JEEP Gladiator Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used JEEP Gladiator options? We analyzed 7 model years (2020–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the JEEP Gladiator has 978 owner complaints and 33 safety recalls across model years 2020–2026. The most reported issue area is STEERING. 2020 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.
- Make
- JEEP
- Model
- Gladiator
- Model years analyzed
- 2020–2026 (7 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 978
- Safety recall campaigns
- 33
- Crash-related complaints
- 24
- Fire-related complaints
- 30
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2020 (480 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (15 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- STEERING
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
JEEP Gladiator: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe JEEP GLADIATOR has 978 NHTSA complaints and 33 recalls on record. 24 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 978 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 33 federal recall campaigns
- 24 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
33 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
WHEELS
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:PARK PAWL
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2020–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 978 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
978 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
UConnect systems. Have to pull over to reboot infotainment system by opening/closing doors and turning on/off. It does not always work. Can’t read maps, speed, temperature, and radio info. It’s the brains of the vehicle. It’s been worked on by Jeep Dealership 2 different times. Last visit has been over 2 months at the Dealership. The dealership has no fix to the issues. They said Jeep is aware of the issues but there is no date for fixing/software updates. Looking on line this issue has been since 2024 jeep gladiator. They say on line it’s been fixed for newer models. My model is 2025. I’ve called customer care for jeep my case number is #[XXX] ( Arika, agent). She was helping and now won’t return my calls or answer my calls. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving my 2025 jeep gladiator, on several occasions I tried to stop and my jeep didn't want to stop, the jeep wanted to keep accelerating (i was not using cruise control) . I stepped on the brake and it felt "squishy" but did stop the vehicle (it only feels this way when the uncontrolled acceleration is happening). Once was pulling into our driveway and it almost rearended my husband pick up. It also has happened several other times. It seems like it only happens when making a turn. I will be addressing this with the dealer when I go for the oil change today.
2025 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X. I have experienced two separate incidents in less than a month where the vehicle accelerated suddenly and violently, while attempting to park in my garage. Both incidents resulted to significant damage to a parked vehicle, and the building structure. Both incidents were completely random and unexpected. I assumed the first on was caused by something I did. I know with 100% certainty, that the second was not. My research indicate this might be related to a faulty Hill Start Assist control module. Apparently when the Jeep Gladiator is on a slight incline (which it was in both incidents) the Hill Assist locks the breaks, which can release suddenly when the accelerator is pressed. This seems to be exactly what happened, and the sudden acceleration was violent. This is an extremely dangerous issue that needs through investigation.
After getting gas and attempting to turn around in the parking lot the vehicle on its own accord while my foot was holding the brake attempted to speed up like cruise control was taking over on its on
The contact owns a 2025 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal popping sound. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.
2025 Jeep Gladiator was struck on the rear drivers side by and on the rear tire by a Nissan Rogue. The Jeep was spun 180 degrees and flipped on the passenger side. None of the airbags deployed at any time during the accident.
Read 14 more owner reports
I own a 2025 Jeep Gladiator with approximately 48,000 miles. The vehicle was fully operational as of approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, April 27, but by 7:30 AM the following morning it had become inoperable due to a rodent chewing through the fuel line overnight. The vehicle required towing to a dealership, Beaman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was parked in a gravel driveway at an RV park, which is a typical residential parking environment. Damage to a fuel line presents a potential safety hazard, including risk of fuel leakage, fire, or sudden vehicle disablement. In this case, the failure occurred without warning and rendered the vehicle unusable. A significant amount of fuel was observed leaking beneath the vehicle and onto the ground. The dealership confirmed the damage and advised that the repair would replace the component with the same or similar material. This repair does not provide any mitigation to prevent recurrence of the issue. It is my understanding that some automotive components may utilize plant-based materials, which have been widely reported to attract rodents. If applicable, this may increase the likelihood of repeated damage to critical vehicle systems. This situation raises concern regarding the durability and safety of fuel system components, as such damage can render a vehicle inoperable without warning and may pose additional safety risks depending on when and where the failure occurs.
Headlights are recessed and snow can pack in the recess which blocks the light. The snow renders the headlights useless and makes for unsafe driving conditions.
