2012 Jeep Liberty Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

44Engine complaints

11.5%Of all 384 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS168 · 43.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM115 · 29.9%

ENGINE44 · 11.5%

POWER TRAIN33 · 8.6%

Unspecified / other31 · 8.1%

Share of the 384 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Jeep Liberty overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE…”NHTSA complaint 10715020 — filed 05/06/2015

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WARNING…”NHTSA complaint 10615990 — filed 07/24/2014

“VEHICLE EXPERIENCES MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE BOTH AGREE THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT DO NOT KNOW HOW…”NHTSA complaint 10515679 — filed 06/07/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Jeep Liberty have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Jeep Liberty: 44 of 384 complaints on file (11.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Jeep Liberty have in total?

384 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 19 involved a crash, 14 involved a fire, 34 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.