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

2003 Jeep Wrangler

No clear pattern

20.2% of complaints about the 2003 Jeep Wrangler arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2003 vehicle, but with only 129 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is power train (25 complaints), typically at 1.7 yr or about 11,000 miles.

Complaints
129
Median age at failure
3.6 yr
Median mileage
26,900 n=104
Crash / fire / tow
11.6% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
25 reports · 11,000 mi
1.7 yr
0%
Suspension
18 reports · 50,000 mi
7.7 yr
5.6%
Steering
15 reports · 45,370 mi
8.9 yr
20%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS 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 WITHOUT WARNING.

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.

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.

04E041000 2004-06-07
Equipment

BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF RACK. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.

SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Power train 600 mi 8 mo in service
TRANSMISSION FAILURE - GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. CLUNK IS HEARD WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP AND VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD BEFORE CLUTCH IS LET OUT. *NLM
Power train 3,870 mi 10 mo in service
TRANSMISSION FAILURE - GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, JERKS FORWARD BEFORE CLUTCH IS LET OUT, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION TO FAIL IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Power train 3,870 mi 10 mo in service
TRANSMISSION FAILURE - GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, JERKS FORWARD BEFORE CLUTCH IS LET OUT, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION TO FAIL IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Suspension mileage not reported 9 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING ON UNEVEN SURFACE AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Other Wrangler model years

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