Jeep Wrangler Complaints (2003)

102 consumer complaints on file.

#11720333February 25, 2026
SUSPENSION
The factory weld on the front end driver's side stabilizer was bad and it came apart on the highway while driving , from the severe shaking it caused, and it could've killed us. The weld was not hot enough to penetrate the steel. I am a mechanic so I can attest , and be a witness , to claim it was a certifiably bad weld in the factory, and this should warrant a recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11645737March 1, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
2003 TJ frame rust all tjs have frame rust.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11523037May 20, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Frames on all these tj’s(97-06) rust and become a huge safety risk for everyone on the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11513355March 23, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while her daughter was attempting to park the vehicle, the brake pedal was extremely difficult to depress, and the vehicle did not immediately stop. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 217,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11468467June 9, 2022
STEERING
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the vehicle hit a bump in the roadway and the steering wheel started shaking significantly and the vehicle seemed to be at risk of a rollover. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,999.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11450695February 6, 2022
POWER TRAIN
05 & 06 wrangler has recall for the exact problem my 03 has. Parking pawl slides out of the brackets and then vehicle won't go into park allowing it to roll into danger and possibly kill someone. I have watched several videos on this issue and the 03 is the same as a 05 and 06. This is just as dangerous on the 03 as it is a 05 and 06 and potentially cause an accident and kill individuals.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435611October 5, 2021
STEERING
Violent shaking after hitting holes in the road during acceleration-less tan 30 MPH. My vehicle has been inspected by my mechanic, who has knowledge of the “Death Wobble”. Safety was at risk due to front end shaking violently and almost losing control of the vehicle. The problem has been confirmed by mechanic. They started to manifest about 8 months ago.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10946129January 24, 2017
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2013 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INTERMITTENT ENGINE PROBLEMS, WHILE DRIVING UP HILLS ACCELERATION SPEEDS DECREASE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED UPON DRIVING UP HILLS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, IT APPEARED THAT ANOTHER MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. OWNERS INDICATED THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS AND DYNAMIC SENSOR CONTROL NEEDED A TCM UPDATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10915075October 10, 2016
AIR BAGS
MY JEEP WRANGLER HAS HAVE THE PASSENGER SAFETY AIRBAG ALARMING SINCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AND I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR MY CAR MODEL, THEY CANNOT REPAIR IT AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS AN ISSUE OUT OF THE MANUFACTURER. JEEP MUST CORRECT THESE SAFETY CONCERNS FROM THE OWNERS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819721January 12, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD HESITATE TO START. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START, THE RADIO WOULD FAIL. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,425.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819181January 10, 2016
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
AIRBAG COVER PLASTIC ON STEERING WHEEL WAS BREAKING DOWN. THE PLASTIC BECAME VERY STICKY, AS IF SOMEONE POURED A SODA ON IT. IT WOULD NOT CLEAN OFF WITH CLEANERS OR PLASTIC PRESERVERS. I WAS NOT CONFIDENT IT WOULD WORK AS DESIGNED IF AIRBAG DEPLOYED SO I BOUGHT NEW AIRBAG UNIT FOR THE STEERING WHEEL. PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE ON MINOR GRADE. IT ALWAYS WORKED UNTIL THE LAST 2-3 YEARS. I HAVE HAD IT ADJUSTED, THE CABLES REPLACED, AND THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER MY BRAKE PADS ARE NEW OR OLD. IF I DO NOT PARK THE VEHICLE WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN GEAR, IT WILL MOVE ON ITS OWN, OR IF IT DOES NOT ROLL BACKWARDS, IT WILL, IF ANY LIGHT FORCE IS APPLIED TO IT. I HAD TO INSTALL INSTALL A HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE LOCK ON THE REAR BRAKES TO MAKE SURE MY VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE ON A GRADE I KNOW IT IS AN 'OLD' VEHICLE, BUT I LIKE IT A LOT, IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND LOOKS NEW. IT IS MECHANICALLY SIMPLE TO AND INEXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. HOWEVER I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO BUY THINGS LIKE AIRBAGS WHO'S PLASTIC DEGRADES. I AND MY MECHANIC HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE PARKING BRAKE STOPPED WORKING AS IT HAD BEFORE. HE IS A MASTER MECHANIC AND AN EXPERT MACHINIST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10787889November 3, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE JEEP WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK - HIT A POWER POLE AT AROUND 50 MPH KNOCKED IT DOWN AND THE FLIPPED THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED - THE POLICE OFFICER WHO WORKED THE WRECK SAID THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AFTER THE TYPE OF HIT THE JEEP TOOK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10749326August 18, 2015
SUSPENSION
AT 55 MPH THE JEEP SHAKES VIOLENTLY, FROM SIDE TO SIDE, UNTIL VEHICLE IS SLOWED TO 35MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747172August 8, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SUSPENSION, STEERING
TERRIBLE WOBBLE AT 45-55 MPH. TIRES AND FRONT END WOBBLE UNTIL I STOP OR SLOW BELOW 40 MPH. IT CAUSES DRIVER TO SLOW AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING NEAR REAR END COLLISIONS WHEN OTHER DRIVERS ARE FOLLOWING. AT TIMES WOBBLES SO VIOLENTLY HAVE TO EXIT FREEWAY IN ORDER TO GET IT TO STOP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10694830March 17, 2015
SUSPENSION, STEERING
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10658845November 18, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE IS NO LOW, MED OR HIGH FAN SETTINGS ON MY HEATER FAN. REPLACED HEATER RESISTOR, AND WIRING HARNESS DUE TO MELTED HARNESS. STILL NO HEATER FAN. SO AS THE LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT HAD ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ON GOING ISSUE THE HEATER FAN SWITCH. REPLACED THE SWITCH, FAN WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS DURING MY MAIL ROUTE... AFTER THE OVER WHELMING SMELL OF BURNING WIRES COMING FROM INSIDE THE DASH THE FAN QUIT WORKING. SO I CONTINUED TO FREEZE THE REST OF MY ROUTE AND HOPING THAT THE JEEP WAS NOT GOING TO CATCH FIRE. I HAD CONTACTED JEEP'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE TO VOICE MY CONCERNS, THE LADY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO FOR ME WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE QUITE AN ISSUE... I BELIEVE THAT JEEP SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH SOME JEEPS ARE OUT OF THE "FACTORY WARRANTY". THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM, AS TO ALL OF THE WIRES ARE FACTORY INSTALLED AND SHOULD BE CHANGED AND ADDRESSED QUICKLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626437August 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE RADIO AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING DID NOT TURN OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593306May 21, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO I TOOK MY JEEP IN BECAUSE WHEN I HIT BUMPS MY RADIO WOULD GO OFF AND ON, WHEN I WOULD SHAKE THE IGNITION KEYS THE RADIO GOES ON AND OFF. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ONCE THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT, DID IT AGAIN AND I TOOK IT A SECOND TIME, THEY CHARGE ME FOR NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND SAID MY KEYS WERE TO HEAVY CAUSING WEAR TEAR. A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN AND I GAVE UP WITH MY DEALER IN CHICAGO 60660. WHEN I HEARD OF THE RECENT RECALLS I E-MAILED MY LOCAL DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE ISSUE AND THAT NOW I CAN TURN OFF MY JEEP TAKE OUT THE KEYS AND RADIO WILL NOT SHUT OFF AND I FEAR MY SAFETY OF THE IGNITION TURNING OFF WHILE I AM ON THE HIGHWAY, AT 70 MPH. I WAS TOLD I COULD BRING IT IN BUT NOT COVERED IN RECALL. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY MORE MONEY TO CHRYSLER FOR THIS ON GOING ISSUE AND WILL TAKE A CHANCE OF POSSIBLE DEATH SHOULD IT STALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552291November 14, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH - 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HITTING A BRIDGE JOINT, POT HOLE, OR OTHER ROAD SURFACE BUMP, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SHAKING IS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO LESS THAN 30MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535291August 14, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
WHEN I WAS DRIVING AROUND 50 MPH I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE VEHICLE START SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD IT ALMOST WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ALREADY 5 TIMES, I AM SO SCARED TO TAKE IT ON THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I MIGHT GET INTO A WRECK. I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP FOR IT TO STOP SHAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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