I bought a new 06 Jeep Liberty Sport CRD at the end of March...it's been in the shop since middle of April with a cracked cylinder lining. Currently, I am waiting on a second attempt by Chrysler to deliver a new CRD engine. The first time it turned out to be a bunch of unrelated parts!

It's been an interesting and disappointing experience so far -

1) The air condition does not work...turns out that it was never connected at the factory!
2) Coolant level keeps dropping without any visable leakage--had to visit three five-star dealerships before they figured the engine has a cracked block! It seems very few techs have been trained on Diesels in general or the new CRD!

I can't get the name or number of the Chrysler (DCX) rep...no dealership or the 800 Chrysler number will give it out! They "pass along" my message that I want to talk to them about a replacement Jeep...over three weeks and no reply from DCX whatsoever! Interesting approach to customer service!!!

This is my fourth Jeep and the first time I've had any major problems...but this is certainly making up for lost time!

Jeep CRD owners should know that if they run into serious problems...Chrysler will not do anything more than is necessary by law! (My opinion and experience so far!) You would think they would bend over backwards since there are only 10,000 CRD's out there and the company is pushing diesel's!

I had to contact VM Motori directly to get an engine shipped to the Dealership...Chrysler wouldn't acknowledge they sent unrelated parts instead of a new engine!

I don't know how this is going to turn out...I would have more confidence if the Dealership had replaced a CRD before!
I don't like learning on the job with my brand-new Jeep with less than 1000 miles.

More later -

Bad story. Never heard anyone losing the engine. Yours must just be a manufacturing foul up. Perhaps some European members can comment since they have had a lot more of them.

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Dave

'06 CRD Limited, Lt. Khaki, MOPAR Slush Mats/Skids, DrawTite Front Hitch, Mag Lite, Yakima Bars, Thule Bike Rack, Fumoto, ORM, 245/70 Revo 2

Wish list: Lift, Boulder Bars, Something Bigger in the Front and Back, More Lights

Most states have Lemon laws - a combination of number of trips to repair a problem or total time in the shop - I'd read up on them.

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2005 CRD
stuff
Skeptic quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur

Definitely look into that. There are also attorneys in most major cities that do the work for free...well not for free, but you wont end up paying anything for their service, the DC will.

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-nate
LOST#NL068123 - 2005 Renegade 3.7L 4x4, Off-Road Package, Rock Rails, Skids, Command-Trac, Trac-Loc LSD, Light Bar, K&N Drop in Filter, AMSOIL LUBES, RRO's Diff Guard for 8.25", Frankenlift, & Goodyear MT/R's
Cardomain

Not good news at all, especially when I've been using coolant too.

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66K
Jeep Liberty Limited CRD Silver
Front tow hooks, rock rails
Skids, lift, 235x85 Toyo Open country A/T
Glasspack Exhaust

Contact the Lemon Law Attorney. As for me, I would park it on DCX's front steps with a HUGE Lemon painted on it. I live not far from DCX US Headquarters in Michigan.

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2005 Unlimited (LJ) Rubicon w/ 5.5" of total lift
Flat Fenders made by http://www.jpfaboffroad.com/

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Dang, and I thought _I_ had the definitive tale of woe and intrigue, but you beat me, for sure.

I'm sorry to hear of your story, nobody should have to undergo such an ordeal.

A pre-blown engine should never happen, although simple statistics predicts that if you make enough cars, sooner or later it will. And for what it is worth, it sounds to me like if you have to go that route, you've an open and shut Lemon Law case.

I've seen this poster on some other forum sites stating the same thing. Bad news travels fast and unfortunately it's the news that is most memorable. While the "cracked block" syndrome was evident in AMG line for the Diesel Hummer in the early rollouts of the product, it is very rare to see this on a CRD with wet liners unless:

Cylinder wall cavitation or liner pitting has produced a perforation in the wet liner.
Both of those instances directly point to a malfunctioning cooling system or incorrect coolant being used.

Temperature also plays a huge factor, so if this poster improperly used an ignition excelerant such as adding too much PS Cetance Boost. The increased ignition temperature can crack the cylinder.

I don't mean to imply this poster was performing poor maintenance, just potentials that caused the catastrophic failure

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2005 Black CRD Limited w/105,000 miles
Mann Provent 200, Airbox Mod, ORM Mod
New 545RFE, TC & Redesigned pump @ 25,020 miles
New EGR Flow Control Valve @ 25,020 miles
New Transfer Case input/output seals @ 32,787 miles
SEGR Kit @ 52,000 miles
SunCoast TC and Transgo Shift Kit @ 52,000 miles

DZL_LOU

Either you're not reading the entire post or you're head is in the sand. This is a very real situation, actually a nightmare that I am living through. The low coolant msg on the odometer first appeared with less than 200 miles on the vehicle! It got worse...several visits to five-star dealerships. Finally, one of the Techs noticed the coolant tank was full of soot...and when they took off the coolant cap--exhaust fumes came rolling out when the engine is running!

I am posting this true story because other Jeep owners should know what they can expect from DCX! I am not upset with VM Motori or their CRD...DCX's response to a major introduction in the American market.

I am only five days away from invoking the Lemon Law, per attorney, in my state. The Jeep will have been in the shop a total of 30 business days!

Your comment of poor maintenance makes me laugh..what PM would you suggest in the first 200 miles! Drive the Jeep under 30 miles an hour! My intent was to keep this Jeep as long as possible, so I drove it according to the owner's manual. I made sure that I never pushed it very hard! I used #2 Diesel from a major truck stop...no additives of any kind...no Bio-diesel other than B5 it shipped with!

Again, this is a real story and I would happy to give you all the names, locations, events in an private email.

VM said they will inspect the engine and get back to me with the reason for the failure. I will post that in case anyone is interested.

Sucking Dieselfumes!

Fume:
Your second post contained a bit more factual info such as having only 200 miles. Your first post, said under 1000 miles.
What happened to the vehicle between miles 200 ~ 1000?
So, if this happened at 200 miles then that changes the balance of the equation to a factory defect.

I wish you luck as the state of Oregon has one of the weakest Lemon Laws for consumers. Hope your attorney has a good track record!

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2005 Black CRD Limited w/105,000 miles
Mann Provent 200, Airbox Mod, ORM Mod
New 545RFE, TC & Redesigned pump @ 25,020 miles
New EGR Flow Control Valve @ 25,020 miles
New Transfer Case input/output seals @ 32,787 miles
SEGR Kit @ 52,000 miles
SunCoast TC and Transgo Shift Kit @ 52,000 miles

It would seem like an open and shut case. It came screwed up from the factory-- they are over capacity as is. The fact that the dealer accepted delivery of a unit without the ac working tells you alot about the dealer- they should have at least caught that-- if not the soot in the coolant.

Mine runs fine, and I am confident the rest of the vehicle will go to pieces around it before it has any problems. Hope DC takes it back and makes it right by you-- at least VM is interested in what happened to the motor.

DZL_LOU

You act as if this is my fault and it's impossible to believe that a new engine can fail or shipped defective. I don't know whether the 40% increase in production at VM or a shoddy build at the DCX Detroit factory is to blame. There is nothing that I did to cause this engine failure!

What happened between 200 miles and 1000 miles (current mileage) are multiple visits to five-star Dealerships! With several attempts at finding the reason for the coolant leakage! Including attempting to bleed air out of the engine...no one wanted to believe (same as you) the engine could have a cracked block. Of course, sometimes the problem just has to get bad enough that it can't ignored!

I can see that I am wasting my time and effort in posting factual information about a very serious problem with my new CRD Liberty and Chrysler's customer service. I was trying to find out whether I am the only one out of 10,000 CRD's, according to VM, that had to replace their engine.

It seems this forum prefers to post infomration about tires, bumpers, mileage and whether there will be an '07 CRD. Maybe it's a good thing there won't be one! It will save some other sucker from going through this!

BTW, I don't know how my states' Lemon Laws stack up to other states...but they do work... it may take time, but I know one person that forced Chrysler to re-purchase his defective Cummings Dodge pickup!

Sucking Dieselfumes1

I certainly don't blame you for being put out over your situation with your CRD. I would blame DC too if I were you but I wouldn't blame anyone here or on the other forums for the specific reason you gave, . Likely YES and that is too bad. It is also the likely reason that the dealers, DC and people here don't quite get as flamed about it as you do, and it is likely the same reason the dealers and DC are having trouble dealing with it and identifying it. It is a gross anomaly.

The Liberty CRD is a great vehicle, but you got a lemon. You can blame the Liberty, you can blame the dealer, you can blame DC you can blame forums but the reality is that you got an exceptional bad luck draw. You can either make lemons or lemonade out of it but don’t brand all CRD’s bad because of 1 in 10,000.

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Dave

'06 CRD Limited, Lt. Khaki, MOPAR Slush Mats/Skids, DrawTite Front Hitch, Mag Lite, Yakima Bars, Thule Bike Rack, Fumoto, ORM, 245/70 Revo 2

Wish list: Lift, Boulder Bars, Something Bigger in the Front and Back, More Lights

Hey Dieselfumes,

For what it is worth your vehicle has the most catastrophic failure I have ever heard of in a CRD. I don't think you caused it. Hell, I'm not really sure how someone could cause this failure in 200 miles if they wanted to. Feeding it a crapload of ether is one possibility that I can think of. Pure speculation on my part, but here goes. Vehicles on dealers lots routinely have dead batterys. Someone leaves a light on or someting. Too many short trips, whatever. I wonder if somebody at the dealer ethered the darn thing before you ever saw it. Again, I don't think you killed your Jeep, but I don't like to think VM or DC have quality contol that poor. A failure this bad is not considered acceptable in 10,000 units by any quality program I'm familiar with. I am interested in hearing how this turns out, so please keep us posted.

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Matt B.

