Problems · by component
2002 Jeep Liberty steering problems
78 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Jeep Liberty cite steering, 4% of all 1,807 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
78
4% of all complaints
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The lower ball joint on passenger side failed. Didn't notice any symptoms prior to it breaking. I understand that it was apparently under recall. It was repaired around the recall date but it failed again and is considered recurring failure.”
“Well my 2002 jeep liberty has been messed up lately,it will just not crank so I thought it was the battery but it turned out to be the ignition switch also it did this off an on for about 6months ,the heat went out when I bought it and it will act as if it is overheating but it won't do anything for while then all of my windows have problems with the motor s in them the suspension, control arms I've had to change ,and the cruise control button will stick and keep going while you are driving it almost caused me to wreck on the interstate you have to turn the vehicle completely off once you get it to stop if you can get it to stop. out of all the vehicles I've had this is the first to take off by itself”
“MY VEHICLE IS A 6 YR OLD LOW MILEAGE CHEVY EQUINOX THE STABILITRAK LIGHT CAME UP AS WELL AS THE SERVICE POWER STREERING. IT HAS ALSO LOST POWER IN THE HIGHWAY AND STALLS OR WON'T ACCELERATE AT TIMES WHICH MAKES IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE I COULD GET HIT BY SOMEONE IN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED O THEN SENSOR WHICH COST ME $400 BUT NOT FIXED I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED SOME FUSES AND SENSORS ANOTHER $500 STILL NOT FIXED. THE CAR IS NOW BACH AT THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS BEEN A FEW DAYS. THIS SEEMS TO BE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX AS I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW PEOPLE WHO OWN ONE AND THEY JUST ENDED UP TRADING THEIR CAR. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER CAR PAYMENT AND FOR A 6 YEAR OLD CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE THIS IS NOT NORMAL”
“THE LOWER BALL JOINT SHEARED OFF CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL CAUSING THE BOTTOM OF THE BALL JOINT TO LAND ON THE RIM. THUS CUTTING THE RIM ALL THE WAY AROUND IT OFF AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE. THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE TO A STOP AT 50 MILES AN HOUR WITH A SKID MARK. THUS HAVING TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO PICK IT UP. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A OFF RAMP OF A FREEWAY TO A ON RAMP OVER PASS OF ANOTHER FREEWAY.”
“I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TWO WEEKS AGO TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR TWO RECALLS AT MICK'S CHRYSLER JEEP. I DROPPED MY JEEP OFF THIS MORNING FOR THE APPOINTMENT. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOT EVEN AN HOUR LATER. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I ASKED HOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE SINCE I MADE THE APPOINTMENT TWO WEEKS AGO. THE GUY DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER. SO NOW I HAVE TO PICK UP VEHICLE, STILL NEEDING REPAIRS DUE TO 2 RECALLS (LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE AIRBAG ORC).”
“WELL WHERE DO I START. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2016 I HAVE REPLACE MULTIPLE PARTS ,BUT THEY WEREN'T PART OF ANY RECALLS. BUT NOW MY CONCERN REVIEWING RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE NUMEROUS DEFECTS . I'M ALMOST FED UP. MY MAIN COVER IS THE J17 RECALL FOR THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT OF WHICH A CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE ADVIDEO MY MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF ,WHICH I CLUELESS ON HOW AS THE RECALL DOESN'T SPECIFY OTHER THAN 2002 TO 2003 LIBERTY VWHILES . NOW I SHOW THAT THEY WERE REPLACED IN THE PAST AND NOW THEY SINCE ARE WORN IN THE SAME DESCRIPTION THEY WERE RECALLED IN . AND CHRYSLER DENIES RESPONSIBILITY (?) .. ALSO OTHER CONCERNS WITH THE CATYLIC CONVERTER CAUSING A SULFUR SMELL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING UP HILL ASO WELL AS TOWING . ONE MORE THING IS NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUM ABOUT THE ENGINE TICKING BEING NORMAL AND UNFIXABLE OTHER THEN TO REPLACE THE ENGINE . NOW ALL THIS PLUS THE MULTIPLE PARTS I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED A VEHICLE LESS THEN 15 YEARS ON THE MARKET NEEDED A IN OTHER WORDS FULLY RESTORATION IS UNACCEPTABLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE STOCK 1948 JEEP THAT NEED LESS REPAIRS THAN THIS .”
Showing 6 of 78 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.