IllustrationDRIVER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT CAME APART. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales 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
Suspension complaints
18 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONTEND OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL. THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO PERSIST UNTIL THE VEHICLE DECELERATES TO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE DEALER INSTALLED A HEAVY DUTY STEE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONTEND OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL. THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO PERSIST UNTIL THE VEHICLE DECELERATES TO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE DEALER INSTALLED A HEAVY DUTY STEERING DAMPENER ON THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER FAILURES SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.
BALL JOINT CRACKED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A HEAVY TRAFFIC INTERSECTION,AT LOW SPEED. VEHICLE WHEN OUT OF CONTROL SPINNING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HITTING MEDIUM. *JB
"DEATH WOBBLE". ON AN INCONSISTENT BASIS THE FRONT END BEGINS TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. IT FEELS AS THOUGH ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO STOP SHAKING IS TO PULL OFF HIGHWAY AND SLOW DOWN BELOW 30 MPH. DEALER REPLACED STEERING DAMPER BUT DID…
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"DEATH WOBBLE". ON AN INCONSISTENT BASIS THE FRONT END BEGINS TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. IT FEELS AS THOUGH ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO STOP SHAKING IS TO PULL OFF HIGHWAY AND SLOW DOWN BELOW 30 MPH. DEALER REPLACED STEERING DAMPER BUT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS NOW AT A 4WD SUSPENSION SPECIALIST WHO HAS HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BUT OVER THE PAST WEEK CANNOT IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM. *JB
I HAVE A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER (UNDER WARRANTY FOR ABOUT 1 MORE WEEK) THAT HAS ONLY BEEN USED TO DRIVE TO WORK AND BACK, AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP, THE FRONT END SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY, AND I FEEL AS IF I WILL LOSE CONTROL. I TOOK IT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN A TIRE PLACE AND THE JEEP DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDE…
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I HAVE A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER (UNDER WARRANTY FOR ABOUT 1 MORE WEEK) THAT HAS ONLY BEEN USED TO DRIVE TO WORK AND BACK, AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP, THE FRONT END SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY, AND I FEEL AS IF I WILL LOSE CONTROL. I TOOK IT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN A TIRE PLACE AND THE JEEP DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED TIRES BUT THE TIRE PLACE SAYS I DON'T AND SINCE I AM UNDER WARRANTY THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED, AND THE ROTORS TURNED, BUT IT STILL SHAKES. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS FINE, BUT ON ONE OF MY TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE MECHANIC SAID TO ME, "OH, YOU ARE THE ONE WITH THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'." THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED IT NEEDED A NEW STABILIZER BAR AND TRIED TO SELL ME A MORE EXPENSIVE ONE, BUT I INSISTED WITH THE WARRANTY THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT WITH A WARRANTED PART, THEY DID AND FOUND A BROKEN BUSHING AND REPLACED IT, BUT IT STILL WOBBLES. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT LOOKED UP THE HISTORY OF MY CAR AND SAID THAT THE OTHER PLACE REPLACED EVERYTHING THEY WOULD AND SENT ME HOME IN TEARS. IT WOBBLED ALL THE WAY HOME. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MORE THAN 40 MILES AN HOUR AND CAN'T GET ANYONE TO HELP WITH THIS. I FEEL THAT I AM GETTING THE "RUN AROUND" BECAUSE I AM A GIRL. IT IS NOT SAFE FOR OTHERS OR ME TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE BROKE. THE AXLE WAS REPLACED. *NLM
JEEP SHAKES AT 40-55 MILE PER HOUR, 16,000 MILES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON UNEVEN SURFACE AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.