Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Gladiator vs FORD F 150
How the JEEP Gladiator and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
JEEP Gladiator vs FORD F 150: The Gladiator averages 141.7 complaints per year over 7 years, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 over 10 years. The Gladiator has 34 recalls and 25 crash-related complaints; the F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Gladiator or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Gladiator
The Jeep Gladiator is a mid-size pickup that, based on owner complaints, demands more attention than average. Over 7 years, it has averaged 141.7 complaints per year, with steering and electrical issues dominating. Many reports involve power steering pump wiring, fire risk, and sudden loss of control, suggesting that living with a Gladiator means staying on top of recalls and being alert for warning signs.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume: 11,621 over 10 years, or about 1,162 per year. Power train and electrical problems are the most common, with frequent reports of transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window shattering. This suggests that while the F-150 is popular, owners often face recurring mechanical and electrical headaches.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Gladiator | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 992 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 34 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 141.7 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 22 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
JEEP Gladiator
- 01STEERING329
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM289
- 03POWER TRAIN157
- 04ENGINE130
- 05SUSPENSION106
Owners report power steering pump wiring harness issues that can cause high electrical resistance and fire risk, as well as sudden loss of communication across control modules. These failures can lead to firm steering and warning lights, making the vehicle hard to control.
Complaints include software that fails to turn off WiFi after the vehicle is stopped, and power steering pump connector problems tied to fire risk. These electrical glitches can drain the battery or create safety hazards.
Drivers describe erratic acceleration, surging, and shuddering, with some needing complete transfer case and axle replacements at low mileage. These issues affect drivability and can be expensive to fix.
There are reports of engine fires under the hood, sometimes resulting in total loss, and instances where the engine overheats and warning lights illuminate. Such failures pose serious safety and financial risks.
“-The power steering pump electrical wiring harness/connector. The vehicle is subject to active Mopar safety Recall 21D (NHTSA Campaign 26v-363) for an un remedied vehicle fire risk caused by high electrical resistance. Yes, the vehicle and affected component…”
“The vehicle suffered a catastrophic, systemic high-speed CAN C data bus loop collapse (Diagnostic Trouble Code U0002-00 "Bus Off"), resulting in an immediate, total loss of communication across almost all primary factory control modules—including the Body Con…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report transmission problems like limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions. These issues often recur even after repairs, leading to ongoing frustration.
The lead frame issue also appears in electrical complaints, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. These electrical faults can strand drivers and require costly dealership visits.
A notable complaint is the rear window defroster shorting and causing the back window to shatter unexpectedly. This is a surprising and potentially dangerous failure that owners may not anticipate.
Although not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting is a top component with 1,224 complaints. Buyers should be aware that lighting issues are common and may affect visibility and safety.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
JEEP Gladiator — 34 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Jeep Wrangler, Wrangler 4XE, and Jeep Gladiator vehicles. The electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring may overheat and cause a vehicle fire, even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition in the "Off" position.
The risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures, until their vehicle is repaired. Dealers will inspect and replace the wiring and electric hydraulic power steering pump, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Jeep Wrangler, Wrangler 4XE, and Jeep Gladiator vehicles. The electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring may overheat and cause a vehicle fire, even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition in the "Off" position.
The risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures, until their vehicle is repaired. Dealers will inspect and replace the wiring and electric hydraulic power steering pump, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator and 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The instrument panel cluster may experience an internal short circuit and fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101…
The risk: An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between October 3, 2024, and January 23, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recal…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler, and 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
The risk: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the clutch assembly and update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed from November 16, 2023 through July 25, 2024. Owners may contact (FCA US, LLC) customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
JEEP Gladiator or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Jeep Gladiator has far fewer complaints per year (about 142) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but both have serious safety-related issues. In practice, the Gladiator may require less frequent repair visits, but its problems can be severe, such as fire risk and steering loss. The F-150's higher volume means more owners report problems, but many are recurring transmission and electrical faults that can often be addressed with known fixes.
Key differences
- The Gladiator has 992 complaints over 7 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 over 10 years, showing a much higher annual complaint rate for the F-150.
- Steering problems dominate Gladiator complaints, often linked to power steering pump wiring and fire risk, whereas F-150 complaints center on power train and electrical issues like transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, compared to 25 crash-related and 22 injuries for the Gladiator, indicating a higher absolute number of reported crashes for the F-150.
- Both vehicles have recalls for critical systems: the Gladiator for steering and electrical, the F-150 for engine, seat belts, and air bags.
- Check for any signs of power steering pump wiring damage or recalls related to fire risk, and test steering for firmness or warning lights.
- Listen for unusual engine noises or overheating signs, and inspect under the hood for any burn marks or fire damage.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for transmission shudder, limp mode, or stuck gears, and ask about lead frame replacement history.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or signs of shattering, and test the defroster to ensure it works without shorting.
Before you buy
- Verify that all open recalls for the specific vehicle have been performed, especially for steering and electrical issues on the Gladiator and power train on the F-150.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on transmission, steering, and electrical systems.
- Request a detailed service history to see if common problems like lead frame replacement or transfer case repairs have been addressed.
- Test drive under various conditions, including highway driving and cold starts, to replicate reported symptoms like limp mode or erratic acceleration.
- Check for extended warranties or service bulletins that might cover known issues, and factor potential repair costs into your budget.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | JEEP Gladiator | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 35 |
| 2025 | 15 | 345 |
| 2024 | 23 | 638 |
| 2023 | 56 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 120 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 292 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 483 | 44 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific JEEP Gladiator or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Gladiator vs FORD F 150
- JEEP Gladiator total complaints
- 992
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- JEEP Gladiator total recalls
- 34
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- JEEP Gladiator avg complaints/year
- 141.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Gladiator
- JEEP Gladiator top complaint area
- STEERING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN