Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Jeep Liberty, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 13% |
| Structure | 10 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 9% |
| Air bags | 9 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 6% |
| Suspension | 5 | 5% |
| Engine | 5 | 5% |
| Structure | 4 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 4% |
| Tires | 4 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Had the car for too years and just now all of a sudden air bag keeps coming on and off in the Red.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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 iss
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
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 cont
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
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 loo
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
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.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Jeep Liberty. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF EFFECTIVE LIFT AND LOWERING OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLE, POSSIBLY CREATING THE DRIVER TO PANIC WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ROCK KRAWLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15. 2008. ALL THE AFFECTED UNTITS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROCK KRAWLER AT 1-518-270-98
| Reliability raw | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 71 | good |
| Depreciation | 71 | good |
| Performance | 69 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel/propulsion system is the most reported area with 14 of them (13%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.