2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 761 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 Grand Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 48 involved a crash and 14 involved a fire. 56 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontalJan 28, 2015
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527 and 13V040. All owners that have not had the recall repair performed under safety recalls 12V527 or 13V040 are strongly encouraged to have it performed and not wait for the final remedy to be deployed to the field. The recall began on December 29, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R06.
Campaign 15V046000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsNov 8, 2012
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, through March 28, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, through May 23, 2003. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
Inadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag control module, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall by interim letter in January 2013. The remedy for affected Liberty vehicles is expected to be available in April 2013. The remedy for affected Grand Cherokee vehicles is expected to be available later in the year. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
Campaign 12V527000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, seat heater/coolerApr 9, 2009
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 103,409 MY 2001-2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES WITH HEATED SEATS AND WITH CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 06V-197 COMPLETED (03-04 MY) OR SEAT HEATER ELEMENTS SERVICE REPLACEMENT (01-02 MY). THE FRONT SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENTS COULD OVERHEAT.
OVERHEATING COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE OR INJURY.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT HEATER ELEMENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 09V117000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingJul 17, 2006
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
Campaign 06E064000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, seat heater/coolerJun 7, 2006
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HEATED SEATS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENT COULD OVERHEAT.
OVERHEATING COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 06V197000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMar 13, 2006
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
Campaign 06E023000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulicMar 13, 2006
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 RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
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.
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.
Campaign 06E022000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpFeb 1, 2006
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.
IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.
Campaign 06E011000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
70 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 19, 2004
BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR FAILURE AFTER ONE YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE - ALL YEARS (INTERNET BASED RESEARCH) THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THAT THESE PARTS (BRAKES AND ROTORS) ARE ONLY WARRANTEED FOR ONE YEAR OR 12K MILES. MOST OTHER PARTS ARE WARRANTEED FOR 3 YEARS AND 36K MILES. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTUER (CHRYSLER) AND THEY HAVE HAD THIS SAFETY PROBLEM FOR YEARS OF PRODUCTION WITH THIS MODEL. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTUER REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. DUE TO THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE BY CHRYSLER AND THEIR GREATLY REDUCED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON JUST THESE ITEMS (WHICH INDICATES THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM) IT IS DETERMINED THAT A SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS THAT COULD HAVE OR ALREADY HAS CAUSED INJURY TO OTHERS. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 13, 2004
ROTORS ON MY 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. FIRST TIME BRAKES WENT BAD STARTING AT 10,000, HAD THEM REPLACED AT 12,200 DEALER PAID, SECOND TIME ROTORS WENT BAD AFTER 5000 MI. I HAD TO CALL CHRYSLER TOOK 40 MINUTES. THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR PARTS, STATED HE WAS GOING OUT ON A LIMB. ROTORS ARE BAD AGAIN AFTER ONLY 4000 MI.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 2, 2004
WE HAVE A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LARADO. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 21,000 MILES DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. THE ROTORS WERE TURNED. BY 22,500 MILES THEY AGAIN STARTED VIBRATING THE FRONT END. WE WERE ON A LONG TRIP AND BY 26,000 MILES THE FRONT END WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY EACH TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE BRAKES AT NO COST AND INSTALLED NEW ROTORS.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 12, 2004
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND INFORMED HIM THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 29, 2004
VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN BREAKING OVER 45 MPH. DEALER HAS STATED WARPED ROTORS AS THE CAUSE. VEHICLE HAS 26,000 MILES AND ROTORS WERE OUT OF WARRANT AT 12,000 MILES.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 15, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, CONSUMER NOTICED AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE HARD. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND SAID THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *LA
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 9, 2004
BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE PULSATION AND VIBRATION WAS WORSE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 11, 2004
