Overview & Reviews

For 2003, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has received refinements that improve its ride and handling. The suspension features reduced pressure shocks and the brake master cylinder output has been increased to improve brake pedal feel. There are also new brake calipers and a revised steering gear torsion bar. Available trims have been narrowed from five to three; the Sport and Special Edition trims have been discontinued. Standard on 2003 Laredo models is a new high-back cloth seat. Finally, in all Jeep Grand Cherokee interiors, a new cubby bin for holding sunglasses or cellular phones has been added to the instrument panel, replacing the ashtray.

• Powerful 4.7-liter V8, all-terrain capability, roomy comfort for four.

• Noisy and unrefined, questionable reliability.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 164.00

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  Pain to drive - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Bstephens - December 20 - 9:46 pm

  This car is a great looking car. I can also say that its one of the most difficult cars to drive that Ive ever driven. Its hard to keep it on the road when youre driving along at 75 mph with a tractor trailer passing you. It will blow you off the road. Buy the Pathfinder. I wish I had. The wife said this car looked more sophisticated. The Pathfinder would have been more secure. I know because Ive driven them. If you want to feel safe taking a turn dont drive this car. Looks great, horrible ride.

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  Never Again - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Kurt - November 17 - 1:53 pm

  This is my 2nd Cherokee and my last. Mind you, this vehicle spends more time sitting in my garage than on the road. It has been babied all its life and looks like the day it came off the showroom floor. To date, the A/C has been replaced (all components), all the window regulators have failed, the brakes have warped rotors, it is noisy (wind) when driven at highway speeds, the A/C is not blowing cold again, the drivers power seat is broken, all the side mirrors have broken at least once, all the hydraulic lift supports have been replace several times, the clear coat is soft so anything that touches the paint leaves a mark. The list goes on and on.

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  Second Time Around - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By georgec13 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Had a good 1996 Grand Cherokee i.e. 104,000 miles and second set of tires, just got first brakes, no repairs except cat. conv, why not a new one. Got a 2003. More space in rear compartment. Poorer driver vision on 2003. Lost storage space in front part of cab i.e. console and glove are smaller, also small door compartments. Main problem is that although engine has same displacement as 1996 the 2003 feels underpowered. Never had that problem with 1996. "Any" grade at speed makes the engine strain. Nickel and dime loses from 1996 i.e. no eng comp. light, poor cup holder position etc. In eng comp I found screws just lying around. Wonder where they belong?

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  Out of warranty & out of money - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By passt2009 - October 23 - 10:43 pm

  This is my second Jeep and it will be my last, nothing but problems (costly repairs). Brakes, rotors, air conditioning, water pump, exhaust, throttle position sensors, coolant leaks, broken seats & terrible stability problems. The Jeep was great for the first four months or so, then it just went downhill fast, it seems to have lost its stability and handling and has required too many repairs. My first Jeep was a 1994 Cherokee Sport, which had very little problems (over 125k) and no stability issues. Maybe I just got a lemon but I wont be taking a chance and buying another one to find out.

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  RE: Jeep or Heap? - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ann - February 22 - 6:26 am

  Ive had the exact same issues as the post Jeep or Heap. In October, my 03 JCL stalled on the expressway while driving, which I lost the power steering. It would also shut down and power up like it was going to stall, while I was driving. I took it in to a mechanic, which they kept for 3 days because it couldnt be diagnosed unless it stalled on them so I took it home and of course, it stalled. So they picked it up were able to fix the problem. Unfortunately, it is now doing the same thing again. It bucks and seems to want to lose power but catches again. Im paranoid to drive it for long distances. I also had a problem with the power window failing.

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  2003 Cheap Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD 4.0 - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Whatquality - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Wow. How can a type of one vehicle be so split? Some love it . Others hate it. Me, I hate it. Since Ive owned this vehicle Ive had 2 sets of rotors replaced. 3 fan relays. Now with a hole cut under the headlight I can replace it in minutes at $65. I now keep a spare. 2 window mechanisms. I cant believe an engineer ever imagined that a thin piece of plastic would ever hold the window up. The hood doesnt stay up. Wouldnt that be a no-brainer? Weight of hood. Strut to hold (I have a piece of wood). Now the best part. The engine dies. Anywhere. At intersections, expressways, in the driveway. And no diagnostic codes. After a couple of minutes right as rain. Dangerous! Illegal?

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  Read all the facts before you buy! - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Matt - January 26 - 5:33 am

  This was my first significant buy when it comes to an SUV and it was the BIGGEST mistake I could have made. I have owned the Jeep for 29 days and it has made 4 trips to the repair shop! Many difficulties with it not starting up, but just cranking and cranking. The shifting from Park to either Reverse or Drive is a real hard shift and makes me wonder if there are problems with the design with the transmission. The reliability for Jeep is garbage! I use to own a Jeep Wrangler and I was a die hard fan of Jeep…not so much anymore. I am taking mine back and buying a Nissan Xterra. Read all the other reviews and you too will see there are many problems. BEWARE!!

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  2003 Jeep Laredo is a Danger on the road - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Valerie - December 23 - 10:43 am

  My Jeep is now in the shop for the 6th time in 5 weeks, for the same problem-it keeps shutting off; at lights, stop signs, on the road, in the parking lot. Lose power steering and brakes. Only has not quite 58,000 miles on it over 6 years and 3 months. I will NEVER buy another Chrysler car again.

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  Why did I buy? - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeep Junk - November 2 - 2:56 am

  I bought this Overland used with 44,500 miles on it and I have had it for 2 weeks. The first day the heat stopped working on the drivers side (Im told is a common and EXPENSIVE problem) $680 I had that fixed after much yelling and screaming at the dealership. Now in the second week the truck gas mileage is down to about 10 miles to the gallon and is bogging down. I think it might have an upper intake gasket leak. It bucks when under power. I have put about 300 miles on the truck and this is the second time it needs to go in. What a piece of junk. I was warned about Chrysler products and wish I had took the warnings more serious. Next truck will definitely be foreign. Sorry USA.

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  staller! - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By dan - August 11 - 11:23 am

  Extremely comfortable, but terrible car overall. I should have listened to the reviews before I bought it - it kept stalling on me, the dealers dont know what to do, and its too late to declare it a lemon. What a terrible vehicle - BEWARE! Chrysler/Jeep has not completely worked out all the kinks in this car, most importantly with the engine. This car is extremely dangerous to drive - I stalled out once on the highway and once in the middle of traffic, other times at the bank or while turning to park my car. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE - the ridiculous maintenance fees are bad in themselves, but even worse when they dont fix the problem.