DUDE454

My buddy is wanting to get a 3.7L 2002 jeep libery with 120K. Does anyone on here know how reliable they are? I told him all i knew about them (which was only engine and suspension) just wanting to help him decide. I know he should get an XJ but i cant change his mind.

maverickdan

I know they go through outter tie rod ends about every 40k and the early liberties have problems with heads cracking

scjeep69

I bought my wife an 06 liberty sport 4x4 n we haven't had any of those problems I've istalled a 3.5 in rustys off road lift with shocks and shim plate 32x9.50 mts and we do mild wheeling and honestly I dog the **** out of it and haven't had any suck problems from what I can see its like any other jeep take care of it reg maint and ur good togo ours is an 02 btw that's the best style I like and also 180,000 miles and still truckin

Bimmer_2002

I used to have a 2006, but that's not the same as a 2002. 2002 was the first year and they came with a higher suspension then the rest of the liberty's. Jeep decided to lower it 2 inches after 2002 because of a chance of roll over. That's not much, but thought it mattered.

jcwclm

My mom has an 05 since new. It has a 2.8l mercedes diesel in it. Hitting 90,000 miles soon. Never had one problem with it.

bmrrwolfe

Haven't heard of either of these problems, and have am a pretty prominate member of a KJ forum.
Unless your talking about the front CV joints instead of tie rods, but thats only for those lifting over 2.5" without replacing with the proper joints.
Biggest issues were front brake rotors warping, and the ball joints which they had a recall for, so thats solved.
Also almost forgot front Driveshaft CV joint if the rubber boot gets a tear in it.
All pretty cheap and easy fixes.

I also have a 06 and I love it as a DD. 72k on my 06 and 76k on my sisters 03 both are doing great with just normal maintance!
02 is probably the best year, they are "prelowered" which was actually only 3/4" higher but by now its sagged enough that is doesn't make a different but more because they have the 45RFE tranny, same as the Ram trucks and stronger then the 42RLE in the later 03s-07 KJs although still not problem with either. And they don't have any ESP stability controls, that was started in 06.

If you need anything check out Jeepkj.com
Plenty of people with 120k+ miles without ever having an issue!

FlyingLow

If you do your basic pm they run just as long as any other jeep. I drive the **** outta mine both on road and off. Even with 33's and stock gears, it still surprises the hondas that try and pass me.

GoreXJ95

Ive read in a car magazine that it went up against two other cars. The liberty failed in all categories except off road.

Chucks96XJ

My dad had an 05 Liberty Sport, absolutely loved it. Then one day a guy cut him off on 95 and forced him into a jersey wall...

00jeepXJ

02's stood taller... don't know how much never really looked into it. They all have or had added weight in the lower halve of the vehicle to counter the roll over tendencies that are there with the design. The early ones that had the diesel came with the VM Motori ( not 100% spelling ) CRD engine. It's an Italian engine that is the larger version of the 2.4's that were in the XJ's in Europe. Good engine and more powerful then what they planned for. If you have one that is early gen and didn't get the trans redone then do it and soon. The CRD's can pull almost 2k more then what the trans was meant to. The gas engine ones have been reported to have trouble after 05... supposedly they leak oil from the sending unit into the wiring harness itself... never really could verify it myself.

They are good little rigs and are deceptively capable. The early years ( 02/03-05/06 ) were the ones that i messed with more. They worked hard and were nice to drive and comfortable for me. Aside from the transmission issues the only other things that i knew of were brakes and the oil sensor but I think that those were just from the owners. I know that the dealership that i worked on had more gas ones on hand then the diesel's because more of the people in that area wanted the diesel.

I would look at the ones from 03+ just because of the problems that could be had with having a vehicle from the first couple of years. Hope this info helps.