New Jeep, 1500 miles on it. While driving, it did an automatic update in the computer system. Following the update, the screen kept jumping information all over, constantly moving. I called jeep and they said bring it in same day. Following two shutdowns, the screen appeared normal. On 3 consecutive days it had automatic braking issues. 3 driving incidents occurred in which the automatic collision avoidance system kicked in with full braking, antilock brakes working. One incident occurred at 39 mph. One incident occurred at 50 MPH and one incident occurred at 55+ mph. There was no traffic conditions noted that would require and braking. The 50mph incident required traffic following me to break heavily, nearly causing an accident. The jeep pulled heavily to the left. Jeep made an appointment for a week out. I will not use that system pending an investigation
Check engine light came on and then shifter went into lock out mode while in drive with notice on dash to service shifter. Shifter will not shift out of park state without pulling service release for neutral.
I was turning right and while turning the vehicle froze on me, these included the steering wheel brakes and almost crash into upcoming traffic since it was hard to turn I end up in the upcoming traffic lane
I am submitting this complaint due to an unresolved suspension-related safety concern and the manufacturer’s failure to provide an effective warranty repair despite multiple attempts. The vehicle has experienced a persistent vibration and abnormal noise that appears to be suspension-related and occurs during normal driving conditions. This condition has been ongoing for over a month. As part of the warranty process, Jeep provided a full replacement set of tires, stating that tire wear was the cause of the condition. The original tires were worn out at approximately 15,000 miles. Replacement of the tires did not resolve the vibration or noise, indicating the issue was not tire-related. Two Jeep-certified warranty dealerships have evaluated the vehicle. At the first dealership, the condition was acknowledged; however, the dealership ultimately declined to continue warranty repair efforts, leaving the issue unresolved. In an effort to resolve the concern, I scheduled service at a second Jeep-certified dealership, traveling approximately 45 minutes each way. At that visit, only one component (right-side inner fender) was installed. After waiting over an hour on site, the vibration and noise remained completely unchanged. No comprehensive suspension inspection or repair was completed. At this point, the vehicle has undergone multiple unsuccessful warranty repair attempts at two Jeep-certified dealerships, including one refusal to proceed further. Despite repeated escalation emails to Jeep Cares, Jeep Wave, and Stellantis sent on December 23, I received no response or follow-up. The continued symptoms, repeated misdiagnosis, dealership refusal, and complete lack of manufacturer response raise serious concerns about a potential factory suspension defect and the safety of continued vehicle operation. I am concerned that the vehicle is not safe to operate without proper resolution. I am requesting that NHTSA document and review this complaint Thanks
The automobile's consumer-facing SOFTWARE enables WIFI on the user's mobile phone devices, in my case, ANDROID. However, at the end of the drive, after the STOP button has been depressed, and the car should be stopped, the SOFTWARE fails to turn-off the WIFI that it enabled, thus causing a battery drain of the ANDROID device. When a feature is enabled, it is serious ERROR and BUG to fail to reset the settings to the prior state. Further, this SOFTWARE error and bug causes countless waste of millions or billions of WATTS per year. This bug is serious error and should be addressed on a high priority. Consider the poor consumer driving or even just existing in mid-west snow conditions needing to use his phone , but idiot Stelantis turned-on WIFI on his Android, but then FORGOT to turn-off the WIFI feature, so poor Consumer freezes to death because Jeep forgot to DISABLE after they enabled WIFI, not allowing for the Consumer to make a life-saving call. Further, It is understood by this Consumer that Jeep enabled the WIFI, in order to collect satellite radio usage and album cover pictures, and other reasons. Jeep must report each and every data collection and allow for each and every data collection to be approved or denied by the consumer, which they have not done, so far as I know. Enabling Android power drain and not turning it off when done, is like leaving the lights on when they are not in use, except more egregious, and a serious safety issue. It seems to me that the NHTSA should have inspected this software prior to Jeep spreading it to the public. Further, the hands-free calling worked at first, now it doesn't work. In addition, when turning and in 4wd, the automobile shakes and groans and jumps, when turning.
