2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1992 | 3 |
| 1993 | 555 |
| 1994 | 588 |
| 1995 | 719 |
| 1996 | 893 |
| 1997 | 991 |
| 1998 | 1028 |
| 1999 | 1638 |
| 2000 | 1447 |
| 2001 | 883 |
| 2002 | 1476 |
| 2003 | 761 |
| 2004 | 1294 |
| 2005 | 2051 |
| 2006 | 1280 |
| 2007 | 1108 |
| 2008 | 733 |
| 2009 | 138 |
| 2010 | 117 |
| 2011 | 1639 |
| 2012 | 1637 |
| 2013 | 799 |
| 2014 | 2367 |
| 2015 | 1340 |
| 2016 | 306 |
| 2017 | 361 |
| 2018 | 837 |
| 2019 | 356 |
| 2020 | 224 |
| 2021 | 396 |
| 2022 | 247 |
| 2023 | 371 |
| 2024 | 231 |
| 2025 | 59 |
| 2026 | 8 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
32% of complaints: air bags — 246 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20180207
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT.
NHTSA ODI report, 20120831
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE PARKING. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CUTTING HER ARM.
NHTSA ODI report, 20120517
7% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 50 distinct reports on file.
6% of complaints: visibility — 49 distinct reports on file.
INJURY6% of complaints: seats — 44 distinct reports on file.
FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS OVER HEATED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEATS.
NHTSA ODI report, 20121114
6% of complaints: electrical system — 42 distinct reports on file.
FIRE INJURYSAFETY TIMELINE
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 DOD
Remedy: 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 1-800-880-305
Campaign 06E011000 — check if this car was fixed
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 BRAN
Remedy: 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 1-800-32
Campaign 06E022000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
Campaign 06E023000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HEATED SEATS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENT COULD OVERHEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 06V197000 — check if this car was fixed
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed
Fuel Storage System Crash Related Fires
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 M
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 09V117000 — check if this car was fixed
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires
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 Febru
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 12V527000 — check if this car was fixed
Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment
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...
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 15V046000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
Campaign 06E064000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (246 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (50 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for visibility issues (49 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 06E064000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E011000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E022000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E023000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06V197000 (seats) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09V117000 (seats) has been completed.
- Verify recall 12V527000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V046000 (air bags) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 32% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.