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: service brakes
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Mar 23, 2023
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.
Air bags, Service brakes, Jan 10, 2016
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.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 18, 2007
WARPED ROTORS ON 2003 JEEP WRANGLER WITH 23,000 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. PLUS, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AS FAST AS IT SHOULD BECAUSE THE BRAKE PADS DID NOT APPLY EVEN PRESSURE ON WARPED ROTORS. IF NOT FIXED MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $375.00. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 21, 2006
I HAVE A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE PROBLEM: THE RIGHT FRONT ROTOR CONTINUES TO WARP. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2003, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ROTOR TURNED. THE WARPED ROTOR CAUSES ALOT OF VIBRATION WHEN BREAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN I HAVE SPOKE TO THE MAINTIENCE FOLKS AT MACK MASEY JEEP THEY HAVE STATED THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH JEEP VEHICLES, THEY HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY 100 COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Jan 18, 2005
THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE GOING UP TO 8 OR 9000 RPM'S. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Electrical system, Nov 11, 2004
I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS. APPR 4 WEEKS AGO MY AUTOMATIC SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN PARK. AFTER A TOTAL OF 4 DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. 2 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD STRANDING MY FAMILY 130 MILES FROM HOME. IT WAS DECIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN FUSE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OF SOME KIND. AFTER AN ENTIRE WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER AND SOME MISC. WIRING (ALL WARRANTY WORK). THE DAY AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK IT DIED AGAIN, THIS TIME STRANDING MY FAMILY 90 MILES FROM HOME. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THERE'S STILL A SHORT CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACE A WIRING HARNESS THAT THEY SAY IS BAD. AGAIN IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DAY THAT I DRIVE HOME WITH THE VEHICLE MY BRAKES GO OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHILE IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THE FUSE BLOWS AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAY THAT ANOTHER WIRING HARNESS IS BAD AND THAT THIS TIME THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY IT. I FAIL TO SEE HOW THEY COULD PERFORM WARRANTY WORK TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TWICE AND THEN DECIDE THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER WARRANTY IT. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 10, 2004
I FEEL BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.I APPLY BRAKES BUT MY FOOT SOMETIMES HIT GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME,AND VISE-VERSA.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Parking brake, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Oct 8, 2003
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 ADVICE GIVEN WAS TO REMOVE THE BROKEN AXLE SHAFT AND DRIVE WITHOUT IT. THIS CAUSED BRAKE AND WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE DEALER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR COST TOOK SOME TIME TO GET RESOLVED. FINALLY, THEY FIXED THE PROBLEMS AND VOIDED THE MANUFACTURE'S WARRANTY. REASON FOR VOIDING THE WARRANTY WAS MISUSE/ABUSE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN USED OFF-ROAD AND HAD MUD ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MARKET A VEHICLE AS OFF-ROAD AND THEN VOID THE WARRANTY IF IT IS USED IN THIS MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER SUBMERGED, OR IN MUD/WATER DEEPER THEN THE HEIGHT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT BUMPER. FURTHERMORE, JEEP CLAIMS I AM A MEMBER OF A 4WD CLUB THAT I HAVE NO AFFILIATION WITH AND CLAIMS A WITNESS SAW THE VEHICLE UNDER WATER. BOTH NOT TRUE. ASKING FOR HELP FROM THE DOT TO MAKE JEEP STAND BY IT'S WARRANTY, OR HAVE THEM NOT MARKET THE VEHICLE AS OFF-ROAD SINCE IF USING IT OFF ROAD VOIDS THE WARRANTY THEN THIS IS FALSE ADVERTISING. *LA
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Aug 1, 2003, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 7/31/03. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE IN A HARD MANOR BUT SINCE THE GAS PEDAL IS SO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE, MY FOOT WAS HALF ON THE BRAKE AND HALF ON THE GAS PEDAL. I CHECKED OTHER MAKES AND MODELS AND THEY HAVE MORE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND THE GAS PEDAL. THIS SEEMS TO BE INDICITIVE OF CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 24 YEARS AND HAVE A VERY GOOD DRIVING RECORD. NOT ONCE IN ALL THOSE YEARS HAS THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS THIS HAS NOW HAPPENDED TO ME. I PURCHASE MY JEEP JUST TWO MONTHS AGO. PLEASE CHECK THE SPACING OF THE BREAK AND GAS PEDALS FOR YOURSELVES.*AK