2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 3%of 762 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 105,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 3% of the 762 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 105,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I'm 100% convinced our vehicle fits death wobble condition. If you hit a bad bump or series of small bumps, front end shimmies violently with steering wheel shaking back and forth out of control. Can only slow down as braking doesn't seem to help much. It happened to my wife 3x and myself 1x already in past 6 weeks. Very scary!”
NHTSA complaint #11114743, filed 2018-07, 146,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11316807, filed 2020-03, 138,000 miles“Was driving on thruway at 65 MPH, hit a slight seam in the highway and the entire front end began to shake uncontrollably, forcing me to leave the highway immediately and stop on the side of the road. At about 10 miles per hour, the shaking lessened and actually stopped. Thinking it was a fluke occurrence, I continued on my way. Unfortunately, next time I hit any sort of imperfection in the road, the death wobble started again in the front end.”
NHTSA complaint #11210133, filed 2019-05, 158,900 miles“While driving there is a shutter at all speeds. On this day after hitting a small bump the wheel started shaking as slowing down it violently shook where you couldn't hold the wheel. I had blisters trying to control it. I was told brakes bearing etc. Replaced brakes caliber rotors tires wheel bearing still did it replaced steering damper and the violent shake was gone yet still had shutter at all speeds. I've been all over the front end and had several mechanic look to we cant find anything about the shutter. …”
NHTSA complaint #10664526, filed 2014-12, 170,000 miles“While driving my Jeep on the highway home from work, I experienced what I now know to be called the death wobble among Jeep owners. While driving at approximately 60 MPH, I experienced a violent shaking in the steering wheel and the tires visibly wobbling while driving on the highway. I had to pull over to the shoulder and while braking, almost lost control of the vehicle. While trying to diagnose the problem on the shoulder in the middle of rush hour traffic in houston, I couldn't determine the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10510874, filed 2013-05, 139,000 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 4% |
| 2024 | 9 | 4% |
| 2023 | 44 | 11% |
| 2022 | 23 | 9% |
| 2021 | 102 | 25% |
| 2020 | 13 | 5% |
| 2019 | 14 | 4% |
| 2018 | 14 | 2% |
| 2017 | 18 | 5% |
| 2016 | 16 | 5% |
| 2015 | 42 | 3% |
| 2014 | 81 | 3% |
| 2013 | 26 | 3% |
| 2012 | 100 | 6% |
| 2011 | 86 | 5% |
| 2010 | 3 | 3% |
| 2009 | 11 | 8% |
| 2008 | 24 | 3% |
| 2007 | 49 | 4% |
| 2006 | 37 | 3% |
| 2005 | 64 | 3% |
| 2004 | 73 | 6% |
| 2003 | 24 | 3% |
| 2002 | 41 | 3% |
| 2001 | 37 | 4% |
| 2000 | 48 | 3% |
| 1999 | 53 | 3% |
| 1998 | 40 | 4% |
| 1997 | 47 | 5% |
| 1996 | 67 | 8% |
| 1995 | 32 | 4% |
| 1994 | 38 | 6% |
| 1993 | 38 | 7% |
| 1990 | 1 | 20% |
| 1989 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
256 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
170 complaintsBrakes
71 complaintsSeats
65 complaintsElectrical system
55 complaintsEngine cooling
42 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
35 complaintsVehicle speed control
32 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsExterior lighting
15 complaintsEquipment
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology