Problems · by component
2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee power train problems
35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee cite power train, 5% of all 761 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
35
5% of all complaints
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I STARTED MY JEEP, NOTICED MY HATCH WAS NOT CLOSED, GOT OUT WHILE IT WAS RUNNING, THE SECOND I CLOSED MY DRIVER DOOR, MY JEEP WENT INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN, AND KEPT ACCELERATING HIGHER, THIS VEHICLE TOOK OFF VERY AGGRESSIVELY, LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, SHE PUT IT IN NATURAL, AND SHUT THE CAR OFF BEFORE ANYTHING WAS STRUCK, NOW DUE TO I BELIEVE THE RAPID ACCELERATION IT RUNS HORRIBLY WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE. THIS JEEP IS AN 2003 , WELL BROKE IN AND MAINTAINED, THERE'S NO OTHER REASON AS TO WHY IT "BECAME SELF AWARE" I HAVE A LOT OF VEHICLE KNOWLEDGE AND THIS IS VIRTUALLY AND UNFATHOMABLY IMPOSSIBLE , PLEASE REVIEW EVERY ASPECT OF THIS VEHICLES COMPLAINTS AS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT REVERSED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED BACKWARDS BY THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET UP BEFORE BEING ROLLED OVER BY THE REAR TIRES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, CUTS, AND ABRASIONS TO THE LEGS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INSURANCE AUTHORIZED COLLISION CENTER WHO REPAIRED THE DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V240000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V527000 (AIR BAGS), THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS OR GO INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
“I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN MY CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE BRAKES SEIZED UP, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF ON THE SHOULDER. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIME TO RESTART THE CAR, I CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. BY THE TIME ASSISTANCE ARRIVED, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND I DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILE TO MY JEEP DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE CRANK SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND THAT WAS WHY THE ENGINE HAD SHUT DOWN. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SENSOR WAS $275; HOWEVER, BECAUSE SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE BREAKS TO SEIZE UP, THE BREAKS AND CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED INCREASING THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS TO $1567. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED I WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE WRITING THIS LETTER. *TR”
“I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY (WHICH HAS A SMALL INCLINE) AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING DOWN MY DRIVE WAY, UNTIL PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND DIFFERENT PLACES, I.E WORK, GAS STATION, HOME, SCHOOL. THIS HAS NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT YET SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE DRIVERS SEAT EVERY TIME SO FAR. *TR”
Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.