AT 5000 MILES, VEHICLE SHIMMIED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 50 MPH. AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE THE PROBLEM RECURRED 11,000 MILES LATER. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 8, 2004
HAD TO RESURFACE THE 2 FRONT ROTORS AFTER ONLY 13000 MILES.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Mar 21, 2004
I HAVE MADE 4 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES. THE CAR SHAKES WHEN PRESSURE IS GENTLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS DONE NOTHING EXCEPT REPLACING THE ROTORS AND THE GEAR BOX. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. ALSO, THE CAR MAKES A LOUD KLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE OR TAKEN OUT OF REVERSE. ONCE AGAIN, THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMALLY, DEPSITE THE FACT ANY NORMAL PERSON COULD TELL SOMETHING IS DEFINETLY WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 12, 2004
WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULSATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. THE MECHANIC SHAVED THE ROTORS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 7, 2004
MY 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HAS WARPED BRAKE ROTORS AT 27,000 MILES, AND FROM EVERY THING I HAVE READ ON THIS CAR I SUSPECT IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 16,000 MILES. THESE BRAKE ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE, AND VERY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. WHAT DO YOU THINK? *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 21, 2004
I HAVE HAD MY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FOR LEASE THAN A YEAR, MY 4TH SET OF FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED. FIRST SET REPLACED AT 11K MI, 2ND AT 23K AND NOW AT 31K THE DEALER SAYS THEY ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. I ASKED HOW COME I CAN'T EVEN GET 12K ON ROTORS AND THEY SAY MY DRIVING IS BAD, I'M GOING TO COMPLAIN TO JEEP, I'M ALMOST READY TO DUMP THIS CAR AND NEVER BUY A DAIMLER CHRYSLER AGAIN. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 6, 2004
I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME, MY SISTER AND I PURCHASED 2, 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE'S, WE BOTH HAVE AROUND 18,000 MILES AND EACH TIME WE BRING OUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE THE ROTORS EITHER NEED TO BE REFACED OR REPLACED. THIS IS CRAZY AND DRIVES US UP A WALL. IT IS TERRIBLE TO DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE PULSATES AND SHAKES. JUST LAST WEEK THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL THE ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE SO WARPED. THIS WAS THE THIRD COMPLAINT IN A YEAR AND THEY SAID THAT THE ROTORS WERE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT MY DRIVING IS DAMAGING THEM. SO I SAID COULD IT BE A PROBLEM THAT JEEP IS HAVING AND THEY SAID NO, I THEN SAID WELL THAN WHY DOES MY SISTER HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER VEHICLE AND THEY SAID WELL SHE NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN TOO! THIS IS CRAZY THERE IS A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE RESOLVED I KNOW IN THE PAST JEEP'S HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS, DOES THE 2003 HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS? *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 3, 2004
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE ROTORS PROBLEM. ROTORS WARPED AFTER 18,000 MILES. *AK
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jan 15, 2004
I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. AFTER THAT DAY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES TO THE POINT YOU CANNOT PLAY A CD. THEY ARE TELLING ME THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE PERFORMS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I ALSO HAVE TAKEN IT TO OTHER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME ANSWER, IT SEEMS THAT THE ANSWER IS THE SAME AFTER THEY LOOK AT THE REPAIR HISTORY. I ALSO HAVE MET WITH THE CHRYSLER MARKETING REP TWICE, AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE CHRYSLER TECHNICAL REP DROVE THE VEHICLE. YET WHEN I REQUESTED A ENCOUNTER WITH HIM THEY DECLAIM AND SAID THERE IS NO TECHNICAL REP. I ALSO MET WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER FROM THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, SALES MANAGER MANY TIMES, I NEED THIS TO BE LOOK INTO BECAUSE I THINK MY VEHICLE WAS TAMPERED WITH, BECAUSE IF IT WAS RUNNING LIKE THIS WHEN I BOUGHT IT I WOULD HAVE NOT BOUGHT IT. THE VIBRATION IS GETTING WORST. I DO HAVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY, THAT I CANNOT USE BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO EVEN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO SELL ME ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH I DECLINED BECAUSE THEY WANTED MORE MONEY DOWN. WHY SHOULD I BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN I HAVE A NEW ONE THAT THEY DESTROYED.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 29, 2003
BRAKES SHIMMY, LESS THAN 24K MILES AND ON 3 SETS OF FRONT ROTORS, THEY WARPED. *AK
Service brakes, Air, Nov 12, 2003
2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 1.CRUISE CONTROL KICKS OUT WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 2.FRONT END MAKES HORRIBLE NOISES WHEN TURNING 3.DASH RATTLES 4. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LININGS AND ROTORS AT 7000 MILES 5.REAR END HOWLS 6. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 12, 2003
WHEN BRAKING, THE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND INTERMITTENTLY THE DRIVER WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS SAID CONCERNING THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING TOO CLOSE. *PH THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE 2003 MODELS HAD SOFTER BRAKE PEDAL THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS. THE PEDAL WAS SO LOW THAT IT WAS EASY TO HIT THE GAS PEDAL. *SCC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 15, 2003
2003 JEEP CHEROKEE WITH 14,000 MILES ON IT AND SEVERELY WARPED FRONT ROTORS. JEEP WANTS ME TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK