VehicleVerdict

2003 Jeep Wrangler transmission problems

The 2003 Jeep Wrangler has 25 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

25

Transmission complaints

19%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Wrangler transmission complaints by model year285 complaints1987: 2 complaints1988: 2 complaints1989: 8 complaints1990: 5 complaints1991: 10 complaints1992: 13 complaints1993: 13 complaints1994: 19 complaints1995: 32 complaints1997: 57 complaints1998: 35 complaints1999: 21 complaints2000: 75 complaints2001: 25 complaints2002: 14 complaints2003: 25 complaints2004: 29 complaints2005: 41 complaints2006: 58 complaints2007: 47 complaints2008: 68 complaints2009: 34 complaints2010: 72 complaints2011: 40 complaints2012: 285 complaints2013: 230 complaints2014: 89 complaints2015: 49 complaints2016: 72 complaints2017: 50 complaints2018: 173 complaints2019: 76 complaints2020: 45 complaints2021: 135 complaints2022: 57 complaints2023: 46 complaints2024: 154 complaints2025: 8 complaints
Wrangler transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I HAVE A 2003 WRANGLER WITH A 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. IT IS EITHER HARD TO GET INTO GEAR OR IT GRINDS AS IT GOES IN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND HAS FOUND NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT AND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · March 25, 2003

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2003 Jeep Wrangler have?

NHTSA has 25 complaints about the 2003 Jeep Wrangler transmission — 19% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.