2003 Jeep Liberty

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2003 Jeep Liberty
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints 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.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Jeep Liberty Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2003 highlighted. 2000: 6 complaints 2000 2001: 10 complaints 2002: 1808 complaints 2002 2003: 1349 complaints 2003 2004: 1100 complaints 2004 2005: 1118 complaints 2006: 1369 complaints 2006 2007: 703 complaints 2008: 540 complaints 2008 2009: 108 complaints 2010: 195 complaints 2010 2011: 180 complaints 2012: 384 complaints 2012
2003: 1349 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
20006
200110
20021808
20031349
20041100
20051118
20061369
2007703
2008540
2009108
2010195
2011180
2012384

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 27%

27% of complaints: air bags — 364 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

9/18/2023 I had an incident I thought something got behind brake pedal and kept me from pushing the brakes. When I drove it home. Going down the interstate I hit the gas get to speed limit.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230922

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP LIBERTY. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HAND INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180129

2003 JEEP LIBERTY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAGS NOT BEING DEPLOYED DURING AN AUTO ACCIDENT AFTER AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL REPAIR. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE GRANDCHILD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *JS

NHTSA ODI report, 20180117

SUSPENSION 20%

20% of complaints: suspension — 271 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 2003 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated that moments after exiting the freeway, the front end of the vehicle began to shake and vibrate.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230928

SUSPENSION 8%

8% of complaints: suspension — 106 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 6%

6% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 85 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6%

6% of complaints: fuel/propulsion system — 83 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

2003 — complaint volume: 1349
R 20031215 — suspension

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS CAN EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION THAT CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR, AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCK

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WITH MODIFIED ASSEMBLIES AND HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 2, 2001 AND OCTOBER 4, 2002. ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN OCTOBER

Campaign 03V460000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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 S

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

I 20060531 — EA (closed 20060824)

FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT SEPARATION

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060731 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE

Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Campaign 06E065000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060911 — suspension

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE CONSTANT TENSION FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE CONTAMINATION. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 06V288000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20071217 — PE (closed 20080418)

UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION

I 20080415 — EA (closed 20090416)

UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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

R 20091015 — suspension

ROCK KRAWLER IS RECALLING 44 PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE. THESE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WERE PRODUCED WITH GRADE 2 CARRIAGE BOLTS INSTE

Remedy: ROCK KRAWLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15. 2008. ALL THE AFFECTED UNTITS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROCK KRAWLER AT 1-518-270-98

Campaign 09E039000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20100412 — suspension

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 42,469 MY 2002-2003 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETT

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 09V119000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20110418 — PE (closed 20110915)

Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure

I 20110923 — PE (closed 20120130)

Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment

I 20120123 — EA (closed 20130221)

Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment

I 20120612 — EA (closed 20141114)

Crash Related Fuel Tank Fires

R 20121026 — suspension

Timken is recalling certain non-formed, front wheel hubs, part number HA599467, which were sold to retail and automotive distributors in the automobile aftermarket as front wheel hub replacements desi

Remedy: Timken has notified retail stores that have received the subject parts. The front wheel hubs will be replaced free of charge. Owners who may have purchased the affected units should contact Timken a

Campaign 12E047000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20130913 — air bags

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

I 20140529 — RQ (closed 20151113)

Jeep inadvertent air bag deployment

R 20140801 — fuel system, gasoline, structure

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in

Remedy: Owners may take their vehicles to dealers and the dealers will perform a free inspection of the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install

Campaign 13V252000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20151229 — air bags

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

R 20160505 — air bags

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured March 29, 2003, to July 3, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured May 27, 2003, to May 20, 2004.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module and the side impact sensors, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Campaign 15V673000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2003 Jeep Liberty — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (364 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for suspension issues (271 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for suspension issues (106 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 03V460000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E065000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06V288000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E039000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09V119000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12E047000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12V527000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 13V252000 (fuel system, gasoline, structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V046000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V673000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2009 ▲ 2011 ▲ 2010

WORST YEARS

■ 2002 ■ 2006 ◆ 2005

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2003 Jeep Liberty reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Jeep Liberty is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Jeep Liberty?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 27% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Jeep Liberty have?

13 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.