2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Grand Cherokee years
- About as many complaints as other years 18th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 762 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee. That ranks 18th out of 32 Grand Cherokee model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (256 complaints, 34%), typically at around 112,000 miles. Complaints mention 48 crashes, 14 fires, 56 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
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- 762owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 48complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 256 | 34% | 112,000 | “air bag” (29%) | — |
| Visibility problems | 167 | 22% | 60,000 | “passenger side” (31%) | $1,850 |
| Seats problems | 65 | 9% | 98,250 | “seat heater” (23%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 64 | 8% | 18,840 | “brake rotors” (30%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 55 | 7% | 85,500 | “air conditioning” (9%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 42 | 6% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 35 | 5% | 25,800 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 | 4% | 54,900 | — | — |
| Steering | 24 | 3% | 105,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 16 | 2% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 2% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 13 | 2% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 13 | 2% | 97,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 13 | 2% | 72,200 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 11 | 1% | 30,650 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 1% | 66,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 1% | 101,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 1% | 156,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 1% | 35,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 0% | 85,129 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 0% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 0% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 0% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 0% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 65,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: 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.
Risk: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: 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.
Risk: Inadvertent deployment of the airbags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Problem: 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.
Risk: Overheating could potentially cause a fire or injury.
Fix: 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.
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with heated seats, the front passenger seat electric heater element could overheat.
Risk: Overheating could potentially cause a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the heated seat elements. The recall began on july 24, 2006. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment (RQ14001) — opened May 29, 2014, closed Nov 13, 2015, led to recall 15V043000.
- Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires (EA12005) — opened Jun 12, 2012, closed Nov 14, 2014, led to recall 13V252000.
- Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires (PE10031) — opened Aug 23, 2010, closed Jun 14, 2012.
- Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires (DP09005) — opened Nov 6, 2009, closed Aug 23, 2010.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The driver and passenger front airbags deployed spontaneously while merging onto the highway. I was startled by the noise, my vision was obscured, I was unable to breathe due to the chemical accelerants, and the bag made contact with my face and arms. All of these events put me and other drivers at…
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V046000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where repairs were performed on the air bag control module and side impact sensor. However, after the repair was completed, the air bag…
On March 4th 2026 I called Liberty Jeep here in Hinesville Georgia concerning about the recall for my airbags as well as for the hitch on this vehicle. To date nobody has bothered to call to give me an appointment concerning this major recall and continue to refuse to provide any kind of service…
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V046000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount…
The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the driver's side and passenger's side curtain air bags deployed without impact. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The…
Other Jeep Grand Cherokee years
← 2002 Grand Cherokee · 2004 Grand Cherokee →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Grand Cherokee | 25 | 6 |
| 2025 Grand Cherokee | 76 | 4 |
| 2024 Grand Cherokee | 249 | 16 |
| 2023 Grand Cherokee | 397 | 21 |
| 2022 Grand Cherokee | 264 | 13 |
| 2021 Grand Cherokee | 409 | 12 |
| 2020 Grand Cherokee | 240 | 3 |
| 2019 Grand Cherokee | 370 | 7 |
| 2018 Grand Cherokee | 855 | 10 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee | 364 | 5 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee | 311 | 8 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee | 1,366 | 9 |
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 2,381 | 18 |
| 2013 Grand Cherokee | 804 | 9 |
| 2012 Grand Cherokee | 1,644 | 10 |
| 2011 Grand Cherokee | 1,640 | 6 |
| 2010 Grand Cherokee | 118 | 5 |
| 2009 Grand Cherokee | 138 | 2 |
| 2008 Grand Cherokee | 734 | 4 |
| 2007 Grand Cherokee | 1,108 | 5 |
| 2006 Grand Cherokee | 1,280 | 4 |
| 2005 Grand Cherokee | 2,051 | 3 |
| 2004 Grand Cherokee | 1,295 | 8 |
| 2003 | 762 | 4 |
| 2002 Grand Cherokee | 1,476 | 10 |
| 2001 Grand Cherokee | 883 | 4 |
| 2000 Grand Cherokee | 1,447 | 6 |
| 1999 Grand Cherokee | 1,638 | 4 |
| 1998 Grand Cherokee | 1,028 | 4 |
| 1997 Grand Cherokee | 991 | 5 |
| 1996 Grand Cherokee | 893 | 6 |
| 1995 Grand Cherokee | 719 | 4 |
See all Jeep Grand Cherokee problems by year, every Jeep model, or the Jeep VIN decoder.
Similar Jeep models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Owners most often report air bags, visibility, seats problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 256 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Grand Cherokee model years, the 2003 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.