Jeep Wrangler / 2003
2003 Jeep Wrangler problems
Owners have filed 130 complaints about the 2003 Jeep Wrangler with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 19.2% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of suspension at 13.8%.
Complaints130
Crashes11
Fires3
Injuries5
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Power train 19.2% · 25
Suspension 13.8% · 18
Steering 11.5% · 15
Fuel system, gasoline 6.9% · 9
Electrical system 6.9% · 9
Service brakes, hydraulic 6.2% · 8
Air bags 5.4% · 7
Engine and engine cooling 4.6% · 6
Severity
Of those complaints, 11 describe a crash, 3 describe a fire, 5 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 35 model years of the Jeep Wrangler in this data, 2003 sits 31st by complaint volume. 2018 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 4 in the last three years against 5 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 26,895 miles.
In owners' own words
Automatic transmission intermittenly does not provide a positive gear position lock. Vehicle slips into neutral from drive. Transmission also will not properly lock into park position making it where you can not remove the key from the ignition. Taken vehicle back to dealership twice and they can not find the problem. Concenered the vehicle could slip into reverse from drive accidently. Power train · reported at 2,000 miles
05 & 06 wrangler has recall for the exact problem my 03 has. Parking pawl slides out of the brackets and then vehicle won't go into park allowing it to roll into danger and possibly kill someone. I have watched several videos on this issue and the 03 is the same as a 05 and 06. This is just as dangerous on the 03 as it is a 05 and 06 and potentially cause an accident and kill individuals. Power train
I have a 2003 Wrangler with a 5-speed transmission. I have had a problem when shifting into second and third gear. It is either hard to get into gear or it grinds as it goes in. The dealership has looked at three different times and has found no problem. The vehicle now has 14,000 miles on it and it now seems to be worse during colder weather. Power train · reported at 800 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…