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2003 Jeep Wrangler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Jeep Wrangler are lower than the model-year median of 265.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

78 reports with mileage · 20 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

Steering complaints

14 reports
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141,999 miles · Jun 9, 2022
Steering

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the vehicle hit a bump in the roadway and the steering wheel started shaking significantly and the vehicle seemed to be at risk of a rollover. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towe…

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The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the vehicle hit a bump in the roadway and the steering wheel started shaking significantly and the vehicle seemed to be at risk of a rollover. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,999.

NHTSA ODI #11468467

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2021
Steering

Violent shaking after hitting holes in the road during acceleration-less tan 30 MPH. My vehicle has been inspected by my mechanic, who has knowledge of the “Death Wobble”. Safety was at risk due to front end shaking violently and almost losing control of the vehicle. The problem has been confirmed by mechanic. They started to ma…

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Violent shaking after hitting holes in the road during acceleration-less tan 30 MPH. My vehicle has been inspected by my mechanic, who has knowledge of the “Death Wobble”. Safety was at risk due to front end shaking violently and almost losing control of the vehicle. The problem has been confirmed by mechanic. They started to manifest about 8 months ago.

NHTSA ODI #11435611

112,000 miles · Aug 8, 2015
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

TERRIBLE WOBBLE AT 45-55 MPH. TIRES AND FRONT END WOBBLE UNTIL I STOP OR SLOW BELOW 40 MPH. IT CAUSES DRIVER TO SLOW AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING NEAR REAR END COLLISIONS WHEN OTHER DRIVERS ARE FOLLOWING. AT TIMES WOBBLES SO VIOLENTLY HAVE TO EXIT FREEWAY IN ORDER TO GET IT TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10747172

50,000 miles · Mar 17, 2015
SteeringSuspension

THE WRANGLER "DEATH WOBBLE". VIOLENT SHAKING AFTER REACHING SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. MUST SLOW DOWN AND ALMOST COME TO A STOP TO STOP THE SHAKING. FIRST OCCURRED A YEAR AGO. TOOK IT OUR REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZATION SHOCK, WHICH SEEMED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. IT THEN STARTED TO RE-OCCUR APPROXIM…

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THE WRANGLER "DEATH WOBBLE". VIOLENT SHAKING AFTER REACHING SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. MUST SLOW DOWN AND ALMOST COME TO A STOP TO STOP THE SHAKING. FIRST OCCURRED A YEAR AGO. TOOK IT OUR REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZATION SHOCK, WHICH SEEMED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. IT THEN STARTED TO RE-OCCUR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER. NOW IT IS DOING IT ALL THE TIME, EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694830

96,000 miles · Nov 14, 2013
SteeringSuspension

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH - 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HITTING A BRIDGE JOINT, POT HOLE, OR OTHER ROAD SURFACE BUMP, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SHAKING IS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO LESS THAN 30MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552291

79,732 miles · Aug 14, 2013
SteeringSuspensionWheels

WHEN I WAS DRIVING AROUND 50 MPH I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE VEHICLE START SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD IT ALMOST WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ALREADY 5 TIMES, I AM SO SCARED TO TAKE IT ON THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I MIGHT GET INTO A WRECK. I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP FOR IT TO…

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WHEN I WAS DRIVING AROUND 50 MPH I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE VEHICLE START SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD IT ALMOST WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ALREADY 5 TIMES, I AM SO SCARED TO TAKE IT ON THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I MIGHT GET INTO A WRECK. I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP FOR IT TO STOP SHAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535291

110,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012
SteeringSuspension

WHEN THE JEEP IS IN THE 40 TO 50 MPH RANGE, A "DEATH WOBBLE" HAPPENS. SOMETIMES BY ITSELF AND SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE OR STREET PATCH. I HAVE HAD AUTO PROFESSIONALS LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MOST OF THE TIME THE SOLUTION IS TO FIX A SYMPTOM BUT NOT THE ACTUAL CAUSE. WHEN THIS HAPP…

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WHEN THE JEEP IS IN THE 40 TO 50 MPH RANGE, A "DEATH WOBBLE" HAPPENS. SOMETIMES BY ITSELF AND SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE OR STREET PATCH. I HAVE HAD AUTO PROFESSIONALS LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MOST OF THE TIME THE SOLUTION IS TO FIX A SYMPTOM BUT NOT THE ACTUAL CAUSE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKES MUST IMMEDIATELY APPLIED HARD WHICH HAS CAUSE NEAR REAR END COLLISIONS. IF AUTO PROFESSIONALS CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE THEN THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS NOT A REMOTE ISSUE. IF YOU GOOGLE DEATH WOBBLE WRANGLER IT WILL RETURN OVER 110,000 HITS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468836

45,370 miles · Mar 23, 2012
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRACK BAR AND STEERING DAMPENER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRACK BAR AND STEERING DAMPENER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,370.

NHTSA ODI #10452792

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2011
SteeringSuspension

WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE "DEATH WOBBLE". HAVE BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE WOBBLE RETURNS SHORTLY AFTER WE GET THE JEEP BACK ON THE ROAD. HELP.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436068

19,000 miles · May 19, 2010
SteeringSuspension

INCIDENTS WITH STOCK 2003 JEEP WRANGLER X 35,000 MILES . VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. INCIDENT IS KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. HAS OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE ON MANY OCCASIONS. IT IS VERY HARD TO JEEP THE JEEP ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331217

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Jeep Wrangler problems