Problems › Jeep › 2021 Gladiator
2021 Jeep Gladiator Problems & Owner Complaints
Age-normalised, this year draws ~47.7 complaints per year on the road — ranking 2 of 5 Jeep Gladiator years we track (1 = most complaints per year).
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What owners report
Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, cited in 94 of 286 filed complaints (33%).
Power Train is next (68 complaints, 24%), followed by Engine (53), Electrical System (45), Suspension (40).
Across all complaints, 7 report a crash, 3 report a fire, 7 report injuries.
The most safety-critical cluster is Suspension: 3 crash, 3 injury report(s).
Complaints by vehicle system
Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 286.
Steering 94 2 crash 1 fire 2 injury
“1) Frequent spontaneous windshield cracks. 2) violent, out of control steering wheel vibrations at highway speeds nearly causing severe collisions. Reoccurring incidents. I’m ready to file a lawsuit.”
NHTSA complaint #11494925, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“Vehicle is 2 years old, with only 21,000 miles. Driving on the freeway, above 65mph, the vehicle wobbles violently if you hit a pot hole or a small bump. It jerks the steering wheel very hard from side to side, making it very difficult to stay within your lane. The only way to make the extreme wobble go away is to slow down significantly (<40mph) or sometimes come to a complete stop. A simple internet search and you will find MANY complaints about this with Jeeps, and it is commonly referred to as the "Death Wobble". PLEASE help us consumers put an end to this terrifying issue. I was o…”
NHTSA complaint #11493860, 2022 · 1 injury(ies)
“My name is [XXX] , and I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding the loss of my vehicle due to engine fire. The vehicle was a 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, VIN [XXX] , with approximately 26,666 miles at the time of loss. I purchased the vehicle on May 13, 2021. The fire occurred on July 10, 2025. I was driving on the freeway, and my vehicle lost power and dashboard warning lights illuminated. When I pulled over, the engine was on fire. The fire department came and doused the flames but my entire engine was destroyed. After the fire, I retained legal counsel and initiated an indepe…”
NHTSA complaint #11716027, 2025 · fire
Power Train 68
“2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport S equipped with 6 speed manual transmission purchased from Landers Jeep in Little Rock Ar. Vehicle required the A-19 clutch recall. Recall was completed and I took ownership 6/17/2025. I returned the vehicle within the first week of ownership due to the "service transmission" light periodically coming on. Dealership reset the clutch counter and attempted to give me advice on how to drive a vehicle I was more than capable driving before purchasing. After 13 months and 13k miles I have now gotten a "clutch hot fully release clutch pedal and reduce clutch use" warning tw…”
NHTSA complaint #11750672, 2026
“Engine light came on, vehicle went into limp mode. Transmission would not shift any higher than 3rd gear and kept slipping while on interstate! Was almost hit by several 18 wheelers! Jeep dealership said our vin is not part of the service bulletin but they did get the P0733 code! Make it make sense! I guess we’re supposed to get run over by 18 wheelers before they’ll fix it!”
NHTSA complaint #11743537, 2026
“I recently experienced significant transmission issues, specifically hard engage in reverse (cold), and failure to shift higher than 3rd gear. The rear axle is leaking and the front axle is shaking. My jeep has the P0733 code for the D-clutch failure confirmed at a Jeep dealership, along with the steering damper Campaign XF1 and the Dana M220 axle (TSB 03-001-23) and should be included in these TSB’s/CSN’s/Campaigns! It is currently sitting at the Jeep Dealership in Covington, La unable to be driven needing $9790 worth of repairs from all of these and I’ve barely had it a year! I am so disappo…”
NHTSA complaint #11739847, 2026
Engine 53 1 crash 1 fire 2 injury
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, there was an alarming amount of white smoke emanating from the engine compartment and permeating the interior of the vehicle, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway and evacuate the vehicle. Moments later, the entire front of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Local Emergency Services arrived on the scene and were able to extinguish the fire. During the failure several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and deemed a total l…”
NHTSA complaint #11677537, 2025 · fire · 1 injury(ies)
“Under heavy breaking the rear wheels of my vehicle lifted off of the pavement. This loss of traction and shift in weight resulted in a head on collision with a vehicle in the opposite lane of traffic. After the accident I discover that the suspension for my vehicle was incorrect to the level that FCA released a TSB regarding the issue. The suspension that was equipped with the vehicle was designed for the gasoline motor and the weight associated with that motor. My vehicle has the diesel motor (approximately 600lbs heavier) along with factory equipped steel bumpers adding additional weight. T…”
NHTSA complaint #11490911, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that there were several unknown warnings illuminated, and the instrument cluster had started flashing on and off. The contact stated that the vehicle slowed down while depressing the accelerator pedal and continued to lose motive power. The contact stated that a warning flashed on the instrument cluster to "Pull Over" and that "Vehicle Was Going to Shutdown". The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the lef…”
NHTSA complaint #11697415, 2025
Electrical System 45 1 crash 1 fire 2 injury
“On February 25, 2023, while slowing down as I approached an intersection controlled by a red signal light and applied my brakes which was slowing me down. My foot never moved off the brake pedal as I slowed down. Suddenly, the Jeep Gladiator "accelerated/surged" forward and stated gaining speed. Although I was applying constant pressure on the brake pedal, the vehicle never slowed down or stopped because after traveling 200-300 feet and striking two signal light poles and a communications box, the vehicle came to a stop. This was the third incidence of Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA).…”
NHTSA complaint #11514031, 2023 · crash · 2 injury(ies)
“I purchased this vehicle on May 25th. On june 4th it was parked out side my front porch and my house along with the jeep burned completely down. the fire was first witnessed on the front porch right where the jeep was parked. I was out of town working and had a friend there dog sitting for me. She and the dogs got out safely althoug she was sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation and was released later that evening. The arson investigation is still on going. as of monday June 8th, Both the arson investigator and home insurnace investigator could not determine the origin of the fire. W…”
NHTSA complaint #11744578, 2026 · fire
“The dealership says it cannot be repaired until 2027 due to parts not being available for the fire recall on this jeep. I cannot ensure my safety or others with this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11747747, 2026
Suspension 40 3 crash 3 injury
“1) Frequent spontaneous windshield cracks. 2) violent, out of control steering wheel vibrations at highway speeds nearly causing severe collisions. Reoccurring incidents. I’m ready to file a lawsuit.”
NHTSA complaint #11494925, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“Under heavy breaking the rear wheels of my vehicle lifted off of the pavement. This loss of traction and shift in weight resulted in a head on collision with a vehicle in the opposite lane of traffic. After the accident I discover that the suspension for my vehicle was incorrect to the level that FCA released a TSB regarding the issue. The suspension that was equipped with the vehicle was designed for the gasoline motor and the weight associated with that motor. My vehicle has the diesel motor (approximately 600lbs heavier) along with factory equipped steel bumpers adding additional weight. T…”
NHTSA complaint #11490911, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“Vehicle is 2 years old, with only 21,000 miles. Driving on the freeway, above 65mph, the vehicle wobbles violently if you hit a pot hole or a small bump. It jerks the steering wheel very hard from side to side, making it very difficult to stay within your lane. The only way to make the extreme wobble go away is to slow down significantly (<40mph) or sometimes come to a complete stop. A simple internet search and you will find MANY complaints about this with Jeeps, and it is commonly referred to as the "Death Wobble". PLEASE help us consumers put an end to this terrifying issue. I was o…”
NHTSA complaint #11493860, 2022 · 1 injury(ies)
Unknown Or Other 27 2 crash 2 injury
“On February 25, 2023, while slowing down as I approached an intersection controlled by a red signal light and applied my brakes which was slowing me down. My foot never moved off the brake pedal as I slowed down. Suddenly, the Jeep Gladiator "accelerated/surged" forward and stated gaining speed. Although I was applying constant pressure on the brake pedal, the vehicle never slowed down or stopped because after traveling 200-300 feet and striking two signal light poles and a communications box, the vehicle came to a stop. This was the third incidence of Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA).…”
NHTSA complaint #11514031, 2023 · crash · 2 injury(ies)
“While slowing to a stop and fully depressing only the brake with my right foot my vehicle rapidly accelerated into the back of another truck. It felt like the front brakes engaged, but the rear wheels continued to accelerate as the vehicle transmission worked to downshift. Serious safety issue-I am 100% confident that I was standing on the brake and not the accelerator. The road was dry with no gravel and I was gradually slowing to a stop when this occurred.”
NHTSA complaint #11483878, 2022 · crash
“Every time I fill up my gas tank, the fuel doesn’t shut off in time from the pump and gas comes backward up the filler neck, onto the side of my jeep.”
NHTSA complaint #11742573, 2026
Fuel/Propulsion System 19
“The vehicle was bought in CA and hasn't had any issues till about after 3-4 yrs later. 1) Adaptive cruise control / emergency braking system / forward collision notification will occassionally state "not availble/unavailable" or "visibility" is not available and to clean windshield, but the windshield is not dirty or obstructing the camera. 2) The fuel emission system has had several diagnostic codes referring to the gas gap or fuel sensors. Vehicle is boggs down/loses power and starts ideling roughly and acts like it wants to shutdown and has shutdown. I've had to get vehicle towed twice fo…”
NHTSA complaint #11749747, 2026
“7/5/2026. Driving home on the highway the Jeep went into limp mode and shut down. The Fault flashed on the screen for about 15 seconds (Throttle Body Falut) Problem is there is no warning when it happens. It just shuts down. This creates a "REALLY SERIOUS HAZZARD" This time it did register a fault on the computer and we were able to pull it off the reader. The Fault reads as follows: POOAF In looking it up on this is a manufacuring problem that can be caused by a little dirt, Can be caused by hot weather. THIS IS NOT SAFE! MY I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT SAFE! This should be recalle…”
NHTSA complaint #11748534, 2026
“Every time I fill up my gas tank, the fuel doesn’t shut off in time from the pump and gas comes backward up the filler neck, onto the side of my jeep.”
NHTSA complaint #11742573, 2026
Service Brakes 16 2 crash
“BRAKE PEDEL TO CLOSE TO GAS PEDEL.. WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES ON BRAKE PEDEL HE CAN PUSH ON THE GAS PEDEL.. THE TRUCK WENT FORWARD VERY FAST./. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK USED”
NHTSA complaint #11679336, 2025 · crash
“While slowing to a stop and fully depressing only the brake with my right foot my vehicle rapidly accelerated into the back of another truck. It felt like the front brakes engaged, but the rear wheels continued to accelerate as the vehicle transmission worked to downshift. Serious safety issue-I am 100% confident that I was standing on the brake and not the accelerator. The road was dry with no gravel and I was gradually slowing to a stop when this occurred.”
NHTSA complaint #11483878, 2022 · crash
“Front brake caliper(s) was seizing up causing smoking and a burning smell. Vehicle was also pulling to the right when braking. Brake fluid or something like it coated the front drivers side wheel. Took vehicle back to dealership where vehicle was purchased new. Vehicle is still under warranty/extended warranties. The dealer did inspect and found front calipers to be seizing up causing excessive wear on brake pads and rotors. They did replace both front calipers but not the brake hoses. They also replaced and charged me for new brake pads and rotors. Not even a week later, I called the…”
NHTSA complaint #11753476, 2026
Exterior Lighting 13
“The 3rd brake light in the tailgate malfunctioned This is required to pass New York State safety inspection A Jeep dealer replaced the part No warning on the dashboard of this light failing”
NHTSA complaint #11718714, 2026
“The center high mounted tail light (CHMTL) has failed. It makes it a little harder to see the vehicle is braking. The fuses are fine. It is a very common failure on Jeep Gladiators. Many times people don't know it has failed. There are no warning lamps or indicators to tell you it has failed.”
NHTSA complaint #11717367, 2026
“The third brake light, located on the tailgate of the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, has ceased to function due to a failure within the printed circuit board (PCB) inside the light housing. This issue has been confirmed by a third-party repair shop, which has noted that the PCB appears to be broken or damaged, rendering the brake light inoperable. Notably, the vehicle's instrument panel does not provide any notification or alert regarding the malfunction of the third brake light, which could lead to a significant safety risk. This failure impacts the vehicle's ability to properly signal braking and dec…”
NHTSA complaint #11694453, 2025
Fuel System 13
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would hesitate to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump, the fuel injectors, and the fuel filter, were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number : 23V263000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11662417, 2025
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the DEF tank message was displayed, notifying the contact to “See the Dealer”. Additionally, there was a message indicating 200 miles were remaining before the vehicle would fail to start. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the tank and sensor needed to be replaced; however, the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 165.”
