2003 Ford Explorer vs 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Ford Explorer | 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,131 | 762 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 122 | 88 |
| Investigations | 3 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 60 | 48 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 14 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–17 | 16 |
| Median reported mileage | 74,000 mi | 71,693 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 335 | 35 |
| Structure | 354 | 9 |
| Air Bags | 50 | 256 |
| Visibility | 57 | 167 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 69 | 42 |
| Electrical System | 54 | 55 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 64 |
| Seats | 12 | 65 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 65 | 34 |
| Vibration / shaking | 36 | 34 |
| Rust / corrosion | 31 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 25 | 10 |
| Shifting problems | 22 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 20 | 10 |
| Clunking / rattling | 18 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 5 |
2003 Ford Explorer
2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Jeep Grand Cherokee years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.