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
What owners actually said
98 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL, HIS FOOT WOULD STRIKE THE CLUTCH PIN AND KNOCK IT LOOSE. THIS CAUSED CLUTCH FAILURE AND PREVENTED HIM FROM SHIFTING GEARS. HE WOULD HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE TO PUT THE PIN BACK IN PLACE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN HIS FO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL, HIS FOOT WOULD STRIKE THE CLUTCH PIN AND KNOCK IT LOOSE. THIS CAUSED CLUTCH FAILURE AND PREVENTED HIM FROM SHIFTING GEARS. HE WOULD HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE TO PUT THE PIN BACK IN PLACE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN HIS FOOT STRUCK THE CLUTCH PIN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FURTHER STATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH PEDAL BIN WOULD FALL STRAIGHT DOWN AS IF HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE PEDAL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.
STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY ON 2003 JEEP WRANGLER...100% STOCK EQUIPMENT...SHIMMY FIRST NOTICED SUMMER 2007...HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE WITH NO EFFECT...HAD FRONT TIRES REBALANCED WITH NO EFFECT...PERFORMED TSB 19-003-06...WHILE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT THE SHIMMY IS NOT GONE AND AT TIMES THE VEHICLE FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY LEADING TO AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. VEHICLE WARRANTY FOR THESE ITEMS IS ONLY 3 YEAR/30,000 MILE. SAFETY EQUIPMENT SUCH AS AIRBAGS AND SEATBELTS SHOULD BE A LONGER WARRANTY FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME IF THEIR PERFORMANCE CAN BE AFFECTED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE, I.E. ELEC…
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AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY LEADING TO AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. VEHICLE WARRANTY FOR THESE ITEMS IS ONLY 3 YEAR/30,000 MILE. SAFETY EQUIPMENT SUCH AS AIRBAGS AND SEATBELTS SHOULD BE A LONGER WARRANTY FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME IF THEIR PERFORMANCE CAN BE AFFECTED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE, I.E. ELECTRONIC FAILURES. *TR
2003 JEEP WRANGLER TJ, THE CONTACT POINTS FOR THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ARE OPEN TO THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. HAD A HOCKEY STICK BLADE (MADE OF FIBERGLASS) TOUCH THESE CONTACTS AND CATCH THE STICK AND THE CARPET ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. NOTICED BURNING SMELL WHEN SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, THOUGHT IT WAS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE, PULLED AWAY …
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2003 JEEP WRANGLER TJ, THE CONTACT POINTS FOR THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ARE OPEN TO THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. HAD A HOCKEY STICK BLADE (MADE OF FIBERGLASS) TOUCH THESE CONTACTS AND CATCH THE STICK AND THE CARPET ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. NOTICED BURNING SMELL WHEN SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, THOUGHT IT WAS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE, PULLED AWAY FROM INTERSECTION, LOOKED IN BACK AND THERE WAS A FIRE INSIDE THE RIGHT REAR CORNER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AS IF IT WERE LOSING POWER AND ABOUT TO STALL. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WOULD N…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AS IF IT WERE LOSING POWER AND ABOUT TO STALL. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW FUEL PUMP. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $400. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
WARPED ROTORS ON 2003 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 23,000 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. PLUS, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AS FAST AS IT SHOULD BECAUSE THE BRAKE PADS DID NOT APPLY EVEN PRESSURE ON WARPED ROTORS. IF NOT FIXED MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ROTORS AND BRAKE…
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WARPED ROTORS ON 2003 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 23,000 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. PLUS, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AS FAST AS IT SHOULD BECAUSE THE BRAKE PADS DID NOT APPLY EVEN PRESSURE ON WARPED ROTORS. IF NOT FIXED MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $375.00. *AK
STEERING SHIMMIED AT 45 MPH UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE THE SAME EXACT SCENARIO AS IN ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE ABOUT THE STEERING SHIMMY. *AK
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 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.
REAR 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
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.