05 Limited CRD. Bought it new. 112k on the clock now.

GDE Eco-tune, rear differential drain plug (drilled and tapped the pumpkin), transmission pan drain plug, Fumoto oil valve, fuel filler neck restriction removed, front hitch, Hayden fan clutch, Sears P1 battery since 08, Mobil 1 5w40, 5 volt glow plugs, DIY timing belt at 109k

Have been reading about your situation on another forum for some time now. Always wondered if anyone isolated the leak to the block or a bad cylinder liner. This motor is more kin to a big truck diesel than an auto motor. It is rare but you will see a bad liner or bad press fit when rebuilding a diesel, causing a pressure leak. Only speculative but the first thing I thought is that this motor was run without coolant while at the factory. This will crack a liner quickly. In as much as the A/C wasn't even hooked-up, would not be suprised to find they didn't fill the coolant either. Thinking that getting an assembled crate motor might be difficult to get for this model. Watch out for the next adjustment, "we can fix this one." Next DCX will want to send it to a DDA shop for an inframe overhaul. Should that become your only option, want to demand some warranty extension (Detroit Diesel will do it if you complain enough).

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2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Lt Khaki, sunroof

Thankful to now be an EX-CRD owner.

The bottom line on this issue, I think is that it does not matter what caused the engine failure. Whether it was a bad cast, wall cavitation, metal fatigue, or gremilins DCX should really be kissing the guy's rear and getting him a new Jeep ASAP. It clearly is DCX's problem, not the Jeep owner. He deserves better than to be jerked around with a new engine replacement done by neophyte grease monkeys with no knowledge on how to do the job. They should be taking him over to a computer printout of CRDs and say "pick one".

That would be what I would want, a fresh start and a clean slate. Not to mention some customer service.

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Matt B.

05 Limited CRD. Bought it new. 112k on the clock now.

GDE Eco-tune, rear differential drain plug (drilled and tapped the pumpkin), transmission pan drain plug, Fumoto oil valve, fuel filler neck restriction removed, front hitch, Hayden fan clutch, Sears P1 battery since 08, Mobil 1 5w40, 5 volt glow plugs, DIY timing belt at 109k

And wishful thinking says he SHOULD be paying $0.89/gal for diesel too.........
but the bottom line is that while you can WOULD, SHOULD, COULD, the cold fact is that he needs litigate, because to DCX his issue is insignificant. DCX will try to exhause every means possible including implying he's at fault, before they even think of making it right.
Any company selling products to consumers does not want to set a legal precedent on being a push-over for consumer liability.
And yes, we all heard of the guy who got his new Caravan replaced by DCX after a factory defect for a total out of pocket of $12.00........

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2005 Black CRD Limited w/105,000 miles
Mann Provent 200, Airbox Mod, ORM Mod
New 545RFE, TC & Redesigned pump @ 25,020 miles
New EGR Flow Control Valve @ 25,020 miles
New Transfer Case input/output seals @ 32,787 miles
SEGR Kit @ 52,000 miles
SunCoast TC and Transgo Shift Kit @ 52,000 miles

Thanks for staying here. Your forum gripe sounds like edmunds. I guess I was a suspect whiner there when with all my problems and others, I asked DC to step up to the plate. Never happened. DC lost their butt on the CRD(except how not to screw up the Grand Cherokees-maybe). Needed huge incentives. We early buyers did not get $7000 off msrp. We are probably not the only ones who are upside down and will be that way for some time to come. My sister said if we buy the crd we would own it a long time-we hope it's a good time ahead. We saw and bought what could've been. We love/are disappointed at times with our crd. Yes, Daimler and their subserviant Jeep people are to blame. There are posts of great crd's but I haven't found a happy camper or seen a well built one here in Texas(looked under three owned hoods and some on lots). Beta testers don't pay for the product but we did. One might think DC owes us something but that's not going to happen. Do I want a Blu-tec-I don't think so. Will we look first to gm and then asia - probably. Maybe the new plant in Toledo will build better vehicles. I posted at edmunds some time back about the posts turning to something like talk about colours and fabrics and swinging dice, but thank goodness there are some great people here. The crd is a unique vehicle and if you get a good one, you are very lucky and every turn of the key is a happy, joyous moment.

Hey Dieselfumes, don't get your panties in a wad about people not caring about your plight. I and I am sure many others are hoping that you get it fixed properly and enjoy your CRD. remember that folks tend to be a bit calous when responding on line and that folks tend to be a bit over sensitive when reading responses.

Anyway good luck and do your homework so you come out of this OK.

Keep us informed of your progress.

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Barr
06 JLL CRD 04/06/06 23K+ mi., Amsoil, Racor Fuel Filter, EHM, ORM, 3" SS exh from Turbo back, Fumoto, 245/70/16 Grabber AT2
Waiting for installation: TransGo 45RFE-HD2, S&B Air Filter, ProVent
06 Jetta TDI/DSG, RC1+, VAG-COM,
V-65 Drag Bike