2020 Jeep GLADIATOR

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Jeep GLADIATOR has 630 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: drifts/wanders all over the road at highway speed.. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 12 crash reports 7 injuries

630

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

181 complaints

29%

• DRIFTS/WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
• I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK 3 WEEKS NOW AND ABOUT 1,000 MILES. THE ISSUE I HAVE US WITH THE STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ESPECIALLY. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A MODERN DAY VEHICLE WITH THIS MUCH STEERING PLAY. THIS PAST WEEKEND I TOOK A MOSTLY HIGHWAY TRIP AND IT WAS MENTALLY EXHAUSTING TO HAVE TO WORK THE STE
• THE STEERING BOX HAS AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF PLAY ACCORDING TO 49 CFR 570.60 - STEERING SYSTEM. IT HAS MORE THAN 2 INCHES (1 TO EACH SIDE) OF PLAY AND REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT. FCA HAS REVISED THE STEERING BOX 5 TIMES SO FAR AND IS ATTEMPTING TO MASK IT WI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“DRIFTS/WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

180 complaints

29%

• STEERING; SCARY TO DRIVE ON HWY. MANUAL TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT GRINDS CLUTCH RELATED I THOUGHT THAT WAS NORMAL CAUSE IT WAS BRAND NEW AND NOT BROKEN IN. NOT SO PROBLEM STILL THERE. BACK UP CAMERA DOESN'T ALWAYS ENGAGE I WONDER IF THE MANUAL SHIFTING HAS ANY FLAWS. TOO MUCH CRAP FOR SUCH A HIGH P
• SINCE PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD LOOSE AND UNRESPONSIVE STEERING. IT CURRENTLY HAS 1600 MILES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES. I AM TOLD THE STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED UNDER A CAMPAIGN HOWEVER THERE IS NO DECAL AS OF YET. JEEP DOES NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED PARTS IN STOCK AND I AM BEI
• BASE JEEP GLADIATOR RADIO WILL SHORT OUT WITH A LOUD POP WITHOUT WARNING RANDOMLY WHILE IN OPERATION. THE SOUND IS VERY LOUD THAT EMITS FROM THE JEEPS SPEAKERS AND STARTLES YOU ENOUGH YOU COULD MISTAKE IT FOR HITTING SOMETHING OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME I NEARLY WENT INTO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“STEERING; SCARY TO DRIVE ON HWY. MANUAL TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT GRINDS CLUTCH RELATED I THOUGHT THAT WAS NORMAL CAUSE IT WAS BRAND NEW AND NOT BROKEN IN. NOT SO PROBLEM STILL THERE. BACK UP CAMERA DOESN'T ALWAYS ENGAGE I WONDER IF THE MANUAL SHIFTING HAS ANY FLAWS. TOO MUCH CRAP FOR SUCH A HIGH P”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

54 complaints

• DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 WITH APPROX SPEED OF 65. CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER JEEP. SMOKE ENTERED CAB. WHAT I THINK IS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEFT TRAIL ON INTERSTATE. I HAVE PHOTO.*DT*JB*DT *JS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE SELECT SPEED CONTROL, THE VEHICLE MADE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC
• UNSURE OF WHAT THE ISSUE IS BUT HAVE OCCASIONAL ISSUES WITH CLUTCH AND STEERING IS VERY LOOSE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 WITH APPROX SPEED OF 65. CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER JEEP. SMOKE ENTERED CAB. WHAT I THINK IS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEFT TRAIL ON INTERSTATE. I HAVE PHOTO.*DT*JB*DT *JS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

46 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FLOOR PANEL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BECAME SO HOT THAT IT BURNED THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S FOOT. THE CARPET ON THE FLOOR PANEL WAS REMOVED AND THERE WAS A WARNING NOT TO REMOVE THE CARPET BECAUSE THE EXHAUST SYST
• WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED IT IS ALL OF THE SUDDEN THERE IS HOT AIR COMING IN FROM THE FRONT FEET SPACE BY THE PEDALS, YOU CAN FEEL IT IN PASSENGER SIDE ALSO. ( AC IS ON AND BLOWING COLD AIR AND THE RECIRCULATE BUTTON IS ON) UPPER VENT BLOW COLD AIR WHILE THIS HAPPE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, OIL LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE AND LEFT A PUDDLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HILLTOP CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM LOCATED AT (3291 AUTO PLAZA DRIVE, RICHMOND, CA 94806 (510) 243-6100) WHERE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FLOOR PANEL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BECAME SO HOT THAT IT BURNED THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S FOOT. THE CARPET ON THE FLOOR PANEL WAS REMOVED AND THERE WAS A WARNING NOT TO REMOVE THE CARPET BECAUSE THE EXHAUST SYST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

33 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED IT IS ALL OF THE SUDDEN THERE IS HOT AIR COMING IN FROM THE FRONT FEET SPACE BY THE PEDALS, YOU CAN FEEL IT IN PASSENGER SIDE ALSO. ( AC IS ON AND BLOWING COLD AIR AND THE RECIRCULATE BUTTON IS ON) UPPER VENT BLOW COLD AIR WHILE THIS HAPPE
• UNSURE OF WHAT THE ISSUE IS BUT HAVE OCCASIONAL ISSUES WITH CLUTCH AND STEERING IS VERY LOOSE.
• THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED TO BOTH ALERT OF AN IMPENDING COLLISION AND APPLY BRAKES, IF NECESSARY. THE SYSTEM CAN BE SET TO: OFF, ALERT ONLY OR ALERT W/ EMERGENCY BRAKING. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IN FACT, IT WORKS SO IN FREQUENTLY THAT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED IT IS ALL OF THE SUDDEN THERE IS HOT AIR COMING IN FROM THE FRONT FEET SPACE BY THE PEDALS, YOU CAN FEEL IT IN PASSENGER SIDE ALSO. ( AC IS ON AND BLOWING COLD AIR AND THE RECIRCULATE BUTTON IS ON) UPPER VENT BLOW COLD AIR WHILE THIS HAPPE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 630 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: DRIFTS/WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: STEERING; SCARY TO DRIVE ON HWY. MANUAL TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT GRINDS CLUTCH RELATED I THOUGHT THAT WAS NORMAL CAUSE IT WAS BRAND NEW AND NOT BROKEN IN. NOT SO PROBLEM STILL THERE. BACK UP CAMERA DOESN'T ALWAYS ENGAGE I WONDER IF THE MANUAL SHIFTING HAS ANY FLAWS. TOO MUCH CRAP FOR SUCH A HIGH P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 WITH APPROX SPEED OF 65. CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER JEEP. SMOKE ENTERED CAB. WHAT I THINK IS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEFT TRAIL ON INTERSTATE. I HAVE PHOTO.*DT*JB*DT *JS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FLOOR PANEL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BECAME SO HOT THAT IT BURNED THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S FOOT. THE CARPET ON THE FLOOR PANEL WAS REMOVED AND THERE WAS A WARNING NOT TO REMOVE THE CARPET BECAUSE THE EXHAUST SYST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)