2002 Jeep Liberty Limited from North America - Comments

Multiple internal engine parts broke in pieces while the PCM (man computer) fried. We tried to start the car after we stopped to watch 4th of July fireworks display. The car sounded horrible and really rough. We tried driving it. It shut down multiple times.

We then had it towed to a service director at a Chrysler dealer who told us "he thought" the PCM (Powertrain Control Module, aka the main computer = the car's brain) had fried. We were in shock! After debating the absurd news we OK'd to have it replaced. After it was replaced, the dealer called us back and said that cylinder number 5 had zero compression and that he needed to open the engine. A couple of hours later he called again saying that the rocker arm and spring were broken in pieces, and that a valve had been shot into the cylinder. I was shocked.

We always maintained out cars very well with well documented records. This is a 6 year new car, looking brand new inside and out and with 81K miles. Simply unacceptable! The repair bill is adding up quickly.

I called Chrysler. Some customer service guy told me on the stop that they would not pay for anything. We're fixing the car and selling it. WILL NEVER TOUCH ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE AGAIN in our lives, and will also write to the Florida State Attorney General. I plan on suing Chrysler as one should not expect to have metal parts brake like plastic inside an engine that sounded brand new (so quiet it was as a result of our care for the car). LOOK ELSEWHERE IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE POSTING HERE IN THE FUTURE.

Cristiano & Luciana Alves.

One thing to note is the handling. It corners very poorly, but the main thing here is that this is a very unreliable car. DO NOT BUY IT!

Hi, I had the same fault; piston #5 the rocker came off on starting it. The dealers placed it back on and it cost me $400.

One week later it happened again.

This time they removed the head and sent it to a head re builder, they replace the valve and spring, all for $2000.

Got it home next day drove it out of the garage for a wash and polish, 4 hours later started it running on 5 cylinders.

Back to dealer, this time piston #2 on right side rocker has fallen off.

Back for a new rebuild another $2000 approx.

Jeep have resolved this problem in anything newer than a 2005 model, but they don't acknowledge it.

I have the same issue with my 2002 Liberty. The #5 rocker arm fell off (I'm not one with an extensive understanding of car anatomy, so forgive me if I write something that doesn't make sense!) in March. It cost $400 to fix it. Four weeks ago, three of the rocker arms fell off. The mechanic sent it in to have the valve guides (not to be confused with "valve guys" which don't actually exist, but which I thought the mechanic was saying for most of the conversation!) redone. He said this should fix the problem, but I'm concerned that it will not based on previous users' comments. My mechanic alluded to the fact that the manufacturer should be sued. Where's my bail-out?!

I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty as well that has had this same problem, but with the #4 rocker arm. February 2008 they fixed some valves and with labor cost me about $350; now the day after Christmas went to start the car and again terrible "clunk" sound. I had the car towed to the place where they fixed it before, only to be told it was the same one and now it would be $2672 just in parts to get fixed, that doesn't even include labor, to which it took them 2 days to actually figure it out. Is it worth the repairs or to just get a whole new engine? It sounds like if I get this repaired that it might happen again???

I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty. I loved it till about 6 weeks ago when it started spitting rocker arms. I have had it towed 3 times and have replaced; lifters, springs, and rocker arms only for it to be setting in the driveway with yet another thrown rocker arm. Each time it's been on the passenger side, but not the same rocker arm just random... No one has any idea how to fix this problem. I have well over $1000.00 into it and still can't drive it. Now some are saying maybe an oil pressure problem. I live in a very small town and nobody knows how to fix this - All I have is a lot of people guessing - I have no idea what I'm going to do. I do know I will NEVER own another Liberty!