What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Typical pattern

4.2% of complaints about the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (256 complaints), typically at 11.8 yr or about 112,000 miles.

Complaints
879
Median age at failure
7.3 yr
Median mileage
72,000 n=567
Crash / fire / tow
11.3% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
256 reports · 112,000 mi
11.8 yr
13.3%
Visibility
168 reports · 61,000 mi
5.2 yr
1.8%
Seats
66 reports · 99,000 mi
7.5 yr
19.7%
Service brakes, hydraulic
66 reports · 19,500 mi
2.2 yr
3%
Electrical system
59 reports · 85,500 mi
8.2 yr
5.1%
Engine cooling
44 reports · 60,500 mi
5.5 yr
4.5%
Power train
35 reports · 25,800 mi
2.6 yr
40%
Speed control
31 reports · 56,000 mi
5.2 yr
38.7%
Steering
24 reports · 138,000 mi
5.3 yr
8.3%
Engine
16 reports · 140,000 mi
12.7 yr
18.8%
Exterior lighting
15 reports · 132,000 mi
9.4 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V046000 2015-01-28
Air bags:frontal

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.

12V527000 2012-11-08
Air bags

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Inadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09V117000 2009-04-09
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 103,409 MY 2001-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES WITH HEATED SEATS AND WITH CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 06V-197 COMPLETED (03-04 MY) OR SEAT HEATER ELEMENTS SERVICE REPLACEMENT (01-02 MY). THE FRONT SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENTS COULD OVERHEAT.

OVERHEATING COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE OR INJURY.

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E064000 2006-07-17
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06V197000 2006-06-07
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HEATED SEATS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENT COULD OVERHEAT.

OVERHEATING COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE.

06E022000 2006-03-13
Service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E023000 2006-03-13
Exterior lighting:headlights

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E011000 2006-02-01
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET AIRTEX ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN 1997-2004 JEEP WRANGLER; 1997-2001 JEEP CHEROKEE; 1997-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE; AND 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL GROMMET CONNECTORS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUELS AND MAY DEGRADE CAUSING A POTENTIAL LEAK PATH FOR FUEL.

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 1 mo in service crash / fire / tow
TRANSMISSION CHANGED FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHILE PASSENGER WAS OUT OF VEHICLE. MR
Power train mileage not reported 1 mo in service crash / fire / tow
HAD JUST PUT VEHICLE (LEASED) INTO PARK POSITION WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. LEFT VEHICLE FOR A SHORT WHILE. WAS INFORMED, BY A WITNESS, THAT VEHICLE HAD BUCKED AND THEN STARTED ACCELERATING, FAST, BACKWARDS. VEHICLE THEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND INFORMED WILL BE SENDING AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR TO CHECK ON VEHICLE. MR
Power train 54 mi 3 mo in service
THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN MY NEW JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED
Engine cooling mileage not reported 4 mo in service
LOUD TAPPING NOISE EMITTED BY THE EMISSIONS CANISTER UNDER THE HOOD ON DRIVERS SIDE.

Other Grand Cherokee model years

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