Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee problems

Owners filed 761 complaints about the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee with NHTSA between Oct 2002 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (256).

Complaints
761
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
48
Reported by owners
Fires
14
Reported by owners
Injuries
56
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags256
  2. Visibility167
  3. Seats65
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic64
  5. Electrical system55
  6. Engine and engine cooling42
  7. Power train35
  8. Vehicle speed control32
  9. Steering24
  10. Engine16
  11. Exterior lighting15
  12. Equipment14
  13. Seat belts13
  14. Suspension13

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20024
200329
200443
200541
200645
200787
200866
200949
201028
201129
201217
201372
201463
201590
201652
20179
201811
20198
20209
20211
20221
20232
20242
20250
20263

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

256 reports17 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“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 great risk of severe bodily and property damage. Since June 24, the vehicle has been in possession of a Chrysler dealership. A pre-service write-up has been created, but to my knowledge, no work has been done to the vehicle. I am unaware of an inspection having been completed. I did not see any warning lamps or other symptoms prior to the airbags deploying.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2026Air bagsODI 11749381

Visibility

167 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HEAT AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BOX. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTED PLUG TO THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR MELTED THE WIRES AND PLASTIC CAP THAT SURROUND THE RESISTOR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BYFORD CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF CHICKASHA (3121 S 4TH ST, CHICKASHA OK 73018) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2018VisibilityFire reportedODI 11066087

Seats

65 reports1 crash7 fires2 related recalls
“2 recalls have not been taken care of by the manufacturer. I purchased this vehicle 2 years ago and have noticed that the seats do indeed over heat. The airbags haven't deployed thankfully, but I'm not comfortable taking any chances. Do I have to pay a dealer to complete these repairs? Also, since I have had this vehicle, my blinkers and brake lights do not work consistently. They were in operable for almost a month. I had a Mechanix check them, and they said they were dine. Homer's auto shop florence oregon) I didn't drive at night for almost a month. Then my blinkers just started working again. All the fuses are fine, and no other electrical issues. Brake lights started working also. Up until 3 days ago, a driver behind me pulled around next to me at the stop light to tell me the brake light was out. I checked it when I got home and it was fine.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2023Air bags, Seats, Unknown or otherODI 11528042

Service brakes, hydraulic

64 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR RECALL AND WINDOW MOTOR REGULATOR ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. *SMD ALSO, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW MOTOR REGULATORS BROKE, THE CD PLAYER MALFUNCTIONED, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2016Service brakes, hydraulic, Visibility, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 10851590

Electrical system

55 reports2 fires
“JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW FELL WHILE DRIVING AND BACK DRIVER WINDOW FELL WHILE DRIVING WHILE IT WHAT SNOWING WHILE MY SON WAS IN THE CAR. HAVE A POPPING NOISE IN STEERING OR SOMEWHERE IN FRONT END. I CAN'T USE MY ACCELERATE BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL WHILE IT'S IN CRUISE BECAUSE IT WON'T STOP ACCELERATION ONCE YOU PRESS IT. I WAS GOING ABOUT 55 AND WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO 60.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11316807

Engine and engine cooling

42 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V054000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR, HEAT SENSOR, BRAKES AND TIRES. UPDATED 07/28/15*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2015Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, TiresODI 10706084
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.