IllustrationREAR WINDOW POPS OPEN WHEN THE FORWARD DOORS ARE CLOSED. ALSO POPS OPEN WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. LETS THE RAIN IN AND RATTLES. POOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN. *JB
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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →98Owner complaints
Model-year median: 265
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2003 Jeep Wrangler
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 98 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Power Train: 22 reports
- Suspension: 18 reports
- Steering: 14 reports
- Electrical System: 9 reports
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 9 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
370–25K
1425–50K
1050–75K
775–100K
9100–150K
1150K+
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
Latches/locks/linkages complaints
3 reportsI PURCHASED A NEW 2003 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON IN MAY OF 2003 WITH THE DUAL TOP OPTION. SINCE DAY ONE, WHENEVER THE FULL HARD DOOR IS SHUT WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND THE HARDTOP ON, THE REAR GLASS POPS OPEN. THE REAR GLASS ALSO POPS OPEN WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THEN THE REAR GLASS JUST FLOPS AROUND AND HITS THE SPARE …
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON IN MAY OF 2003 WITH THE DUAL TOP OPTION. SINCE DAY ONE, WHENEVER THE FULL HARD DOOR IS SHUT WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND THE HARDTOP ON, THE REAR GLASS POPS OPEN. THE REAR GLASS ALSO POPS OPEN WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THEN THE REAR GLASS JUST FLOPS AROUND AND HITS THE SPARE TIRE AND YOU HAVE TO GET OUT AND PUSH IT SHUT, OTHERWISE I'M AFRAID IT MIGHT BREAK THE REAR GLASS. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS TO NEVER DRIVE WITH THE REAR WINDOW OPEN (ON SOFT TOP) UNLESS YOU ALSO HAVE THE FRONT WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN OR EXHAUST FUMES MAY ENTER THE DRIVER/PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE POISIONING! I ASSUME THE SAME THING CAN HAPPEN WITH THE HARD TOP ON WHEN THE REAR GLASS IS OPEN 2-3 INCHES AND FLOPPING AROUND! I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY TRIED LOWERING THE REAR GLASS BY ADJUSTING THE HINGES ON THE GLASS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I CONTACTED JEEP "STAR" TECH SUPPORT ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS AND FILED A COMPLAINT (FILE # 11586375) THE SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR DEALERSHIP SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON SOME OTHER HARD TOP JEEPS AND I ALSO HAVE SEEN THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET ON JEEP FORUM CHAT ROOMS. APPARENTLY JEEP DOES'T TAKE THE PROBLEM SERIOUSLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 1 1/2 YEARS AND IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET. MAYBE WHEN SOMEONE DIES FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING THEY WILL TAKE ACTION! I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE 2003 HARDTOP RELIES ON THE REAR TAILGATE TO KEEP THE REAR GLASS CLOSED AND THERE ISN'T ENOUGH OVERLAP TO SECURELY HOLD THE REAR GLASS IN PLACE.*AK
PAINT PEELING OFF OF FENDERS AND ON THE HINDGES OF THE HARD TOP AND DOORS. THERE IS A CONSTANT TICKING, RATTLE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE DRIVEN WITH THE HEAD MECHANIC,AND THE DEPT. MANAGER. THEY BOTH HAVE HEARD THE SOUND. THE JEEP HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP "9" TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXHISTS. I HAVE LOSS CONFIDENCE IN…
Read full complaint
PAINT PEELING OFF OF FENDERS AND ON THE HINDGES OF THE HARD TOP AND DOORS. THERE IS A CONSTANT TICKING, RATTLE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE DRIVEN WITH THE HEAD MECHANIC,AND THE DEPT. MANAGER. THEY BOTH HAVE HEARD THE SOUND. THE JEEP HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP "9" TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXHISTS. I HAVE LOSS CONFIDENCE IN THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPT.*AK
Recall campaigns
0No 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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.