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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

What owners actually said

98 reports
130,000 miles · Jan 10, 2016
Air BagsService Brakes

AIRBAG COVER PLASTIC ON STEERING WHEEL WAS BREAKING DOWN. THE PLASTIC BECAME VERY STICKY, AS IF SOMEONE POURED A SODA ON IT. IT WOULD NOT CLEAN OFF WITH CLEANERS OR PLASTIC PRESERVERS. I WAS NOT CONFIDENT IT WOULD WORK AS DESIGNED IF AIRBAG DEPLOYED SO I BOUGHT NEW AIRBAG UNIT FOR THE STEERING WHEEL. PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HO…

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AIRBAG COVER PLASTIC ON STEERING WHEEL WAS BREAKING DOWN. THE PLASTIC BECAME VERY STICKY, AS IF SOMEONE POURED A SODA ON IT. IT WOULD NOT CLEAN OFF WITH CLEANERS OR PLASTIC PRESERVERS. I WAS NOT CONFIDENT IT WOULD WORK AS DESIGNED IF AIRBAG DEPLOYED SO I BOUGHT NEW AIRBAG UNIT FOR THE STEERING WHEEL. PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE ON MINOR GRADE. IT ALWAYS WORKED UNTIL THE LAST 2-3 YEARS. I HAVE HAD IT ADJUSTED, THE CABLES REPLACED, AND THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER MY BRAKE PADS ARE NEW OR OLD. IF I DO NOT PARK THE VEHICLE WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN GEAR, IT WILL MOVE ON ITS OWN, OR IF IT DOES NOT ROLL BACKWARDS, IT WILL, IF ANY LIGHT FORCE IS APPLIED TO IT. I HAD TO INSTALL INSTALL A HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE LOCK ON THE REAR BRAKES TO MAKE SURE MY VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE ON A GRADE I KNOW IT IS AN 'OLD' VEHICLE, BUT I LIKE IT A LOT, IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND LOOKS NEW. IT IS MECHANICALLY SIMPLE TO AND INEXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. HOWEVER I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO BUY THINGS LIKE AIRBAGS WHO'S PLASTIC DEGRADES. I AND MY MECHANIC HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE PARKING BRAKE STOPPED WORKING AS IT HAD BEFORE. HE IS A MASTER MECHANIC AND AN EXPERT MACHINIST.

NHTSA ODI #10819181

120,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE JEEP WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK - HIT A POWER POLE AT AROUND 50 MPH KNOCKED IT DOWN AND THE FLIPPED THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED - THE POLICE OFFICER WHO WORKED THE WRECK SAID THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AFTER THE TYPE OF HIT THE JEEP TOOK

NHTSA ODI #10787889

95,000 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Suspension

AT 55 MPH THE JEEP SHAKES VIOLENTLY, FROM SIDE TO SIDE, UNTIL VEHICLE IS SLOWED TO 35MPH.

NHTSA ODI #10749326

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

141,255 miles · Nov 18, 2014
Electrical System

THERE IS NO LOW, MED OR HIGH FAN SETTINGS ON MY HEATER FAN. REPLACED HEATER RESISTOR, AND WIRING HARNESS DUE TO MELTED HARNESS. STILL NO HEATER FAN. SO AS THE LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT HAD ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ON GOING ISSUE THE HEATER FAN SWITCH. REPLACED THE SWITCH, FAN WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS DURING MY MAI…

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THERE IS NO LOW, MED OR HIGH FAN SETTINGS ON MY HEATER FAN. REPLACED HEATER RESISTOR, AND WIRING HARNESS DUE TO MELTED HARNESS. STILL NO HEATER FAN. SO AS THE LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT HAD ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ON GOING ISSUE THE HEATER FAN SWITCH. REPLACED THE SWITCH, FAN WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS DURING MY MAIL ROUTE... AFTER THE OVER WHELMING SMELL OF BURNING WIRES COMING FROM INSIDE THE DASH THE FAN QUIT WORKING. SO I CONTINUED TO FREEZE THE REST OF MY ROUTE AND HOPING THAT THE JEEP WAS NOT GOING TO CATCH FIRE. I HAD CONTACTED JEEP'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE TO VOICE MY CONCERNS, THE LADY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO FOR ME WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE QUITE AN ISSUE... I BELIEVE THAT JEEP SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH SOME JEEPS ARE OUT OF THE "FACTORY WARRANTY". THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM, AS TO ALL OF THE WIRES ARE FACTORY INSTALLED AND SHOULD BE CHANGED AND ADDRESSED QUICKLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10658845

30,000 miles · Aug 19, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE RADIO AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING DID NOT TURN OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE RADIO AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING DID NOT TURN OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10626437

95,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Electrical System

ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO I TOOK MY JEEP IN BECAUSE WHEN I HIT BUMPS MY RADIO WOULD GO OFF AND ON, WHEN I WOULD SHAKE THE IGNITION KEYS THE RADIO GOES ON AND OFF. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ONCE THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT, DID IT AGAIN AND I TOOK IT A SECOND TIME, THEY CHARGE ME FOR NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND SAID MY KEYS WERE TO HEAVY CAUSING WEA…

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ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO I TOOK MY JEEP IN BECAUSE WHEN I HIT BUMPS MY RADIO WOULD GO OFF AND ON, WHEN I WOULD SHAKE THE IGNITION KEYS THE RADIO GOES ON AND OFF. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ONCE THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT, DID IT AGAIN AND I TOOK IT A SECOND TIME, THEY CHARGE ME FOR NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND SAID MY KEYS WERE TO HEAVY CAUSING WEAR TEAR. A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN AND I GAVE UP WITH MY DEALER IN CHICAGO 60660. WHEN I HEARD OF THE RECENT RECALLS I E-MAILED MY LOCAL DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE ISSUE AND THAT NOW I CAN TURN OFF MY JEEP TAKE OUT THE KEYS AND RADIO WILL NOT SHUT OFF AND I FEAR MY SAFETY OF THE IGNITION TURNING OFF WHILE I AM ON THE HIGHWAY, AT 70 MPH. I WAS TOLD I COULD BRING IT IN BUT NOT COVERED IN RECALL. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY MORE MONEY TO CHRYSLER FOR THIS ON GOING ISSUE AND WILL TAKE A CHANCE OF POSSIBLE DEATH SHOULD IT STALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593306

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

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.

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