2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 256 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 34% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 112,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “air bag” (29% of reports).
- 256air bags complaints
- 112,000median miles at failure
- 17mention a crash
- 24mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 24%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 74 of 256 complaints (29%)
- Bags deployed: mentioned in 18 of 256 complaints (7%)
- Restraint control module: mentioned in 14 of 256 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 91 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 256 complaints, 17 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 24 an injury.
Jeep Grand Cherokee air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Grand Cherokee | 5 | 7% | 14,538 |
| 2024 Grand Cherokee | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2023 Grand Cherokee | 11 | 3% | 5,900 |
| 2022 Grand Cherokee | 9 | 3% | 29,600 |
| 2021 Grand Cherokee | 20 | 5% | 34,957 |
| 2020 Grand Cherokee | 17 | 7% | 34,000 |
| 2019 Grand Cherokee | 19 | 5% | 16,600 |
| 2018 Grand Cherokee | 24 | 3% | 14,777 |
| 2017 Grand Cherokee | 15 | 4% | 34,945 |
| 2016 Grand Cherokee | 12 | 4% | 12,040 |
| 2015 Grand Cherokee | 104 | 8% | 70,000 |
| 2014 Grand Cherokee | 210 | 9% | 51,978 |
| 2013 Grand Cherokee | 33 | 4% | 61,816 |
| 2012 Grand Cherokee | 43 | 3% | 73,173 |
| 2011 Grand Cherokee | 60 | 4% | 56,500 |
| 2010 Grand Cherokee | 11 | 9% | 42,250 |
| 2009 Grand Cherokee | 11 | 8% | 117,000 |
| 2008 Grand Cherokee | 40 | 5% | 109,852 |
| 2007 Grand Cherokee | 29 | 3% | 68,000 |
| 2006 Grand Cherokee | 60 | 5% | 103,218 |
| 2005 Grand Cherokee | 95 | 5% | 88,500 |
| 2004 Grand Cherokee | 326 | 25% | 120,000 |
| 2003 Grand Cherokee | 256 | 34% | 112,000 |
| 2002 Grand Cherokee | 486 | 33% | 124,750 |
| 2001 Grand Cherokee | 26 | 3% | 65,200 |
| 2000 Grand Cherokee | 59 | 4% | 103,000 |
| 1999 Grand Cherokee | 83 | 5% | 116,516 |
| 1998 Grand Cherokee | 36 | 4% | 98,245 |
| 1997 Grand Cherokee | 36 | 4% | 135,298 |
| 1996 Grand Cherokee | 34 | 4% | 130,000 |
| 1995 Grand Cherokee | 30 | 4% | 109,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokees have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 256 owner complaints about air bags for the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee (34% of the 762 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee air bags?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do air bags problems start?
The median reported mileage is 112,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 74 of 256 complaints, followed by “bags deployed” (18).
Other 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems
See all 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems or air bags problems across all Grand Cherokee years.