2021 Jeep GLADIATOR

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2021 Jeep GLADIATOR has 433 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: steering is loose and is difficult to stay in lane when driving. the problem amplifies with speed and requires constant dangerous over correction especially in adverse conditions like snow or ice.. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 10 crash reports 13 injuries

433

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

88 complaints

20%

• STEERING IS LOOSE AND IS DIFFICULT TO STAY IN LANE WHEN DRIVING. THE PROBLEM AMPLIFIES WITH SPEED AND REQUIRES CONSTANT DANGEROUS OVER CORRECTION ESPECIALLY IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS LIKE SNOW OR ICE.
• ON THE HIGHWAY INCREASING SPEEDS THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND STAY IN LANE AS GETTING UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH IT BECAME WORSE WITH THE VEHICLE GOING BACK AND FORTH MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
• THE VEHICLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS IS HARD TO CONTROL AND KEEP STRAIGHT. THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE LOOSE AND HAVE TOO MUCH PLAY. THIS MAKES IT HARD TO STAY IN THE LANE WITHOUT CONSTANTLY MOVING THE STEERING BY WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT AS IF YOU WERE PLAYING A VIDEO GAME.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“STEERING IS LOOSE AND IS DIFFICULT TO STAY IN LANE WHEN DRIVING. THE PROBLEM AMPLIFIES WITH SPEED AND REQUIRES CONSTANT DANGEROUS OVER CORRECTION ESPECIALLY IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS LIKE SNOW OR ICE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

66 complaints

15%

• VEHICLE HAS IRREGULAR DOWNSHIFTS IN LOWER GEARS. WHILE BRAKING THE DOWNSHIFTS CAN BE HEARD AS WELL AS FELT. THE SOUNDS AND SHAKE FROM DOWNSHIFTS VARY IN LOUDNESS AND STRENGTH. OCCASIONALLY WHILE BRAKING AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD. THE SURGE THAT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPON PLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REVERSE OR OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE AND DRIVE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING O
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE BATTERY TERMINAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART AND OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE HAS IRREGULAR DOWNSHIFTS IN LOWER GEARS. WHILE BRAKING THE DOWNSHIFTS CAN BE HEARD AS WELL AS FELT. THE SOUNDS AND SHAKE FROM DOWNSHIFTS VARY IN LOUDNESS AND STRENGTH. OCCASIONALLY WHILE BRAKING AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD. THE SURGE THAT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

54 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE BATTERY TERMINAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART AND OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LO
• The vehicle operates in direction violation of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): 49 CFR 571 Standard No. 124 outlining the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards governing the operation of the Accelerator Control Systems. The “standard establishes requirements for the return of a vehicle's thro
• There is a failure of the vehicle’s Brake Throttle Override (BTO) system which poses a serious safety hazard. When braking the throttle will surge from ~500 to ~1,500 RPMs without driver input (foot completely off the accelerator pedal, clutch pedal pressed in, and applying brake pedal). Despite the

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE BATTERY TERMINAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART AND OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

44 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE BATTERY TERMINAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART AND OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LO
• This is the second occurrence I’ve had with this vehicle. While driving on a rural two lane highway, traveling approximately 60 miles per hour, my instrument cluster began to flash a “Service Shifter” warning. This warning was simultaneously joined by a check engine light, random readings of speed,
• 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 afte

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

39 complaints

• The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH on concrete pavement, after transitioning from the concrete pavement to asphalt, the front end of the vehicle bottomed out inadvertently. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue to dr
• 8000 miles on new purchase, never off road, this Jeep goes into a violent shimmy/wobble 60-70 when in an ever so slight off of center steering angle on the freeway after crossing an expansion joint or other sharp road irregularity. Coasting down is the only way it goes away. Full Throttle accelerati
• Rear Axle Assembly leaking fluid onto rear brake drum and wheel hub assembly, potentially rendering brakes non-functional in rear of vehicle. Excessive drift/play in steering at moderate speeds (40mph+) "Death Wobble" experienced at speeds ~70mph. Front wheels/suspension near total loss of control.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH on concrete pavement, after transitioning from the concrete pavement to asphalt, the front end of the vehicle bottomed out inadvertently. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue to dr”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 433 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: STEERING IS LOOSE AND IS DIFFICULT TO STAY IN LANE WHEN DRIVING. THE PROBLEM AMPLIFIES WITH SPEED AND REQUIRES CONSTANT DANGEROUS OVER CORRECTION ESPECIALLY IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS LIKE SNOW OR ICE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE HAS IRREGULAR DOWNSHIFTS IN LOWER GEARS. WHILE BRAKING THE DOWNSHIFTS CAN BE HEARD AS WELL AS FELT. THE SOUNDS AND SHAKE FROM DOWNSHIFTS VARY IN LOUDNESS AND STRENGTH. OCCASIONALLY WHILE BRAKING AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD. THE SURGE THAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE BATTERY TERMINAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART AND OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE BATTERY TERMINAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART AND OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)