2003 Jeep Wrangler
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 102 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 24th highest complaint count among 26 Wrangler model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 8 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 6 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
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.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Campaign 06E026000 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
EquipmentJun 7, 2004
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 LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF RACK. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.
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.
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 AT (800) 845-3567.
Campaign 04E041000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: fuel system
11 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 26, 2011
FUEL TANK OVER FLOWS AT EVERY FILL UP. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 6, 2011
GAS TANK OVERFLOW ON JEEP WRANGER. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Jun 14, 2010, crash
I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND A FORD EXPEDITION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I LIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAD NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND WAS ABLE TO AGGRESSIVELY HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO SLOW THE CAR AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A JEEP DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY BLAMED THE INCIDENT ON AN AFTER MARKET FLOOR MAT. THIS WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS JUS STUCK AT THE CURRENT SPEED, BUT THE ENGINE KEPT SPEEDING UP AND THE TIRES WERE SPINNING WHEN I WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE CAR ACTED LIKE I HAD THE GAS PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Apr 11, 2010
THE VEHICLE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWS WHEN FILLING. THIS IS CAUSING FUEL TO SPRAY OUT ONTO MYSELF, ONTO THE PAINTED SURFACES OF THE VEHICLE, AND SPILL ONTO THE GROUND. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 23, 2010
WHEN FILLING MY GAS TANK, I FILLED THE TANK TO THE BRIM. NOT ON PURPOSE, GAS CAME GUSHING OUT OF MY JEEP WRANGLERS GAS TANK, ALMOST A QUARTER OF A GALLON. NOT LIFE THREATENING, BUT COST ME ABOUT 2 DOLLARS IN GAS.
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Nov 16, 2009
TRAVELING AT 60-65MPH VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. NO LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON. PULLED OUT OF WAY OF OTHER TRAFFIC AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TRIED STARTING AND STARTED RIGHT UP. MILEAGE 77,200. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Sep 12, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AS IF IT WERE LOSING POWER AND ABOUT TO STALL. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW FUEL PUMP. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $400. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 15, 2004
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. LEAK IN FUEL TANK.*AK
Fuel system, Other, Power train, Sep 15, 2004
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. LEAK IN FUEL SYSTEM. *AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 4, 2003
POOR GAS MILEAGE. STICKER CLAIMS 16 MPG CITY AND 19 MPG HIGHWAY AND I STRUGGLE TO GET 11 OR 12 IN THE CITY DRIVING CONSERVATIVELY AND USING QUALITY MID GRADE GASOLINE. MY LAST TANK I GOT 10.86 MPG. WITH CITY AND HIGHWAY COMBINED I STRUGGLE TO GET 13 OR 14. I FIGURE THIS WILL COST ME AROUND $1000 OVER THE COURSE OF MY 4 YEAR LEASE. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER WRANGLER OWNERS AND THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME POOR MILEAGE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER JEEP PRODUCT. *NLM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 2, 2003
I'VE HAD MY 2003 WRANGLER SIERAH FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TWICE. FIRST TIME WAS A PURGE VALVE SOLENOID AND THE SECOND TIME IT WAS THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND THE WHOLE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH ANOTHER SOLENOID. NEITHER OF THESE FAILURES LEFT ME STRANDED BUT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED ON A JEEP WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT. *LA