2003 JEEP WRANGLER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
129
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
5
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER
The 2003 JEEP WRANGLER has received a total of 129 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. 5 technical service bulletins have been issued by Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (12 complaints), Suspension (11 complaints), and Fuel System Gasoline (8 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER, potentially affecting up to 76,755 vehicles.
Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
View full details →Recall 06E022000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 7,440 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS...
Consequence: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
View full details →Recall 06E011000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 7,291 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AFTERMARKET AIRTEX ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN 1997-2004 JEEP WRANGLER; 1997-2001 JEEP CHEROKEE; 1997-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE; AND 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL GROMMET CONNECTORS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUELS AND MAY DEGRADE CAUSING A POTENTIAL LEAK PATH FOR FUEL.
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-880-3056.
View full details →Recall 04E041000 — EQUIPMENT
| 80 vehicles affected
Defect: BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY...
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER
129 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
2003 TJ frame rust all tjs have frame rust.
Frames on all these tj’s(97-06) rust and become a huge safety risk for everyone on the road.
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.
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.
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.
Safety Rating for the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) has issued 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
2300504 — STRUCTURE:BODY
SOFT TOP ZIPPER CLEANER AND LUBRICANT - FOR DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WINDOW ZIPPERS. *TT
0802703 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CLUTCH PEDAL POSITION SWITCH MAKES CLICK-LIKE SOUND WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *TT
03011 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:INTERCONNECTING ASSEMBLY(WIRING)
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) G-SWITCH HARNESS CONNECTOR MAY BE INCORRECTLY WIRED. *TT
02017A — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NV3550 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE SUSPECT THIRD GEAR WELD. THIS SUPPLEMENT REPLACES 02-017 DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. *TT
02011 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
THIS RAPID RESPONSE STATES THAT 403 SUSPECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE TWO ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS FUEL INJECTOR CONNECTORS THAT MAY BE CONNECTED TO THE WRONG INJECTOR. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 JEEP WRANGLER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the JEEP WRANGLER
- 1998 JEEP WRANGLER — 401 complaints
- 1999 JEEP WRANGLER — 262 complaints
- 2000 JEEP WRANGLER — 310 complaints
- 2001 JEEP WRANGLER — 235 complaints
- 2002 JEEP WRANGLER — 139 complaints
- 2003 JEEP WRANGLER (current)
- 2004 JEEP WRANGLER — 281 complaints
- 2005 JEEP WRANGLER — 756 complaints
- 2006 JEEP WRANGLER — 852 complaints
- 2007 JEEP WRANGLER — 790 complaints
- 2008 JEEP WRANGLER — 1,251 complaints
Other JEEP Models
- JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — 39,293 total complaints
- JEEP CHEROKEE — 20,448 total complaints
- JEEP LIBERTY — 11,694 total complaints
- JEEP COMPASS — 5,865 total complaints
- JEEP PATRIOT — 4,351 total complaints
- JEEP COMMANDER — 3,920 total complaints
- JEEP RENEGADE — 3,408 total complaints
- JEEP WRANGLER 4-DR 4X4 — 1,812 total complaints