[Brian S]

I'm looking for a car/SUV for my girlfriend to commute to work. I had started looking around at Cherokees, but then found Liberty's to be in nearly the same price range, and was probably a better SUV for her to drive.

I found a 2002 Liberty Sport 4WD locally. Most standard options, PW, PD, Cruise, etc. Current mileage is 78,600. The owner is asking $9,500. He has been trying to sell it since last fall. The truck belongs to his company and was a daily work vehicle for an employee. It's in pretty good physical appearance considering the miles.

So yesterday, I ask to have it a few hours to drive and take to the Jeep dealer to have it inspected. I noticed something strange when driving it on the highway. Up to speed, anywhere above 50, every time I let off the gas, the truck would jerk to the left. Maybe once or twice, it jerked to the right. But it was every time. It was slightly windy on the highway, and the roads were wet. It was a very disconcerting feeling.

I mentioned it to the shop guy, and made sure they would test drive it. An hour later, the truck comes out of the shop, and the guy give me the report: good tread on tires, oil overfilled, steering fluid really dirty, brakes need to be replaced, ball joints need to be replaced.

His tech noted the same jerking motion after letting of the gas, and also said it was disconcerting. He did not know what the cause was, had never encountered it, and didn't know exactly how to go about repairing it. He said there is a "V" type frame piece in the rear that connects to the drive shaft, and that appeared loose. He surmised repairing that might help the problem.

Another person in the office suggested that if the ball joints were really bad, it might cause something like that jerking. Or, if the car was really out of alignment, it might jerk back to correct itself when letting off.

Here's the kicker: on the way back up, it didn't seem to jerk at all. Which is weird, because I couldn't make not happen on the way down. On the way down, I thought maybe it was the wind (it is windy on that stretch) or groves in the road. But it jerked no matter what I did.

Otherwise, the truck seems fairly good. It does need some work, which may be costly. Dealer quoted about $450-500 to replace front brakes and rotors. He guessed ball joints might be $800.

I'm looking to you experts who have owned these things for a while. Have you ever experienced a "jerking" in your truck? What do you think of the condition of the vehicle for its miles? Are there other, more costly things that may need repair soon? Does it seem like a fair deal?

I figure I might be able to get him down a grand or maybe more, but I'm a little leery of this truck. Consumer reports says the Liberty is "jittery". On normal city streets, it seems fine, but I am little worried about my girlfriend driving this truck on the highway at 70MPH, and also concerned because it does not have anti-lock brakes. She does love the truck, though. I want her to be happy with her vehicle, and to be safe.

Thanks for reading this far. Your input is very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

[Cards81fan]

IMHO That wagon should sell for about 9k if it was mechically solid. If it needs 1300 in work, I'd try and pick it up for 7500. Or, even better have him have the dealer repair it AND check it over with you while it's in the shop. They try and pick it up for as low as you can.

With what you have described though, I might look around a bit more and find some soccer moms who just graduated up to a WK or Commander and are looking to unload their old wagons

[marlon_jbt]

For future reference, Consumer Reports deems everything that's not Japanese unreliable. They're not too well liked around these parts.

[bethanysrydthis]

The price is a little steep in my opinion. I got my 03 with 25,000 miles for $12,000 out the door at a dealership, it still had plenty of warranty left on it. Without the warranty and that much work needed, I dont think I would pay more than $8,000 for it.

~Bethany

[cerich]

the ball joints might be covered under the recall so thus saves $800

[jeepjeepster]

I would say the "jerk" youre talking about was the front wheels getting ready to fall off. Ball joints SUCK on the libbys, most people are upgrading them to moog's. The libby is a very safe suv, i would not worry about that. I would be worried about a girl driving it without abs, thats just somethings most girls cant deal with it knowing how to drive a car with no abs. I would pass it up.

The V he was talking about is the rear suspension, that takes place of the upper control arms. The only thing that needs to be done to that is tighten it up or replace the bushings in it, no biggie. Replacing the brakes is a given, dirty power steering fluid is not a biggie. Company trucks are usually used hard, alot of starting and stopping, i wouldnt buy a company truck.

[Brian S]

Thanks for the advice everyone. You hear it from enough people, and you start to listen. I think I'm gonna pass on this truck unless I can steal it.

What is the deal with the warranty anyway? A local independent (not Jeep) stealership has an '02 Sport with ~22,000 miles and an '03 Limited with ~49,000 miles for $15,900 and $14,900, respectively. It seems a little steep for both, though both "look" good. I suspect I might be able to deal a little, but I figure still expensive. Is there any kind of warranty left on these guys? That might make them worth a bit more.

Thanks,

Brian

[Cards81fan]

People are driving new 05-06 4x4 Sports of the lot for 18-20k depending on equipment.

If you/she don't drive alot, I think I might try to pick up the 03 Limited for 11-12k or so.

If you are driving alot of mileage, then I may consider the '02 but I definately wouldnt pay 16k for it. Even with the lower mileage it's now 4 or 5 years old and is 'only' a Sport. What 11k for it maybe?

(FWIW my 2005 is a Sport)

[Brian S]

I got it backwards, the Sport is an '03 for $15,900 and the Limited is an '02 for $14,900. He thinks the Sport may have a transferable warranty, which is my question. Is the original warranty transferrable, and what are the circumstances? That would be great if I could get a private party sale that still had a warranty on it.

BTW, I said that $15,900 was more than I was willing to spend and we were probably several thousand off and he said no-can-do. So much for these.

Thanks,

Brian

[yell2000]

We just picked up an '02 Limited with 32,700 miles for $13,200 in December.

[kammi10]

dont; forget about mine although the lowest i can go is 13k
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230431

[Diesel Inferno]

Chrysler was having the very same problem with ball joints on the early Libertys as they had on the Durangos. I would assume its the ball joints it may be covered under a recall. I still would not buy the thing without at least a $1500 reduction in the selling price.