2003 Jeep Wrangler problems
The 2003 Jeep Wrangler has 130 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (14%) concerns suspension. After that come steering (12%) and drivetrain & axles (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 130 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 14% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 5 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 27,000 miles 105 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 41 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 22 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 11 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 105 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 27,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 50,000 miles (13 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 5 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 30th most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Jeep Wrangler with enough data (83 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Gen III buckle on 2003 jeep wrangler released during rollover accident, leading to ejection and death of dr. Zickefoose.
The road conditions were bad. While consumer was traveling at 35 MPH another vehicle turned into the consumer's vehicle, causing the vehicle to collide head on. Upon impact,the air bags did not deploy. Consumer and passenger sustained face, back, ribs, and chest injuries.
Was driving 20 MPH consumer's vehicle was hit by another vehicle that was backing out of a garage. Upon impact, frontal air bags failed to deploy. Driver sustained injuries, and had emergency room treatment.
According to internal sales brochures and advertisements the 2003 jeep wrangler rubicon is supposed to be the most capable off road jeep ever. My jeep has been nothing but problems, which consists of 2 broken axles, faulty brakes, faulty parking brake, faulty u-joint clips, faulty wheel bearing. After paying the dealer to replace parts that should have been covered under warranty, then realizing that they failed to replace another failed part, called to ask about a workaround until the needed part came in.
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.