ONE FOR THE HEAT, AIR CONDITIONER, AND DEFOGGERS. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY AND HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20190802SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG SOUND AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,081. *TR*JB *TR

Mileage: 70,081

20190730AIR BAGS

OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED - I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT RESET - IT WORKED FOR A BIT THEN CAME BACK ON: THE MECHANIC ADVICES THAT THE SENSOR LIKELY WENT BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 105,000

Compare 2009JEEPLIBERTY to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 JEEP LIBERTY have?
The 2009 JEEP LIBERTY has 146 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 4 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 JEEP LIBERTY?
Yes, the 2009 JEEP LIBERTY has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SUSPENSION. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 JEEP LIBERTY?
The most-complained component for the 2009 JEEP LIBERTY is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 19 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2009 JEEP LIBERTY safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.