A tire-related safety issue was discovered on a recently purchased 4×4 vehicle. The left rear tire was found to be a completely different model from the other tires, and it consistently lost air pressure shortly after the vehicle was picked up. The mismatched tire and repeated PSI loss created a potential safety risk because uneven traction on a 4×4 vehicle can affect braking stability, handling, and overall control. This condition could lead to loss of control, especially at higher speeds or in emergency situations . The issue was inspected by an authorized service center, which confirmed that the tire was losing air and that the tire model did not match the others. However, only one rear tire was replaced, leaving the vehicle with one new tire and one used tire on the same axle. This does not resolve the safety concern. No warning lamps were displayed, but the tire repeatedly showed low pressure shortly after driving. The mismatch and pressure loss were the first noticeable symptoms. The component (rear tires) is available for inspection upon request.
I was driving my 2025 jeep gladiator I just got on april 11th 2025, on the 2nd day I tried to stop and my jeep didn't want to stop, the jeep wanted to keep accelerating I had to put it into park to stop. I took it back but they weren't able to look at it. I drove it back home. It happend again a few weeks later I took it in but they didn't have a loaner, they were supposed to call me back on Wednesday, May 14th but I still haven't heard from the service dept, it happened to me again today as I was running an errand. I called the dealership again today and they were supposed to call me back today. Still no word from the service dept. I am a 100% disabled american veteran I got this vehicle to drive and now I am scared to drive it. I don't want this issue happening to anyone else. This is the 3rd time since I bought it on April 11, 2025. so first time 04/12/25, 2nd time May 14th, and 3rd time was today 5/16/25. I love my jeep but I am scared to drive it.
-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 are available for inspection upon request. -Due to the electrical fire risk, the manufacturer has issued an urgent federal directive stating the vehicle must be parked outside and away from structures until it is repaired. Because the manufacturer has not finalized or distributed a permanent replacement remedy, I am forced to store a known fire hazard near public spaces, putting my property and the safety of others at risk. Furthermore, a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving poses an immediate crash hazard. -Yes. The vehicle was brought to an authorized Mopar dealership for inspection on August 7, 2026. However, the dealership marked the repair order as "PARTIAL-COMPLETE" because physical remedy parts do not yet exist. Despite this lack of a physical fix, the manufacturer updated the administrative database to show "0 open recalls" in an attempt to prematurely close my customer retention file. -No active warning lamps or drivability symptoms have appeared yet. The "failure" in this instance is the manufacturer’s structural failure to provide the legally required, permanent safety remedy within a reasonable timeframe. The safety hazard and park-outside restrictions have been active and ongoing since the recall notice was formally issued.
This happened on a 2024 Jeep Gladiator. When parking I went to set the parking brake and as I pulled the handle I heard a pop and felt the handle release all pressure. With the handle up there was no braking effect. Dealer repaired by hooking the right wheel cable back onto the bracket located under the center console, and then adjusting.
Caught fire while driving
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Gladiator. Upon research, the contact discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact had not yet received the notification of the recall but was concerned about the fire risk associated with the recall. 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.
Factory installed Corning Gorilla Glass became marred and scratched from windshield wiper during rain fall. Glass also developed a crack in the right lower corner of the glass from unknown source (not a stone or road hazard). I requested the repair be covered under the original factory warranty and the repair was rejected. Per the dealership the glass is covered for 24/24 if NOT factory installed. It's covered for 12/12 if it IS factory installed. My windshield is factory installed and out of the 12/12 but still would have been covered under the 24/24 warranty otherwise. I see a lot of complaints about the Corning Gorilla windshields failing.
Showing 20 of 978 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact JEEP Gladiator
These pages show model-year patterns across 7 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used JEEP Gladiator, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The JEEP Gladiator has 978 complaints on record across 7 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The JEEP Gladiator has 33 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 24 of the JEEP Gladiator's 978 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all JEEP Gladiator vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two JEEP Gladiator vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The JEEP Gladiator has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used JEEP Gladiator.
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JEEP Gladiator reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the JEEP Gladiator reliable?
Poor. The JEEP Gladiator has 978 NHTSA owner complaints and 33 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is STEERING. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which JEEP Gladiator years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2020 (480 complaints), 2021 (288 complaints), 2022 (115 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common JEEP Gladiator problems?
Top reported issues: STEERING (327 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (284 complaints); POWER TRAIN (153 complaints).
Does the JEEP Gladiator have recalls?
Yes — 33 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the JEEP Gladiator. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.