NHTSA complaint #11626150, 2024
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
NHTSA complaint #11559195, 2023
Vehicle Speed Control 13 1 crash 2 injury
“On February 25, 2023, while slowing down as I approached an intersection controlled by a red signal light and applied my brakes which was slowing me down. My foot never moved off the brake pedal as I slowed down. Suddenly, the Jeep Gladiator "accelerated/surged" forward and stated gaining speed. Although I was applying constant pressure on the brake pedal, the vehicle never slowed down or stopped because after traveling 200-300 feet and striking two signal light poles and a communications box, the vehicle came to a stop. This was the third incidence of Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA).…”
NHTSA complaint #11514031, 2023 · crash · 2 injury(ies)
“There is an active parts recall for some Gladiators, Recall 26A, for the right rear axle shaft. This part on my vehicle has been failing for over 6 months. The ABS system, Traction Control, and 4WD system have active fault codes, preventing these systems from working as intended. In the last month, this problem has become unsafe due to 3 separate incidents where the traction control has triggered during normal driving conditions, causing the vehicle to become inoperable. In each of these incidents, I was travelling in a straight line, on dry roads, when the traction control system activated, p…”
NHTSA complaint #11563405, 2023
“Starting in August of 2022 I started getting error messages from the car about Electronic Stability Control, Antilock Brake Systems, and Collision Avoidance problems. These seemed to come and go. But if I was on the highway with Cruise Control on and these messages appeared the car immediately drops out of Cruise Control. In addition if it happened while braking the pedal would go almost to the floor and I would have to pump several times to get the brakes to work. I took this car to the dealership on 10/3/2022, 3/20/2023, and 5/20/2023. In the first 2 instances I was told the part would…”
NHTSA complaint #11531887, 2022
Visibility/Wiper 11
“Two of the same faults occurred within the same month of each other. The first: while driving home from work on the highway, while heavily raining, without warning every alarm light possible engaged, windshield wipers went full speed, vehicle would not shift, and my steering locked up (not to be confused with lost power steering). After about a mile I was able to encourage the Jeep off the side of the highway. While waiting for my tow, with the E Brake set and in Park, the Jeep kept trying to crawl forward on its own. I was unable to turn the vehicle off as it would not respond, in additio…”
NHTSA complaint #11717839, 2026
“As I was driving, I reached out over the dashboard and accidentally lightly bumped the front windshield with my hand. Light enough that my middle knuckle barely tapped the glass, and the windshield spider cracked completely top to bottom, left to right, and every other angle. The force can be compared to wiping or cleaning your dashboard and bumping your finger tips into the glass. The windshield is broken all the way through. Im reporting this because Im fairly certain windshields are supposed to hold up to more than someone's knuckle lightly bumping them. The windshield did not have any dama…”
NHTSA complaint #11667862, 2025
“I was driving on a highway and the sun visor suddenly fell down but was still suspended by a wire and therefore obstructed my view. Nearly caused an accident. The arm that supports the sun visor seems to have dislodged from its housing. A quick search revealed this is such a common problem, there are many aftermarket parts sold to fix this problem. My vehicle is outside warranty, but several Jeep forum posts indicate this issue was not covered by Jeep’s warranty. The Jeep dealer is charging $382 to fix what should be a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11649133, 2025
Wheels 8 1 injury
“Vehicle is 2 years old, with only 21,000 miles. Driving on the freeway, above 65mph, the vehicle wobbles violently if you hit a pot hole or a small bump. It jerks the steering wheel very hard from side to side, making it very difficult to stay within your lane. The only way to make the extreme wobble go away is to slow down significantly (<40mph) or sometimes come to a complete stop. A simple internet search and you will find MANY complaints about this with Jeeps, and it is commonly referred to as the "Death Wobble". PLEASE help us consumers put an end to this terrifying issue. I was o…”
NHTSA complaint #11493860, 2022 · 1 injury(ies)
“Death wobble, while traveling down any road that has a bump or is not smooth as glass I get the front end wobble, the only way to stop it is to slow down, have had a couple near miss accidents because of this. This jeep is all original, second time in shop was told all original parts are fine no wear no loose parts. They are putting a steering damper on it. Was told by the dealership where it was purchased “it’s a jeep thing”. Because of the wobble had to replace tires because of uneven wear, had tires rebalanced multiple times trying to fix issue, now another fix to see if it works.”
NHTSA complaint #11652661, 2025
“Several times a day when I drive over un-even pavement the front end, wheels, & steering wheel start violently shaking and become uncontrollable to the point other vehicles move out of the way. It will only stop when speed is lowered low 5 mph. This has happened between 25-40 mph. Too afraid to drive at highway speeds. This vehicle is a 2021 with only 12,800 miles on it. Very scary situation to be in, especially for a vehicle I bought new and have never taken off road.”
