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 reports
2,000 miles · Jul 18, 2004
Power Train
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENLY DOES NOT PROVIDE A POSITIVE GEAR POSITION LOCK. VEHICLE SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE. TRANSMISSION ALSO WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK INTO PARK POSITION MAKING IT WHERE YOU CAN NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CONCEN…
Read full complaint
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENLY DOES NOT PROVIDE A POSITIVE GEAR POSITION LOCK. VEHICLE SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE. TRANSMISSION ALSO WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK INTO PARK POSITION MAKING IT WHERE YOU CAN NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CONCENERED THE VEHICLE COULD SLIP INTO REVERSE FROM DRIVE ACCIDENTLY.
NHTSA ODI #10081313
7,498 miles · Jul 16, 2004
SteeringCrash
DRIVING AWAY FROM MY HOME IN RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION. TURNED CORNER AT APPROX. 5 MILES PER HOUR AND STEERING WENT OUT. WHEEL JUST SPUN ROUND AND ROUND. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10081192
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages
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
NHTSA ODI #10075349
11,000 miles · May 20, 2004
Power Train
THE GEAR SHIFTER MECHANISM HAS A CABLE THAT CONNECTS TO THE IGNITION. WHEN THIS MECHANISM FAILS AND LOCKS UP VEHICLE STALLS IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE SHIFTER STICKS IN THE GEAR. THIS DESTROYS THE IGNITION. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CABLE TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10073948
14,098 miles · Apr 22, 2004
Tires
TIRE FAILURE, BLOW OUT OF REAR DRIVERS TIRE, VERY NEAR TO ROLLOVER CONDITION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10067651
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2004
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
I HAVE AN 03 WRANGLER, YELLOW THAT HAS THE PAINT CHIPPING OFF IN SEVERAL PLACES. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 8K MILES & IS NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. THESE ARE ALL INNER CITY MILES. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY 2 DIFF DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS IS CAUSED FROM BUGS! THIS SAME JEEP HAS ALSO HAD DRIVELINE PROBLEMS. SO MUCH FOR A HEAVY DUTY OFF ROA…
Read full complaint
I HAVE AN 03 WRANGLER, YELLOW THAT HAS THE PAINT CHIPPING OFF IN SEVERAL PLACES. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 8K MILES & IS NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD. THESE ARE ALL INNER CITY MILES. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY 2 DIFF DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS IS CAUSED FROM BUGS! THIS SAME JEEP HAS ALSO HAD DRIVELINE PROBLEMS. SO MUCH FOR A HEAVY DUTY OFF ROAD VEHICLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10064471
300 miles · Mar 10, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I FEEL BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.I APPLY BRAKES BUT MY FOOT SOMETIMES HIT GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME,AND VISE-VERSA.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10061849
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2004
Seat Belts
I SAW THIS ARTICLE IN THE PARENTS MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2004 AND IT SAID THAT THESE SEATBELTS ARE NOT SAFE. THE WEBSITE THEY GAVE WAS UNSAFEBELTS.COM. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH GENERATION 3 SEATBELTS. I AM ASKING THAT A NATIONAL RECALL BE DONE ON THESE SEATBELTS. THEY BECOME UNLATCHED WITH J…
Read full complaint
I SAW THIS ARTICLE IN THE PARENTS MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2004 AND IT SAID THAT THESE SEATBELTS ARE NOT SAFE. THE WEBSITE THEY GAVE WAS UNSAFEBELTS.COM. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH GENERATION 3 SEATBELTS. I AM ASKING THAT A NATIONAL RECALL BE DONE ON THESE SEATBELTS. THEY BECOME UNLATCHED WITH JUST THE SMALL PUSH OF THE BUTTON. BY THIS I MEAN THAT MY CHILDREN AGES 7 AND 5 COULD BUMP THEIR ELBOW AGAINST IT AND IT WILL BECOME UNLATCHED. I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS TO LET MY CHILDREN LET ALONE MYSELF OF MY HUSBAND DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE SEATBELTS SO THAT WHEN WE DRIVE WE CAN FEEL SAFE AND KNOW THAT OUR SEATBELTS WILL SAVE OUR LIVES LET ALONE THE LIVES OF OTHERS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10052917
1,800 miles · Dec 29, 2003
Power Train
I HAVE A 2003 WRANGLER WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT SUFFERS FROM INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WHERE SHIFTING GEARS IS DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN ACCELERATING WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEARS, AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEARS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF THE VEHICLE DO…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2003 WRANGLER WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT SUFFERS FROM INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WHERE SHIFTING GEARS IS DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN ACCELERATING WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEARS, AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEARS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF THE VEHICLE DOES SHIFT A GRINDING/BANGING NOISE IS HEARD. I HAVE HAD THE LOCAL DEALER LOOK AT IT 4 TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM(S).*AK
NHTSA ODI #10051250
800 miles · Dec 17, 2003
Power Train
I HAVE A 2003 WRANGLER WITH A 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. IT IS EITHER HARD TO GET INTO GEAR OR IT GRINDS AS IT GOES IN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND HAS FOUND NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT AND IT NOW SEEMS TO BE WORSE DU…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2003 WRANGLER WITH A 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. IT IS EITHER HARD TO GET INTO GEAR OR IT GRINDS AS IT GOES IN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND HAS FOUND NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT AND IT NOW SEEMS TO BE WORSE DURING COLDER WEATHER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10050657
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 ↗
Illustration