2002 Jeep Liberty: won't start

Filed May 20, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 175,000 miles · MS

I went to the store and picked up chips and drinks and keep running fine. Got back in it and took me several tries to crank. Kept going dead on the mile drive home. Haven't been able to afford to get it fixed but mechanic replaced computer spark plugs fuel pump and injection system. Still wouldn't crank well. Had new computer programmed. Nothing. Till says 3 cylinders are not working and I need a new motor.

Filed Aug 12, 2015 · 135,000 miles · KS

Wife was getting gas, went to start the vehicle and it would not start, battery is good, key turns on and everything powers up. Bench tested the starter and it is fine, it just wont start. Have checked online and there are several thousand owners with the same issue.

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Engine · 167,000 miles · MO

Drove a short distance aprox 1/2 mile to store. When I came out car would crank but did not start. I left car idle for 1 hr and then it would start. This condition has happened a few time in the previous year.

Filed May 26, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 135,000 miles · NJ

Driving through a school zone one morning and the car suddenly lost power steering and shut off, would not start again. Towed it back to house and read check engine code about crankshaft position sensor. It melted in place because of where it is in relation to the exhaust, took 4-5 months to fully dig out the melted sensor and replace. Had to put a heat shield over it myself and has since lasted 2+ years without trouble. Very poor design and a hassle to fix.

Filed Apr 10, 2014 · Engine · 128,800 miles · NY

My car experienced a sporadic rough idle over a 2 week period. One day the check engine light when on after starting the car. After reading the codes cylinder 2 was determined to be the issue. A shop replaced the ignition coil and all seemed well. The next day after driving the car all day with no issue, I restarted the jeep after a 10 minute break and it would not start. When it finally started it sounded like half the cylinders were not firing and had a slapping sound. Towed it to dealership and was told cylinder 2 had no compression and it needed a new cylinder head. Both sides would cost $3,500. Parts were ordered and 10 days later they called me and said there were other problems and the cylinder head was not the issue. Piston seemed bent and it needed a long engine block and a water pump. This would cost $7,000. Not worth the fix. It seems cylinder 2 is an issue in many liberty's of this year.

Filed Apr 9, 2014 · Engine · WA

I just recently bought a car on june 13, 2013 for $5,404.05 from seattle auto mart, 12801 aurora ave. N., seattle, wa 98133. I bought the car "as is" with no warranty. It was the first car I have ever purchased in my life. I was given a 60 day verbal agreement that if anything broke down, they would fix. It. My loan was through united finance company, p.o. Box 862, auburn, wa 98071. A vehicle inspection was done on the car my the dealership. After I purchased the car, I left for california because my dad was very sick. I was gone for about two weeks. When I came back from california, the second day I got back, I drove it a few blocks from my house, and the car stopped on me at a stop sign! It started smoking from the back and from under the hood and it wouldn't start. I had it towed for the night. I then called seattle auto mart, where I got the car from and they had their people to come and pick it up. I told them what happened and that I just wanted it fixed. Then they called to tell me that the problem with the car was that the engine blew and that I would have to come out the pocket to help pay for the repairs or they could get used parts and I would pay nothing. I told them to go ahead and fix the car with the used parts (even though I should have gotten new parts). I didn't make a payment until the car was fixed. Then so I decided to cut my losses since they were not willing to help me and I gave the car back. A month later, I received a recall notice in the mail from the chrysler group llc stating that the vehicle has a small fuel leak and could result in a fire. On saturday april 5, 2014 I received another recall notice ! Overall something should be done! I want a new car or to be compensated for the hardship I went through only having the car for less than 30 days! The dealership, seattle auto mart should not have sold me that car!

Filed Mar 3, 2014 · Engine · 137,000 miles · NY

I owned the jeep for about 6 months. It ran great, no problems then out of no where it wouldn't start. Sounded like the battery was dead and just not turning over and had it looked at about two days later. He told me that the second cylinder had no compression therefore the engine was blown. Personally I love jeeps and wouldn't want anything else but after hearing this, and having it be a known issue for this year make and model I would have chosen a little wiser. I read about several 2002 jeep liberties with the same issue which LED me to this site.

Filed Aug 24, 2010 · Electrical · NJ

Jeep liberty 2002, ignition problems. Key goes into ignition but will not move backwards or forward, steering is locked as well. Occurs a couple times a year so far, usually by fiddling with it after 15 minutes I can get it started up. Not this time, the key won't budge either way and my car won't start.

Filed Jul 9, 2010 · Electrical, Locks · TX

2002 jeep liberty. Key difficult to turn and engage starter. Once started key can easily fall out of ignition with car moving down the road! By searching the internet I see this is a very common problem with jeep ignitions. Where is the recall?? Obviously a manufacturing defect and dangerous safety item! This occurs almost on a daily basis. Am waiting for the time when even fiddling with key 20 minutes and it still won't start or turn.

Filed Jan 25, 2010 · Steering · 145,000 miles · GA

We have a 2002 jeep liberty. The steering wheel locks up, and the key will not turn so the car won't start. This has been happening more and more lately, and it seems like there are several other people with the same problem.

Filed Jan 12, 2010 · Electrical · 121,392 miles · OH

2002 jeep liberty will not start when turning key in ignition. From what I've read online, this is a widespread problem. I'm trying to find a place to repair; first service department said that they cannot do it because a dealership will need to reprogram the key to the mechanics of the steering column. This problem has been happening several times in the last week. Very problematic since we live in ohio and have a 15 month old. Cannot afford to be stranded with a toddler in frigid weather.

Filed Oct 3, 2006 · Electrical · CA

I have a 2002 jeep liberty, it was purchased in jan of 2003. Since that time I have needed a new battery every year. Each time the car was running as usual and the next time I went to turn the car on it simply would not start. I went o the dealership and the battery was replaced under warranty, the second time I had to purchase it. I called the manufacturer and was told there was nothing wrong with the liberty model. This last time the battery was replaced without cost to me since the battery failed under a year. I asked my dealership to perform a full diagnostic on the car and its electrical system. I was told nothing was wrong. Though now I can feel the car almost stuttering as it does not have enough power and the car stalled out when I stopped for a red light. The car would stay on in park, neutral, and reverse but not drive. That has stopped but now I am afraid it will stall out on me at any time. Also every time the battery needed to be replaced the battery had been drained completely, the car could not be jumped even at the dealership. Any help or information with this would be greatly appreciated.