NHTSA complaint #11581703, 2024
Air Bags 6 1 crash 1 injury
“The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a corner, another vehicle was speeding and crashed into the front driver's side quarter panel. The impact pushed the vehicle forward, causing the front driver's wheel to swipe a telephone pole before landing on a residential lawn. The other vehicle then crashed into a telephone pole. The front driver's side air bag deployed, but there was a hole in the side air bag and the driver's air bag failed to fully deploy. Additionally, a burning odor was detected after the air bags deployed. The police and…”
NHTSA complaint #11641183, 2024 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“On 12-13-23 I hit an 8 point buck going 55mph head on between the 2 headlights doing 15k in damage.. airbags did not deploy. On 4-11-26 I was hit by a drunk driver head on. I was going 33mph, he was going much faster in a Polaris rzr hit me on the driver side tearing off my tire, and whole suspension completely, sending me into an embankment... and still no airbags deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #11732127, 2026
“While driving multiple warnings appears on the dash including bus communication, airbag, transmission communication, and abs. The vehicles engine began to randomly change rpm. The transmission began to shift speratically and was unable to maintain speed. The vehicle would not allow me to turn on hazard lights to warn surrounding motorists. Similar warnings appeared on the dash once before and the vehicle would not start and left me stranded. When taken in for service for the no start issue, the dealer performed no repairs for this issue and stored P codes were cleared prior to the vehicle…”
NHTSA complaint #11552467, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance 6 1 crash
“While slowing to a stop and fully depressing only the brake with my right foot my vehicle rapidly accelerated into the back of another truck. It felt like the front brakes engaged, but the rear wheels continued to accelerate as the vehicle transmission worked to downshift. Serious safety issue-I am 100% confident that I was standing on the brake and not the accelerator. The road was dry with no gravel and I was gradually slowing to a stop when this occurred.”
NHTSA complaint #11483878, 2022 · crash
“The vehicle was bought in CA and hasn't had any issues till about after 3-4 yrs later. 1) Adaptive cruise control / emergency braking system / forward collision notification will occassionally state "not availble/unavailable" or "visibility" is not available and to clean windshield, but the windshield is not dirty or obstructing the camera. 2) The fuel emission system has had several diagnostic codes referring to the gas gap or fuel sensors. Vehicle is boggs down/loses power and starts ideling roughly and acts like it wants to shutdown and has shutdown. I've had to get vehicle towed twice fo…”
NHTSA complaint #11749747, 2026
“This vehicle has a repeating electronic problem involving the warning lights and function of abs, traction control, four-wheel drive system, forward collision warning, and both adaptive and normal cruise control. When the steering wheel is turned slightly right, like when navigating a highway curve, those warnings illuminate and the vehicle disables cruise control. It also has a lack of power due to what seems to be the traction control system activating. Also, the brake system has a shutter in the pedal and has reduced effectiveness for a few moments until the ABS and traction control systems…”
NHTSA complaint #11611506, 2024
Seat Belts 3
“Description of the Safety Issue I am submitting this complaint to report a serious seat belt safety incident involving entrapment and inability to self‑release, which required emergency intervention. While parked, my daughter as a passenger in my Jeep Gladiator, became tangled in the seat belt in such a way that she was physically unable to release herself or exit the vehicle. Despite multiple attempts, the seat belt could not be disengaged, and the situation escalated to the point where I had to cut the seat belt to free her. This was not caused by a crash, sudden stop, or misuse. The seat be…”
NHTSA complaint #11723578, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that the rear middle seat belt failed to retract or operate as needed. The contact stated that the seat belt had to be manually tightened to function as needed. The contact initially took the vehicle to the dealer where a diagnostic test found no defect with the seat belt. As the failure persisted, the contact took the vehicle back to the dealer where the failure was confirmed and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was out of wa…”
NHTSA complaint #11482378, 2022
“The vehicle auto stops when putting on the driver’s seat belt, in direct conflict with owner’s manual. The owner’s manual specifies that if the “Driver’s seat belt is not buckled” it will prevent an auto stop, but preventing the auto stop is the opposite of the act of buckling the seat belt initiating the auto stop. Furthermore, the instrument cluster does not present a “STOP/START READY” message which is the first necessary condition for an auto stop. This issue creates a serious safety hazard, as the vehicle presents factually incorrect information to the driver and the vehicle unexpectedly…”
NHTSA complaint #11447513, 2021
Back Over Prevention 2
“The wire harness for the doors, which are designed to be removed easily, doesn't function properly causing pins to become bent when being reinsert. This causes several systems to malfunction and alert improperly. The blind Spot assist and cross rear warning is affected. This a common and known problem amongst Jeep owners who removed their doors.”
