<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000053669</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JOHNSON CONTROLS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205031</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARTH JOHN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>75000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>58.4063</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>160257.274</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>57320</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>88.35</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>102937.274</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock Units / LTPP</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>13365.19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock Units / Excess Benefit Plan-Common</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3562.4</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock Units / Excess Benefit Program-Preferred</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4560.8</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock Units / Restricted Stock Grant</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>25540.34</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>58.4063</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>75000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>58.4063</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-11-17</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2009-11-17</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>75000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 1093.233 shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends on 1/2/03 and 3/31/03 at prices of $81.7619 and 72.6226.  Reporting person also has indirect holdings in a 401(k) plan as follows:  4,761 common and 1,218.45 preferred.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units convert to the common stock's cash value on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The phantom stock units were accrued under the Johnson Controls Long-Term Performance Plan and are to be settled 100% in cash upon the reporting person's retirement.  This is a &quot;dummy date&quot; and a not a true transaction which is entered only for electronic filing purposes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 124.19 phantom stock units acquired through the reinvestment of dividends on 1/2/03 and 3/31/03 at prices of $82.12 and $72.44 per phantom stock unit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The phantom stock units were accrued under the Johnson Controls Equalization 401(k) Benefit Plan and are to be settled 100% in cash upon the reporting person's retirement.  This is a &quot;dummy date&quot; and a not a true transaction which is entered only for electronic filing purposes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Includes 96.4 phantom stock units acquired through the reinvestment of dividends on 1/2/03 and 3/31/03 at prices of $82.12 and $72.44 per phantom stock unit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Includes 716.8 phantom stock units acquired through a company match and the reinvestment of dividends on 1/2/03 and 3/31/03 at prices of $164.28 and $144.88 per phantom stock unit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The restricted phantom stock units were awarded under the Johnson Controls Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.  The restricitve period ends on 1/2/2004 and 1/2/2006 in 50% increments.  The units are to be settled 100% in cash upon the reporting person's retirement.  This is a &quot;dummy date&quot; and a not a true transaction which is entered only for electronic filing purposes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Includes 237.24 phantom stock units acquired through the reinvestment of dividends on 1/2/03 and 3/31/03 at prices of $82.12 and $72.44 per phantom stock unit.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arlene D. Gumm, Attorney-in-Fact for John M. Barth</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

