6.6

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,212 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Jeep Wrangler transmission problems

transmission problem

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2003 Jeep Wrangler Owner Comments

problem #6

Sep 022005

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 48,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2003 Jeep Wrangler with 48,000 miles. I am experiencing intermittent sticking of the shifting lever when entering 3rd from 2nd gear. At other times there is no problem shifting. I had it in to the dealer this week. We change the oil. The problem is not a bad.

- Kincardine, Ontrario, 00, USA

problem #5

May 252003

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 1,800 miles
I have a 2003 Wrangler with a 5-speed manual transmission that suffers from intermittent problems where shifting gears is difficult if not impossible. The problem occurs most often when accelerating while shifting from 2nd to 3rd gears, and when attempting to downshift from 5th to 4th gears at highway speeds. If the vehicle does shift a grinding/banging noise is heard. I have had the local dealer look at it 4 times and they have not been able to duplicate the problem(s).

- Fishers, IN, USA

problem #4

Mar 252003

Wrangler 4WD 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 800 miles
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 it now seems to be worse during colder weather.

- Frankfort, KY, USA

problem #3

Apr 122003

Wrangler 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 6,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

According to internal sales brochures and advertisements the 2003 Jeep Wrangler rubicon is supposed to be the most capable off road Jeep ever. My Jeep has been nothing but problems, which consists of 2 broken axles, faulty brakes, faulty parking brake, faulty U-joint clips, faulty wheel bearing. After paying the dealer to replace parts that should have been covered under warranty, then realizing that they failed to replace another failed part, called to ask about a workaround until the needed part came in. The advice given was to remove the broken axle shaft and drive without it. This caused brake and wheel bearing failure. An attempt to get the dealer to take responsibility for the repair cost took some time to get resolved. Finally, they fixed the problems and voided the manufacture's warranty. Reason for voiding the warranty was misuse/abuse because the vehicle had been used off-road and had mud on the under carriage. This is unacceptable because you cannot market a vehicle as off-road and then void the warranty if it is used in this manner. The vehicle was never submerged, or in mud/water deeper then the height of the bottom of the front bumper. Furthermore, Jeep claims I am a member of a 4WD club that I have no affiliation with and claims a witness saw the vehicle under water. Both not true. Asking for help from the dot to make Jeep stand by it's warranty, or have them not market the vehicle as off-road since if using it off road voids the warranty then this is false advertising.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #2

Jul 152003

Wrangler 4WD 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 3,870 miles
Transmission failure - grinding noise is heard when shifting into 2nd and 3rd gears, jerks forward before clutch is let out, will not shift into 5th gear at highway speeds. This is the second transmission to fail in this vehicle.

- Sobieski, WI, USA

problem #1

May 202003

Wrangler 4WD 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 600 miles
Transmission failure - grinding noise is heard when shifting into second and third gears. Clunk is heard when shifting into first gear from a stop and vehicle jerks forward before clutch is let out.

- Sobieski, WI, USA

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