NHTSA complaint #11523452, 2023
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, he noticed that the headlights were obstructing the view of other drivers on the road, and that the drivers were flashing their headlights at him while swerving approaching the vehicle. The contact also stated that he had been pulled over due to the headlights. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the rearview image failed to display due to the reverse lights reflecting off the license plates and causing a white light glare. No warning lights wer…”
NHTSA complaint #11495817, 2021
Lane Departure 2
“The wire harness for the doors, which are designed to be removed easily, doesn't function properly causing pins to become bent when being reinsert. This causes several systems to malfunction and alert improperly. The blind Spot assist and cross rear warning is affected. This a common and known problem amongst Jeep owners who removed their doors.”
NHTSA complaint #11523452, 2023
“I bought a new 2021 Jeep Gladiator at Larry H Dealer in Albuquerque NM , after a month and haft more or less I took the car for second time to the Dealer the car was there for 80 days because mirrors, blind spot asist not working , door conector dint click correctly , etc, Dealer told me after 80 days I have to pick up the car unfinish until part will arrive saying the car was safe to drive but battery could drain , never mentioning what could be the reason , a few days after I notice the wiper turning on randomly , the hight beams no working properly and the car having issues with t…”
NHTSA complaint #11441851, 2021
Structure 2 1 crash 1 injury
“1) Frequent spontaneous windshield cracks. 2) violent, out of control steering wheel vibrations at highway speeds nearly causing severe collisions. Reoccurring incidents. I’m ready to file a lawsuit.”
NHTSA complaint #11494925, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the driver's side front tire kicked up a stone from the street which entered the cabin and struck the contact on the left side of his forehead. The contact stated that he understood that inadequate fender coverage allowed road debris to be picked up by the wheels and thrown into the cabin of the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was no repair needed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was…”
NHTSA complaint #11500006, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling 1
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was test-driven; however, the dealer refused to diagnose the vehicle while it was covered under warranty. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the camshaft had failed, and the engine oil cooler housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximat…”
NHTSA complaint #11663726, 2021
Parking Brake 1
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, she noticed an abnormal clicking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact also stated that she had received several messages from Uconnect indicating a Power System failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with the parking brake due to unknown components being detached and hanging underneath the vehicle. The dealer repaired the parking brake; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle…”
NHTSA complaint #11496144, 2022
Seats 1
“The vehicle auto stops when the driver’s seat is not occupied, in direct conflict with owner’s manual. The owner’s manual specifically states that if the “Driver’s seat is not occupied” that the “engine will not stop.” Note that this system safety check is separate and distinct from the “Driver’s seat belt is not buckled” check. Furthermore, the instrument cluster never presents a “STOP/START READY” message which is the first necessary condition for an auto stop. The vehicle fails to properly check for the empty driver’s seat safety condition before auto stop. This auto stop violates Jeep’s pu…”
NHTSA complaint #11447525, 2021
Tires 1
“My Bridgestone tires were the wrong rated tires put on by Chrysler at 70 miles per hour they would bounce did not matter which one would bounce they all did it after hitting a small bump on the highway they are the dueler 255/70/r18 113t ms with 1 nylon and 2 steel belts in tread and only 2 polyester side wall this was to light of a tire for a light truck , talked to Chrysler and they just blew me off on this problem I purchased light truck tires and solved the problem they now owe me $1095.97 . I am sure they put these tires on other Jeep gladiators.”
NHTSA complaint #11457519, 2021
Visibility 1
“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, a rock flew and hit the window causing the windshield to crack on the passenger side. The vehicle was taken to a glass repair shop where it was diagnosed with the windshield needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred a week later causing the windshield to crack down the middle. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,500.”
NHTSA complaint #11421658, 2021
How we read this (methodology)
How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2021 Jeep Gladiator draws about 47.7 complaints per year on the road, ranking 2 of 5 among the Jeep Gladiator model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).
Before you buy this Jeep Gladiator
Don't buy on the strength of a problems page alone. Check the exact VIN of the car you're looking at. The open recalls are free, and the full $19 safety report pulls every complaint, safety rating and a downloadable PDF for that one vehicle.
Related
Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.