The 2005 Jeep Liberty is like every Jeep in that it’s an awesome adventure vehicle, and a terrible daily-driver. The interior is more cramped than some compact cars, the suspension is rough, and you’ll be taking it to the shop pretty often. But you can’t beat the Jeep’s off-road performance.
Is the 2005 Jeep Liberty a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 7/10 – If you’re after a compact off-roader, call it an 8/10. If you’re after a daily-driver, it’s more like a 5/10.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 6/10 – Cramped seats and stiff suspension make the Liberty a rough ride even by Jeep standards.
- Reliability 6/10 – Your powertrain and engine will probably pass 200,000 miles, but all the regular maintenance and little repairs can be pretty expensive.
- Safety 6/10 – The Liberty feels safe to drive, but safety technology is long outdated by now.
- Gas Mileage 6/10 – A 2.8L diesel engine helps to cut gas costs down a bit, but the 2005 Liberty is a thirsty vehicle no matter how you split it.
- Value 7/10 – The 2005 Jeep Liberty is one of the more affordable Jeeps on the market, but you’re never really getting a great deal on these SUVs when you look at what you’re spending on fuel and maintenance.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
Consumer Reports liked the efficient diesel powered engine option and they found the handling responsive. The full-time four-wheel earned some praise as well. Beyond that, they found the SUV overpriced, noisy, slow to accelerate, and uncomfortable.
Kelley Blue Book users were, predictably, far kinder to the 2005 Liberty, giving it a strong 85% recommendation. Drivers liked the onboard creature comforts like heated seats and leather interior, and they love the fun-driving feel of the SUV.
Edmunds had praise for the Jeep Liberty’s off-road performance, creative interior design, fuel-efficient diesel engine, and for the Liberty’s ability to blend crossover convenience with the classic Jeep feel. They were less enthused about the thirsty gasoline engine, unwieldy handling in the city, and limited cargo space.
What Common Problems Does the 2005 Jeep Liberty Have?
The 2005 Jeep Liberty has 1,110 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is a bit high for an SUV, but normal for a Jeep. The biggest issue is in the suspension, with 257 complaints, mostly for lower ball joints giving out, despite 5 suspension recalls from 2006 to 2018.
A recall was issued in 2013 to address potential fires occurring after a rear impact. Drivers have reportedly been waiting on the replacement parts as recently as 2018. Make sure to check the VIN. If the recall wasn’t already taken care of, this isn’t a fix you want to be waiting on.
A number of drivers have reported that the vehicle may slip out of first gear at random. Drivers have also reported sudden unintended acceleration.
The 2005 Jeep Liberty has 8 recalls on file with the NHTSA, which is within reason for a vehicle of this age, but the fact that five of these recalls were for suspension, with complaints still rolling in years later, is worrying.
How Long Will the 2005 Jeep Liberty Last?
A well-kept Jeep Liberty should last at least 200,000 miles. You’ve no doubt read of Jeeps running more than 300,000, or 400,000, or even half a million miles. That’s not going to happen with a used model. Expect to reach a maximum mileage of 250,000.
RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $674, with the most expensive common fix being a new heater core, starting at around $1,044. Jeeps tend to be high-maintenance as a rule, but the Liberty is cheaper to fix than some.
The jeep liberty is very dependable, hardly any recalls on the SUV. Very roomy in the interior. Handles the roads like a champ!
Reliable but needs better power steering and transmission work but overall drives well if kept up with properly.
The front end has had work done and seems like I have been putting money after money into the vehicle.
If it has problems I have them fixed. I have not experienced major problems with this vehicle and it has well over 200,000 miles.
Have had several problems over the past 10 years since I have had it. Luckily all fixable and car still running with 192,000 miles.
I would say it is reliable. I feel safe driving it and it is fairly easy to do quick fixes myself. The only big problem I had is that there was a design flaw where a brake line was installed too close to the steering column and it became punctured causing a dangerous brake leak unexpectedly. I later found out that was a recall.
The Liberty is a very reliable vehicle. If I had any complaints I would tell you that Liberty's are notorious for having wiring issues. Beyond that I would absolutely recommend the Jeep Liberty to all my friends and family and even strangers.
I think that our Jeep Liberty is very reliable. It's an older car and we haven't had any serious problems with it.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology onboard the 2005 Jeep Liberty is good for 2005, though not as impressive as some of the larger SUVs on the market from this model year. The high-end models come with a 6-disc CD changer, and that’s about as high-tech as it gets.
Safety technology in the 2005 Jeep Liberty is decent. You’ve got an enhanced accident response system, and full airbags with occupant classification,
Is the 2005 Jeep Liberty a Good Value?
