2003 Jeep GRAND CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
762 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
70,803 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 488 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 247 of 762 complaints (32.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 104 | 13.6% |
| Steering behavior | 39 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 28 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 25 | 3.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 247 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 50 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 49 |
| Seats | 44 |
| Electrical System | 42 |
| Visibility | 38 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor | 33 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 30 |
Air Bags: 247; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 50; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 49; Seats: 44; Electrical System: 42; Visibility: 38; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor: 33; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 30
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 79 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 84 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 98 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 74 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 90 |
| 150,000 and above | 63 |
Under 25,000: 79; 25,000 to 49,999: 84; 50,000 to 74,999: 98; 75,000 to 99,999: 74; 100,000 to 149,999: 90; 150,000 and above: 63
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (98). 274 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2004 | 44 |
| 2005 | 41 |
| 2006 | 45 |
| 2007 | 87 |
| 2008 | 66 |
| 2009 | 49 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2011 | 29 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 72 |
| 2014 | 63 |
| 2015 | 90 |
| 2016 | 52 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2002: 4; 2003: 29; 2004: 44; 2005: 41; 2006: 45; 2007: 87; 2008: 66; 2009: 49; 2010: 28; 2011: 29; 2012: 17; 2013: 72; 2014: 63; 2015: 90; 2016: 52; 2017: 9; 2018: 11; 2019: 8; 2020: 9; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 104 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009263 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT A TREE. NO INJURIES.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010695 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
CAR SHIFTS OUT OF PARK TO ANY GEAR WHILE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. ONCE IGNITION IS ON, IT WILL NOT SHIFT UNLESS FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063104 · 2004-03-12 (March 12, 2004)
WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULSATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. THE MECHANIC SHAVED THE ROTORS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067261 · 2004-04-16 (April 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS BEFORE THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO REFERRED VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED A LOT OF STEERING GEAR BOXES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067261 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049450 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
FAN MOTOR QUIT WORKING DISABLING ALL HVAC INCLUDING DEFROSTER. DEALER REPLACED RESISTOR BUT SAID WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO COMPLETE REPAIRS AND PART ON BACK ORDER. RESISTOR AGAIN FAILED ON 12/3/03 AND PART STILL NOT AVAILABLE PER WHITTEN BROTHERS JEEP DEALERSHIP, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. VEHICLE UNALBE TO CLEAR ICE/FROST FROM WINDSHIELD (EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF WINDSHIELD). AS OF 12/9/03 DEALER SAYS PART STILL NOT AVAILABLE FROM CHRYSLER/JEEP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073146 · 2004-05-25 (May 25, 2004)
MAIN PROBLEM IS THE STEERING. EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR ALIGNMENTS CONDUCTED AND EACH TIME THE TOE WAS OUT OF SPECS. THE FIRST ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AT 1200 MILES AND RECENTLY JUST HAD ANOTHER AT 26000. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL RIGHT EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR ALIGNMENTS. IT IS NOT A 4X4 AND I DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD WITH IT. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY TOOK APART ALL COMPONENTS OF THE STEERING AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. NO PARTS WERE REPLACED, ONLY CONTINUOUS ALIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE. THE BATTERY ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT BAD A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075660 · 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002371 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING AND OR WINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GASKET AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD FLOWED ON OVER TO THE OVERDRIVE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTED. TS SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056835 · 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)
SIMILAR TO THE SUMMARY IN ODI ID #10026122, 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES, AND VEHICLE RUNS VERY ROUGH. FORTUNATELY STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THIS IS THE THIRD FUEL INJECTOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADMITS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER NEW GRAND CHEROKEES, BUT BLAMES IT ON "BAD GAS." VEHICLE HAS 15,000 MILES ON ODOMETER.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056835 at NHTSA ↗