2003 Jeep Liberty Brakes Problems

I PURCHASED THIS JEEP 2 YRS AGO. DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE OTHER DAY AND THE JEEP KEPT ROLLING AND I WAS PARKED ON A LOW INCLINE HILL AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. I WENT ONLINE AND SAW THIS WAS A MAJOR ISSUE. CONTACTED CHRYLSER THEY SAID THEY ONLY WORK ON 2010 MODELS. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND I'M SURE THEY ARE OTHER OLDER MODELS WITH SAME ISSUE. HOW CAN A SO CALLED REPUTABLE COMPANY NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR ISSUE NO MATTER HOW OLD MODEL IS. THEY CLAIM BRAKES ARE SELF-ADJUSTING NO SO.

INSPECTING CUSTOMERS JEEP LIBERTY FOR NO BRAKE COMPLAINT, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, UPON INSPECTION FOUND P/S FRONT BRAKE HOSE RUSTED OFF AT STEEL CRIMP AT HOSE ATTACHMENT POINT, INSPECTED D/S HOSE FOUND SEVERE RUST UNDER FOAM PAD AROUND CRIMP.SEEMS LIKE A BAD DESIGN AND VERY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION.

ON MARCH 3, 2015 I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY STREET AND IT HAS A SEMI-STEEP DECLINE AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP GOING DOWN. I PUMPED MY BRAKES AND HAD MY BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BOARD. MY JEEP LIBERTY FAILED TO STOP SENDING ME THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THROUGH A SMALL OPEN FIELD AND OVER A SMALL EMBANKMENT LANDING ON THE ROOF OF MY JEEP. I HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE CHECKED OUT. BUT, FROM THE DAMAGE TO THE JEEP IT IS MOST LIKELY TOTALED. *TR

TURNED LEFT OUT OF THE DOCTORS OFFICE, DROVE APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN (MAKING A RIGHT). THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE, HOWEVER, BEGAN ACCELERATING AND DESPITE APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE, CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE ACCELERATED FASTER. I ULTIMATELY ENDED UP THROWING IT INTO PARK AND THEN TURNING OFF THE IGNITION TO KILL THE ACCELERATING ENGINE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE RPM WAS, BUT IT WAS LOUD! THIS ALSO HAPPENED 2 WEEKS AGO (FIRST TIME - VERY COLD MORNING) AND I ENDED UP THROWING IT INTO PARK AND TURNING OFF THE KEY LIKE TODAY. TODAYS TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 40 DEGREES. FYI - I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND HAD SLIGHTLY TURNED THE WHEEL. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I BEGAN DOUBTING THAT THIS HAD EVEN HAPPENED. IN HINDSIGHT, DESPITE SEVERAL BLOGS ON THE INTERNET, I AM ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT I DID NOT PUSH DOWN ON BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER TODAYS INCIDENT, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED OUR LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO RECREATE WHAT HAPPENED. UNDER VARIOUS SCENARIOS I BUMPED THE STEERING WHEEL CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS (WHILE STOPPED, WHILE STOPPING, WHILE ACCELERATING) BUT COULD NOT CAUSE THE RUNAWAY ACCELERATION TO REPEAT ITSELF. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP THIS FRIDAY, OR AS SOON AS WE CAN DROP IT OFF. CANDIDLY, I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT THIS POINT! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED BEING DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM LUNGING FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

BREAK LINE CAME APART IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THE FIRE WALL AND THE BRAKE CALIPER. *KB

I HAVE A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT. IN 5/06 I TOOK MY CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT BRAKE REPAIR GARAGE ( S & K MUFFLER BRAKES)SINCE MY CAR WAS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE ON BACKING UP. THIS SHOP SAID THAT I NEEDED A TOTAL REHAUL OF MY BRAKES AS THEY WERE FROZEN IN THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX MY CAR THAT I ONLY HAD 24,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEALER SHOULD FIX IT AS IT WAS A DEFECT AND THEY SENT ME BACK TO THE DEALER (EVEN THOUGH I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY). I GAVE MONICATTI CHRYSLER THE PAPER (ESTIMATE) THEY GAVE ME AND I PAID FOR A BRAKE JOB $165.00 BUT THEY DID NOT FIX EVERYTHING THAT THE INDEPENDENT SHOP SAID THEY SHOULD. LATER CHRYSLER LLC PAID ME BACK THE $165.00 WHEN I FILED A COMPLAINT. ON 6-19-08 WITH ONLY 15,000 MORE MILES ON THE CAR I WENT TO GET NEW TIRES AT BELLE TIRE. THEY SHOWED ME THAT ON MY REAR BRAKE I HAD 80-90% ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ONLY ABOUT 2% ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE WAS STILL SEIZED UP ON THE REAR LEFT BRAKE AND THAT IT WAS ALMOST 100% WORN AND THAT THE CALIPER COULD COME OUT AND I WOULD LOSE ALL OF MY BRAKE FLUID. THEY TOLD ME I DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE IT FIXED THERE BUT I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THE CAR. I PARKED IT AND HAD IT FIXED THERE THE NEXT DAY. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE REAR BRAKES AND I AM REPORTING IT TO YOU AS I DO NOT WANT ANYONE KILLED WHEN THEY LOSE ALL OF THEIR BRAKES. I CALLED JEEP AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE BRAKES OR SILENT RECALLS FOR THE BRAKES (6-23-08). I SPOKE TO MARK AND THEN TO SCOTT IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT JEEP. HERE I AM TRAVELING ON FREEWAYS ETC., WITH NO BRAKES AND DID NOT KNOW IT. I JUST HAD THEM RE DONE ON 8/04/06 SO WHY WOULD I THINK THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE ALL OF THE BILLS FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR, THE DEALER NOTICED THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND REPLACED ALL FOUR ROTORS.

TL*-THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS. THE DEALERSHIP IS INFORMING HER THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS ARE IN BACK ORDER. IT HAS BEEN 3 WEEKS SINCE THE CLIENT HAS HEARD FROM THE DEALERSHIP.

2003 JEEP LIBERTY MAKING A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE GRINDING NOISE IS LOUD AND SOUNDS LIKE METAL SCRAPING METAL. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOUND WAS FROM THE REAR BRAKES. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT THEN IT RETURNED. AN ANTI-SQUEAL COMPOUND WAS APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES AND AGAIN, THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR A FEW WEEKS. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY WORN ROTORS ON THE REAR BRAKES AND IN ORDER FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE CORRECTED, THE REAR ROTORS AND THE REAR PARK SHOES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING DURING NORMAL BRAKING ON NORMAL ROADS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED HOWEVER NO INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CALIPERS CAUSED THE ROTORS TO WARP. UPDATED 06/19/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, WHILE BACKING THE CONTACT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE BRAKING, BUT IS UNAWARE IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY RENEGADE. ON OCTOBER 7, 2005 IT WAS RAINING AND IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HYDRO-PLANE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE BRAKES SKIDDED, AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. WHEN SHE HIT THE TREE BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND UNABLE TO RETURN TO WORK FOR THE TIME BEING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS HAD TO MEET CERTAIN CONDITIONS BEFORE THEY WOULD DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMED THAT VEHICLE HIT IN A WAY THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR SHOULD HAVE PICKED IT UP. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD INVESTIGATE IT. *AK

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS JEEP. ALWAYS DETECTED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS THE GAS. AFTER 1 YEAR OF OWNERSHIP DRIVING IT IN PENNSYLVANIA I COULD NOT GO UP HILL WITHOUT LOSING GROUND AND SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. DEALER UNABLE DIAGNOSE. THEN IN 05 STARTING HAVING BRAKE GRINDING AND SQUEALING, DEALER ALSO CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ONLY HAVE 34,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND BURNING SMELL ON TWO OCCASIONS, ALSO DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. I BELIEVE THE 2003 LIBERTIES HAVE A PROBLEM AND NO ONE IS WILLING TO CHECK INTO IT. CHRYSLER DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES ROARED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS. DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ONCE FOR THE BRAKES. THE DEALER DID NOT DO ANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY REFERRED HER TO THE NHTSA. *AK

WHILE I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION (THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 45 MPH), I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE LOCKED. MY STEERING WAS ALSO LOCKED THAT I COULDN'T TURN. THANK GOD THE SIGNAL JUST TURNED GREEN FOR ME AS I COASTED RIGHT THROUGH IT AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP ON ITS OWN. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, OR BETTER YET, DEAD! I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. MY LEASE IS UP IN 11 MONTHS AND I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE A DAIMLER CHRYSLER VEHICLE. *AK

AT 54,000 MILES THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER, CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HARDWARE FOR THAT WHEEL INCLUDING THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE EMERGENCY SHOE. BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE AND, THE UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF CORROSION FOUND BY THE DEALER, THEY INSIST ON REPLACING MUCH OF THE REAR BRAKE HARDWARE ON BOTH SIDES AT A PERSONAL EXPENCE OF AROUND $800 (BRAKES ARE ONLY WARRANTED FOR 1 YEAR OR 12,000 MILES BY JEEP). ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, NEW EMERGENCY SHOES HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND WORKED WELL FOR 4 MONTHS WHEN BANGING NOISES, DRAGGING, LURCHING AND, PULLING BEGAN WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY UP TO THE TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME ON THE DATE I LIST HERE; THE DEALER HAD FOUND NOTHING THE PRIOR TIME I COMPLAINED. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH CRITICAL BRAKE PARTS CORRODING EXTENSIVELY AND FAILING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNDER WHAT ARE CONSIDERED NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE NE PART OF THE COUNTRY. THERE MAY ALSO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TOLERANCE OF REPLACEMENT BRAKE PARTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FACTORY AUTHORIZED COMPONENTS. AT ANY RATE, I AM NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT BRAKE HARDWARE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. I HAVE READ REFERENCES TO CORROSION RELATED BRAKE FAILURES HERE AND AT OTHER SITES. GIVEN THE WAY THE VEHICLE BEHAVED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE FAILURE OF THE DEALER TO FIND IT EARLY, A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND NEEDLESSLY EXPENSIVE SITUATION EXISTS IN AT LEAST THE EARLY PRODUCTION 2003 LIBERTYS (I BOUGHT ONE OF THE FIRST AVAILABLE ONES THAT YEAR AND NOTICED A RASH OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SUBJECT BEGINNING LAST SUMMER). *AK

WHILE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 60 MPH TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN VEHICLE CONTINUED AT SAME SPEED. PULLED VEHICLE OVER WHEN MORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO BRAKES. AN ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES.*AK

I TOOK MY 2003 JEEP LIBERTY THAT I PURCHASED NOVEMBER 22.2003 IN FOR A SERVICE CHECKUP AND WITH 29000 MILES ON THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT HALF OF THE REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTED AWAY, AND ONLY HALF THE BRAKE PAD WAS HITTING THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD MANY VEHICLES IN MY 52 YEARS OF LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS OCCUR. OF COURSE CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THEY ARE USING AN INFERIOR METAL PRODUCT AND WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE DANGEROUS ROTORS. I HAVE A FILE NUMBER AT CHRYSLER WHICH IS 12412856. I HAD THE ROTORS CHANGED AT MY EXPENSE BUT I BELIEVE THEY ARE CUTTING CORNERS IN A VERY VITAL PART OF THE CAR. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE. GERRY VESELY. *AK