The 2005 Jeep Liberty is a good value, if you’re shopping for a weekend getaway vehicle. The entry-level Sport typically lists at around $4,323, and the high-end Limited lists at around $5,034. These are fair sticker prices for a 2005 SUV, it’s the refueling and maintenance that adds up.
The high cost of ownership means that, if you’re hoping to make this your daily driver, it’s going to be spending more time in the shop than it does in the driveway, and more time in the driveway than it does on the street. It’s a perfect adventure vehicle, but too expensive to drive as a grocery-getter.
What are the Different Models of the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
The 2005 Jeep Liberty is offered in three trim levels, from the base Sport to the high-end Limited.
With the entry-level Sport you’re getting:
- Cloth seating
- Remote keyless entry
- CD player
- Manual air conditioning
- Power windows and door locks
With the mid-range Renegade you add:
- Cloth/vinyl seating
- Fog lights
- Roof rack
The top-of-the-line Limited adds:
- 6-way power driver seat
- Leather wrapped steering wheel
- Cruise control
What Engines Come In the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
- The base engine in the 2005 Jeep Liberty is a 2.4L inline-four delivering 150 horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. The i4 averages 21/26 miles to the gallon, it’s paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission, and it’s configured in rear/four wheel drive.
- Next up is a 2.8L turbo-diesel i4 delivering 160 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque and averaging 19/24 miles to the gallon. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in rear/four wheel drive.
- Available in the Limited edition is a 3.7L V6 delivering 210 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The V6 averages 15/20 miles to the gallon, it’s paired to a 4-speed automatic, and it’s configured in full-time four wheel drive.
What Colors Does the 2005 Jeep Liberty Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
The 2005 Jeep Liberty isn’t very comfortable. Rear hip room is cramped at just 47.4 inches, which would be tight even for a compact car. The suspension is rugged, meaning rough on the posterior. And the shocks and struts might be shot, based on the five suspension recalls the SUV has on file.
With a Jeep, the tradeoff for a rough ride is that it handles mud, dirt, creeks, rocks, and tree stumps beautifully.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Jeep Liberty Have?
The 2005 Jeep Liberty offers 29 cubic feet of storage space in the back, and you can more than double that to 69 cubic feet when you fold the seats down. Storage space here is a bit tight for the size class, but big enough to bring a full weekend of camping and fishing supplies with you.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2005 Jeep Liberty is the fourth model year for the nameplate’s 1st Generation, which ran from 2002 to 2007.
2002: Jeep introduced the Liberty as a replacement for the Cherokee in 2002, debuting the SUV with rack and pinion steering, a pair of Power Tech engine, and independent front suspension.
2003: The suspension was lowered one inch for 2003, and the automatic transmission got an overhaul. Braking was improved for 2003 as well.
2004: New roof handles and tire pressure monitors were the biggest changes for 2004.
2005: 2005 was the debut year for the 2.8L diesel engine.
2006: Electronic stability control was made a standard feature in 2006, as were roll mitigation, traction control, and anti-lock brakes.
2007: Jeep dropped the Renegade trim in 2007, along with the 2.8L diesel engine.
How Does the 2005 Jeep Liberty Compare to the Competition?
The Ford Escape is less capable than the Jeep Liberty when it comes to off-roading, but it’s but it’s more fuel efficient, more comfortable, more reliable, and priced in about the same range.
2005’s Honda CR-V typically lists for about a thousand dollars more than a comparable Liberty, but it’s probably the best overall SUV in the size class. It’s far more likely to pass 250,000 miles, it’s efficient, low-maintenance, and versatile.
You could throw a dart at a list of compact SUVs and find something more fuel-efficient, more reliable, and more comfortable than a Jeep Liberty. But they’re not Jeeps. If you want a rugged adventure vehicle, a Jeep is hard to beat.
Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Jeep Liberty?
Yes, very dependable. Handles bad weather with no problems. Downside is that it does not do well on gas.
Yes, runs well if we'll kept, needs better power steering but overall pleased with getting around, great in bad weather.
Yes it seems to be reliable for my kids and I. Seems to rust very fast. On the bottom by the running boards.
It is a very good vehicle. I have owned it since day one and after 14 years it is very reliable. I do take care of it though.
It is a great car. Works really well in the snow, which is key living in the northeast. I couldn't survive without it.
I would say that the jeep liberty limited is a good vehicle. It runs fairly smoothly, especially for its age. The only drawback to this model (or jeep in general) is that it is not a fuel-efficient vehicle, but I do feel very safe driving it and I like sitting up high, so I can see what it going on in traffic.
This Jeep Liberty has been an excellent vehicle for me and for my climate. I am able to get around even in the snow, the heat, the rain and so on. In addition the size of the liberty allows me to feel like I am driving a car rather than a large vehicle with the same attributes.
Yes. I love our Jeep Liberty. I feel very safe when I'm driving it. I think it's also very comfortable and we have a lot of space.