NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Jeep Liberty Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2012 Jeep Liberty has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 385 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Jeep dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Jeep Liberty, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2012 Jeep Liberty owner complaints

Owners have filed 385 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Liberty, describing incidents dated February 12, 2011 to July 13, 2026.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 169 complaints
Electrical System 117 complaints
Engine 51 complaints
Power Train 34 complaints
Unknown or Other 31 complaints
Structure 24 complaints

Of the 385 complaints on file, 19 report a crash and 14 a fire; across all 385 complaints, owners report 34 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11752635 · Filed July 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield wipers inadvertently activated. The contact turned the windshield wipers on and off to deactivate the windshield wipers. Additionally, the headlights inadvertently illuminated…
ODI #11704187 · Filed December 10, 2025
Skyroof suddenly stopped working and will not close. No dealers will fix as thry say parts aren't longer available..my car is now worthless and is a safety issue while driving with the roof partially opened.
ODI #11703957 · Filed December 9, 2025
My daughter was hit by a semi truck on US-23 today. The trailer fishtailed hit the back end of Jeep. I hit the guard rail. All four corners of the Jeep were hit. The air bags did not deploy. The front driver tire fell off. The back window and passenger side trunk window blew out.

Read all 385 complaints

Owner-reported

2012 Jeep Liberty mileage at failure

306 of the 385 complaints on file for the 2012 Jeep Liberty give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Air Bags	Median 45,000 miles	Middle half 35,000–60,000 miles	Based on 129 complaints
Electrical System	Median 60,000 miles	Middle half 40,000–90,000 miles	Based on 83 complaints
Engine	Median 55,000 miles	Middle half 40,000–85,000 miles	Based on 40 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Jeep Liberty in 6 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021
Preliminary Evaluation PE19-014: Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Closed February 25, 2026
Engineering Analysis EA19-001: Electrical overstress
Closed September 19, 2024
- Recall 20V-024
Preliminary Evaluation PE17-003: Occupant Restraint Controller Failure
Closed December 25, 2017
- Recall 17V-640
Defect Petition DP14-004: Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Closed July 24, 2015

1 more NHTSA investigation

Preliminary Evaluation PE13-034: Jeep Liberty Door Fires
Closed March 9, 2014

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Active Headrests may not Deploy in a Crash

NHTSA #17V640000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Head Restraint · NHTSA notice

Reported October 10, 2017 · Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

Potentially affected: 363,930 vehicles

Repair completion: 35.94% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign T56 · Owners notified December 4, 2017 · Vehicles built June 17, 2011 – August 16, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.

Safety consequence

If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Non-Deployment of Head Restraints

NHTSA #13V282000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported July 2, 2013 · Chrysler Group LLC

Potentially affected: 442,320 vehicles

Repair completion: 71.46% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign N38 · Owners notified November 19, 2013 · Vehicles built June 17, 2011 – August 15, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2012 Jeep Liberty SUV 2WD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 3, Passenger: 2

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

26% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

6 investigations

2012 Jeep Liberty SUV 4WD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 3, Passenger: 2

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

23% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

6 investigations

385 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Jeep Liberty.

Electrical System

ODI #11752635

Incident: July 13, 2026 · Filed: July 24, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield wipers inadvertently activated. The contact turned the windshield wipers on and off to deactivate the windshield wipers. Additionally, the headlights inadvertently illuminated, and the doors locked and unlocked independently while the vehicle was unoccupied, parked, and turned off in the driveway. The vehicle occasionally hesitated while starting. The contact stated that the failure had caused the battery to drain. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact associated the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V530000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11704187

Incident: November 12, 2025 · Filed: December 10, 2025

Skyroof suddenly stopped working and will not close. No dealers will fix as thry say parts aren't longer available..my car is now worthless and is a safety issue while driving with the roof partially opened.

Suspension; Air Bags; Wheels

ODI #11703957

Crash 1 injury

Incident: December 9, 2025 · Filed: December 9, 2025

My daughter was hit by a semi truck on US-23 today. The trailer fishtailed hit the back end of Jeep. I hit the guard rail. All four corners of the Jeep were hit. The air bags did not deploy. The front driver tire fell off. The back window and passenger side trunk window blew out.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #11673807

Incident: July 11, 2025 · Filed: July 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while making a right turn on a main road at 25 MPH, the front lower control arms snapped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately pulled over onto the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.

Electrical System

ODI #11660979

Incident: May 14, 2025 · Filed: May 14, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 94,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 171,000.

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11639908

Incident: January 17, 2025 · Filed: January 31, 2025

The contact's sister owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that upon opening the door of the vehicle, the contact's sister became aware that the driver's side headrest had been deployed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnostic testing. A case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Power Train

ODI #11621238

Incident: October 10, 2024 · Filed: October 22, 2024

The vehicle gears slipped into neutral but back to drive without assistance on my part. Once at a stop sign when I resumed driving. Once turning a corner. Once getting ready to back up. / I took it to have the transmission fluid level checked and it checked out ok. There have been no transmission recalls reported on the 2012 Jeep Liberty. The pan and filter had had a leak and was replaced a couple of weeks before this slippage happened

Suspension; Power Train

ODI #11617342

Incident: June 19, 2023 · Filed: September 30, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact became aware of an abnormal wobbling coming from the front end of the vehicle. Additionally, there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the local tire shop where the four tires were replaced and an alignment was performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that several days later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter seized, and the vehicle turned off unintendedly. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, parked, and inspected the vehicle. The contact called a local mechanic who drove to the scene to diagnose the vehicle. The contact was informed that the VCM software needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11613483

Incident: February 20, 2023 · Filed: September 9, 2024

Electrical issue with drivers side front blinker works when headlights are off but when headlights are turned on front blinker does not work. I’ve seen numerous complaints about the same issue with this vehicle amongst other electrical issues

Suspension

ODI #11588960

Incident: May 14, 2024 · Filed: May 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was a loud banging sound coming from the suspension on the driver’s side rear of the vehicle. The contact became aware that the rear end of the vehicle was loose and was falling apart onto the roadway. The contact pulled to the side of the road. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Other Jeep Liberty model years

Check your 2012 Jeep Liberty VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Jeep Liberty at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Jeep VIN