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: steering
15 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jun 9, 2022
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.
Steering, Oct 5, 2021
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.
Steering, Suspension, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2015
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.
Steering, Suspension, Mar 17, 2015
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
Steering, Suspension, Nov 14, 2013
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
Steering, Suspension, Wheels, Aug 14, 2013
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
Steering, Suspension, Aug 1, 2012
WHEN THE JEEP IS IN THE 40 TO 50 MPH RANGE, A "DEATH WOBBLE" HAPPENS. SOMETIMES BY ITSELF AND SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE OR STREET PATCH. I HAVE HAD AUTO PROFESSIONALS LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MOST OF THE TIME THE SOLUTION IS TO FIX A SYMPTOM BUT NOT THE ACTUAL CAUSE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKES MUST IMMEDIATELY APPLIED HARD WHICH HAS CAUSE NEAR REAR END COLLISIONS. IF AUTO PROFESSIONALS CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE THEN THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS NOT A REMOTE ISSUE. IF YOU GOOGLE DEATH WOBBLE WRANGLER IT WILL RETURN OVER 110,000 HITS! *TR
Steering, Mar 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRACK BAR AND STEERING DAMPENER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,370.
Steering, Suspension, Jan 9, 2012
DRIVING ABOVE 55 MILES, GOING OVER A BUMP OR ROUGH AREA WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY (NICK-NAMED "DEATH WOBBLE" BY JEEP OWNERS) AND BECOMES VERY HARD TO CONTROLL. HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP COMPLETLY IN ORDER TO GET IT STOP. ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS 75 MILES, IT COULD BE DEADLY. SO FAR WE WERE LUCKY... WE HAD NEW STEERING STABELIZERS, SHOCKS PUT IN, BALANCED THE TIRES, HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT BUT IT KEEPS ON HAPPENING. CHRYSLER SUGGESTED TO TAKE IT IN TO THE SHOP AGAIN (AND SPEND MORE MONEY ON A NO-FIX REPAIR) IS NOT THE ANSWER. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE JEEP VEHICLES HAVE THIS WHOBBLE ISSUE, THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE WILL DIE. PLEASE HELP US TO GET CHRYSLER CORP TO ADMIT THE PROBLEM AND RECALL THE VEHICLES. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Nov 16, 2011
WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE "DEATH WOBBLE". HAVE BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE WOBBLE RETURNS SHORTLY AFTER WE GET THE JEEP BACK ON THE ROAD. HELP.... *TR
Steering, Suspension, May 19, 2010
INCIDENTS WITH STOCK 2003 JEEP WRANGLER X 35,000 MILES . VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. INCIDENT IS KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. HAS OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE ON MANY OCCASIONS. IT IS VERY HARD TO JEEP THE JEEP ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENS. *TR
Steering, Apr 7, 2008
STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY ON 2003 JEEP WRANGLER...100% STOCK EQUIPMENT...SHIMMY FIRST NOTICED SUMMER 2007...HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE WITH NO EFFECT...HAD FRONT TIRES REBALANCED WITH NO EFFECT...PERFORMED TSB 19-003-06...WHILE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT THE SHIMMY IS NOT GONE AND AT TIMES THE VEHICLE FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Steering, May 14, 2007
STEERING SHIMMIED AT 45 MPH UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE THE SAME EXACT SCENARIO AS IN ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE ABOUT THE STEERING SHIMMY. *AK
Steering, Mar 30, 2006
IN JULY 2005, AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE HIGHWAY, I EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING OF THE FRONT END OF MY 2003 JEEP WRANGLER SAHARA AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH. THE SHAKING STOPPED AFTER SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ABOUT 30-35 MPH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (FRANK PARRA JEEP IN IRVING, TX) FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPAIR. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR, JOHN BALLARD, THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY IN JEEPS AND THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE STEERING DAMPENER. FRANK PARRA REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPENER. THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN MARCH 2006 AND I AGAIN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR, TIMOTHY SIMPSON, THAT THE STOCK STEERING DAMPENER WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE LOAD IMPOSED BY THE 30 IN. WHEEL GROUP, WHICH COMES STANDARD ON THE SAHARA MODEL, AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE AN UPGRADED STEERING DAMPENER, THE "RANCHO" MODEL, BUT THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER WARRANTY. WE THOUGHT WE WOULD TRY THE STOCK STEERING DAMPENER AGAIN. IT FAILED ON THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALER. I FILED A WARRANTY CLAIM WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY SAFETY RECALLS ON THE STEERING DAMPENER. DAIMLER CHRYSLER DENIED MY CLAIM AND SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT ONLY NHTSA CAN AUTHORIZE A RECALL. IT SEEMS THAT THE STEERING DAMPENER WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY FOR THE LOADS IMPOSED BY THE STANDARD WHEEL CONFIGURATION AND SHOULD BE UPGRADED SO THAT IT IS ENGINEERED PROPERLY. ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, IT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY AND RAISES THE POSSIBILITY OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *NM
Steering, Jul 16, 2004, crash
DRIVING AWAY FROM MY HOME IN RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION. TURNED CORNER AT APPROX. 5 MILES PER HOUR AND STEERING WENT OUT. WHEEL JUST SPUN ROUND AND ROUND. *AK