RoadVitals

2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Mar 22, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 762 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
11
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 22, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 6/21/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WAS DETERMINED THE CRANK SENSOR BECAME EXTREMELY HOT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. THE FAN RELAY ALSO FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND THE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION SENSORS FAILED. UPDATED 07/01/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10321424
Incident
Mar 17, 2010
Mileage
112,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 21, 2008

2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO THE JEEP WAS RUNNING AND IN PARK. I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE ABOUT 20 YARDS AWAY. THE GEARSHIFT POPPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO STOP IT IN TIME. ALSO, WHEN I PARK IT AND TRY TO REMOVE THE KEY THE KEY IS LOCKED IN PLACE LIKE ITS STILL IN GEAR. I HAVE TO PUSH THE GEARSHIFT WITH FORCE TO RELEASE THE KEY. A MECHANIC HAS SAID THAT THE LINKAGE WAS LOOSE. I HAVE TIGHTENED IT AND THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10218754
Incident
Oct 1, 2007
Mileage
83,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningTransmission
Filed Feb 8, 2008
Fire reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEATED SEATS, WHICH TOOK APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES TO WARM UP. THREE MINUTES LATER, THE SEAT WARMED UP EXCESSIVELY AND CAUSED MILD BURNS TO HER BODY. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V197000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HER OWN EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,220 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,716. UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN THE DEALER STATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON, AND TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. UPDATED 03/04/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10217459
Incident
Jun 30, 2007
Mileage
57,220 mi
Transmission
Filed May 31, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

DROVE VEHICLE INTO GARAGE STALL. PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, OPENED DRIVERS DOOR, LEFT DOOR OPEN AND VEHICLE RUNNING TO RETRIEVE PERSONAL ITEM FROM HOUSE, WENT TO WALK OUT GARAGE AND VEHICLE STARTED BACKING OUT GARAGE. DRIVERS DOOR CAUGHT ON GARAGE SUPPORT POLE, TWISTING DOOR AROUND TO FRONT FENDER AS IT PROCEEDED OUT OF GARAGE. DRAGGED MYSELF PAST TOOL BOX AND BY GARAGE DOOR. VEHICLE THEN PROCEEDED DOWN DRIVEWAY, DID U-TURN PAST NEIGHBORS VEHICLES AND LODGED ON BOULDER IN NEIGHBORS FRONT YARD. WENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT, NO BROKEN BONES OR MAJOR INJURIES. SUSTAINED LOTS OF DEEP BRUISING, BAD SCRAPES AND SWELLING OF UPPER BODY, LEFT LOWER LEG, AND ARMS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10158732
Incident
May 25, 2006
Mileage
61,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 2005
Crash reported

DT: CONTACT STATES VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WHILE IN A PARKING AREA. *AK CONTACT AND HER SON WERE IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STARTED ROLLING DOWN A HILL, THE VEHICLE HIT A POOL FENCE. THE SERVICE DEALER WOULD NOT SAY WHY THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10125353
Incident
May 30, 2005
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Suspension+1 more
Filed Jun 12, 2005

TRANSMISSION MAKING NOISE 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE, TOOK IT IN EVERY 2 WEEKS TO HAVE IT FIXED FOR FIRST 2 MONTHS. VEHICLE HAD 40,000 KM. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP ANSWER WAS FOR US TO DO TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE (OUR EXPENSE), DID NOT STOP THE NOISE, GAVE UP AFTER WE TOOK VEHICLE BACK 5 TIMES, TERRIBLE SERVICE. HEATER MOTOR FAILED WITHIN 1 WEEK OF PURCHASE, REPLACE MOTOR SWITCH, HEATER FAN MAKING NOISE. REAR END WAS REBUILT 2 TIMES WITHIN FIRST 2 MONTHS OF OWNING VEHICLE. STRUTS NEEDED REPLACING WITHIN FIRST MONTH. SMOKE COMES FROM ENGINE WHEN STOPPED (INTERMITTENT), WHEEL ALIGNMENT WITHIN FIRST MONTH (OUR EXPENSE AGAIN). THIS IS OUR FIRST AND LAST JEEP/CHRYSLER PRODUCT.

NHTSA ID
10125039
Incident
Jan 10, 2005
Transmission
Filed Apr 19, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WIFE PARKED JEEP IN DRIVEWAY, PLACED IN PARK WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE, WALKED TO THE BACK DOOR, GOT MY 4 YEAR OLD OUT OF HER CAR SEAT AND PLACED HER ON THE DRIVEWAY NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. WIFE TURNED AROUND TO GET HER PURSE OFF THE FRONT SEAT WHEN THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF, ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. WIFE JUMPED INTO VEHICLE AND TRIED TO STOP IT. OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR STRUCK MY FENCE, RETAINING WALL AND MY 4 YEAR OLD KNOCKING HER TO THE GROUND. THE DOOR WAS THEN BENT FORWARD, DESTROYING THE DOOR, FENDER, SCRATCHING THE SIDE AND THE REAR BUMPER AND TAILGATE. WIFE SUFFERED SCRAPES, BRUISES, DAUGHTER TRANSPORTED TO EMERGENCY ROOM THEN VIA CAR FLITE HELICOPTER - SUFFERED SCRAPES, BRUISES, LACERATED LIVER.*AK

NHTSA ID
10118098
Incident
Apr 16, 2005
Mileage
23,548 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 27, 2005
Crash reported

MY 2003 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WHEN PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME WHILE I RAN IN TO GET MY GLOVES JUMPED INTO REVERSE AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR. I WAS AWAY FROM THE TRUCK FOR LESS THEN 1 MIN. AND IT ROLLED IN REVERSE 75 FT STRIKING A NEIGHBORS MOBILE HOME. WHEN I GOT TO THE TRUCK IT WAS IN REVERSE AND HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHOLE TAILGATE HATCH AND GLASS. DAMAGE WAS ALSO DONE TO THE MOBILE HOME. I AM CONTACTING A DEALER AS OF FEB. 28 2005. *JB

NHTSA ID
10112245
Incident
Feb 26, 2005
Mileage
26,470 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 25, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

I PUT MY JEEP IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, I STEPPED OUT OF THE JEEP AND THEN THE JEEP WENT INTO REVERSE AND THE OPEN DRIVERS DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND DRAGGED ME. THE JEEP THEN CRASHED INTO 3 PARKED CARS BEFORE IT CAME TO REST.*AK

NHTSA ID
10096387
Incident
Oct 22, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 2004

THE DATE BELOW REFLECTS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. MY VEHICLE HAS STILL NOT REPAIRED TO DATE(4-30-04). THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILS AND THE VEHICLE SIMPLY FAILS. AFTER A TRANSMISSION CHANGE IT FAILED AGAIN FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS HARMED. HOWEVER THE COMPANY WILL NOT REPLACE THE VEHICLE BUT INSTEAD IS INSTALLING ARE BUILT TRANSMISSION. IT MUST BE NOTED THAT THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED (APPROXIMATE MILEAGE) 4,700, SECOND OCCURRENCE 5,000, THIRD 5,600. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW I AM THE ONLY OWNER AND DRIVER. THIS VEHICLE/ AND THE COMPANY IMPOSES A DANGEROUS, AND DEFECTIVE VEHICLE ON BOTH MYSELF AND FELLOW MOTORIST. *LA

NHTSA ID
10068105
Incident
Mar 26, 2004
Mileage
4,700 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Mar 21, 2004

I HAVE MADE 4 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES. THE CAR SHAKES WHEN PRESSURE IS GENTLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS DONE NOTHING EXCEPT REPLACING THE ROTORS AND THE GEAR BOX. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. ALSO, THE CAR MAKES A LOUD KLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE OR TAKEN OUT OF REVERSE. ONCE AGAIN, THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMALLY, DEPSITE THE FACT ANY NORMAL PERSON COULD TELL SOMETHING IS DEFINETLY WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10062740
Incident
Mar 21, 2004
Mileage
500 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 6, 2003

TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN REVERSE FROM PARK OR NEUTRAL. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AFTER ONLY 2019 MILES AND HAS BEEN WORKED ON TWO TIMES SINCE. ONCE FOR A FACTORY RECALL AND THE OTHER TIME FOR A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID
10045576
Incident
Nov 6, 2003
Mileage
12,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 30, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK ,WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING, THE DRIVER EXITED AND THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED FROM PARK TO REVERSE STRIKING THE DRIVER AND THEN A GASOLINE PUMP BARRIER. *LA

NHTSA ID
10045077
Incident
Jul 9, 2003
Mileage
1,092 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 26, 2003

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSISION TAKEN OUT AND SEALS AND O-RINGS REPLACED 2 TIMES FOR LEAKING FLUID. THE THIRD TIME IT LEAKED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
10039567
Incident
Aug 17, 2003
Transmission
Filed Aug 14, 2003
Crash reported

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, AND CONSUMER STEPPED OUT OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE, KNOCKING CONSUMER TO THE GROUND, AND CRASHING INTO THE HOME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033980
Transmission
Filed Mar 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

NHTSA ID
10010695
Incident
Mar 16, 2003
Mileage
12,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 25, 2003
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
10009263
Incident
Feb 18, 2003
Transmission
Filed Jan 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

NHTSA ID
10002371
Mileage
600 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 13, 2002
Crash reported

HAD JUST PUT VEHICLE (LEASED) INTO PARK POSITION WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. LEFT VEHICLE FOR A SHORT WHILE. WAS INFORMED, BY A WITNESS, THAT VEHICLE HAD BUCKED AND THEN STARTED ACCELERATING, FAST, BACKWARDS. VEHICLE THEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND INFORMED WILL BE SENDING AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR TO CHECK ON VEHICLE. MR

NHTSA ID
8022696
Incident
Oct 23, 2002
Transmission
Filed Oct 16, 2002
Crash reported

TRANSMISSION CHANGED FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHILE PASSENGER WAS OUT OF VEHICLE. MR

NHTSA ID
768541
Incident
Oct 15, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .