Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags256
- Visibility167
- Seats65
- Service brakes, hydraulic64
- Electrical system55
- Engine and engine cooling42
- Power train35
- Vehicle speed control32
- Steering24
- Engine16
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 56 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 58 2003 Grand Cherokee vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 52 people died inside them, and 25 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee failed the safety check 2.54% of the time — 21% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 164,797 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
59 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 19% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm34
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde29
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen28
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld12
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse11
- Band onvoldoende profiel11
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk10
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan9
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
178 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 510 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 201 of these cars first registered in 2003 took their annual MOT test. 60% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2003 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2003 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 19.9% | 21.6% |
| Brakes | 15.9% | 13.9% |
| Suspension | 13.4% | 16.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| Steering | 8.5% | 4.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.5% | 7.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
158 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 13% arrived as used imports, 84% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
| 2015040 28 Jan 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, a defect in the supplemental restraint system (SRS) could result in an inadvertent deployment of the front airbag, side curtain airbag and/… |
| 2013222 26 Jun 2013 | Structure Chrysler Canada has determined that an opportunity to incrementally improve performance in certain types of low-speed impacts may exist in certain vehicles. The… |
| 2012378 9 Nov 2012 | Airbag On certain vehicles, a defect in the supplemental restraint system could result in an inadvertent deployment of the front airbag, side curtain airbag and/or sea… |
| 2009109 14 Apr 2009 | Other On certain vehicles, the front seat electric heater elements provided as a repair for recall 2006135 (Chrysler F17), or provided as an aftermarket service part,… |
| 2006135 8 Jun 2006 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the front seat electric heating element may overheat and cause a fire. Correction: Dealers will replace the heated seat elements with updat… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HEATED SEATS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENT COULD OVERHEAT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Jeep told its dealers about the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635725 | SUBJECT REGARDING OPTIMUM ROOF RACK CROSS BAR POSITION TO PREVENT AIR TURBULENCE CONCERNS. *TT |
| 635721 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 635701 | OVERHEAD CONSOLE ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER (EVIC) MAY HAVE THE SERVICE INTERVAL FEATURE SET HIGHER THAN 6,000 MILES, ON CERTAIN EARLY 2003 MODELS. *TT |
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 634082 | CHROME WHEEL CARE. *SLC |
| 633476 | SPECIAL BALL JOINT, ALLOWS ADJUSTMENT TO CASTER AND CAMBER ANGLES. *SLC THIS BULLETIN REPLACES 02-001-02 DATED 06/10/02. ALSO TO INCLUDE 2005 JEEP WRANGLER. *TT |
| 11010205 | Plate - Planetary |
| 10229256 | KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty. |
| 10229181 | Part Description: 5.7L Long Block Issue Description: This 5.7L Long Block Assembly is compatible with both EGR and Non-EGR applications. An EGR Block-Off Plate (53032739AA) must be ordered when installing this Long Block Assembly in a Non-EGR application. Unless, the EGR Block-Off Plate is being transferred from the old engine. |
| 10223602 | Part Description: 5.7L Long Block Issue Description: This 5.7L Long Block Assembly is compatible with both EGR and Non-EGR applications. An EGR Block-Off Plate (53032739AA) must be ordered when installing this Long Block Assembly in a Non-EGR application. Unless, the EGR Block-Off Plate is being transferred from the old engine. |
| 10221686 | KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty. |
| 10220995 | Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order kit 68253161AA. Insulator only used on Auto-RWD transmission Note: The color of the insulator is not relevant for service. |
| 10220471 | Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio. |
| 10220410 | Chrysler intends to inspect and, if necessary, replace aftermarket trailer hitches to ensure that any sharp edges or other puncture risks from the aftermarket mounting hardware are removed, free of charge (parts and labor). The parts required for this program are currently not available. Chrysler is making all reasonable efforts to obtain the parts as quickly as possible. Chrysler will contact dealers when the parts and repair procedure becomes available. Dealers will be notified of the launch of this customer satisfaction notification by way of established methods used in the past. We ask t |
| 10220101 | Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts. |
| 10220099 | Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts. |
| 10220097 | Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage. |
| 10216350 | Advanced Field Action Communication ? M3511082012 Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) announced a safety recall on 2002 and 2003 model year (KJ) Jeep Liberty vehicles built through March 28, 2003 and 2002 through 2004 model year (WJ) Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles built through May 23, 2003. The above vehicles may experience a front airbag, side curtain airbag, and/or seatbelt pretensioner inadvertent deployment. Chrysler will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all affected vehicles to install an in-line diode filter jumper harness. The jumper harness incorporates diodes to perform the intended f |
| 10191460 | Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling. |
| 10191442 | Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio. |
| 10189392 | MIL Illumination - DTC P1776 Solenoid Switch Valve Latched in LR Position |
| 10189178 | Chrysler intends to inspect and, if necessary, replace aftermarket trailer hitches to ensure that any sharp edges or other puncture risks from the aftermarket mounting hardware are removed, free of charge (parts and labor). The parts required for this program are currently not available. Chrysler is making all reasonable efforts to obtain the parts as quickly as possible. Chrysler will contact dealers when the parts and repair procedure becomes available. Dealers will be notified of the launch of this customer satisfaction notification by way of established methods used in the past. We ask t |
| 10175743 | Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19 |
| 10175735 | Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary. |
| 10169249 | Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation