Jeep Gladiator: Reliability, Common Problems & Maintenance Guide

The Jeep Gladiator is the only mainstream pickup that shares its front axle, removable doors, and fold-down windshield with the Wrangler – as covered in our full Jeep reliability and maintenance guide, it also inherits several of the Wrangler’s known issues along with one significant problem of its own. This guide covers the Gladiator specifically: full specs, the exact problems to expect by component, a maintenance-cost breakdown, and a service schedule built around this model’s known weak points.

Jeep Gladiator Recalls

Current open safety recalls for the Gladiator, updated automatically as new campaigns are issued.

Jeep Recalls & Safety Notices

Model years 2017–2026

LIVE DATA · SOURCE: NHTSA

Jeep Gladiator — latest recalls

Showing the 5 most recent recalls for this model.

Live · NHTSA

Date	Vehicle	Campaign	Component	Summary
2026-07-16	Jeep Gladiator MY 2026	26V456000 ↗	WHEELS	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The walls for the steel wheels may be too thin, allowing them to crack or detach, which can result in a loss of vehicle control. Consequence Loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the steel wheels and valve stems, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 05D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 23, 2026.
2026-06-04	Jeep Gladiator MY 2025	26V363000 ↗	STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP	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. Consequence A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury. Remedy 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 are expected to be mailed July 9, 2026. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 21D. The Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 11, 2026.
2024-09-05	Jeep Gladiator MY 2024	24V652000 ↗	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL	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, "Controls and Displays." Consequence An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash. Remedy 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 recall is 30B.
2024-08-01	Jeep Gladiator MY 2021	24V572000 ↗	POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles that were previously remedied under NHTSA recall number 23V-116. The software for the powertrain control module may cause an engine stall, which can result in a loss of drive power. Consequence A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 92B. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V-116 will need to have the new remedy completed.
2024-03-14	Jeep Gladiator MY 2023	24V199000 ↗	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wagoneer, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Chrysler Pacifica, Ram 3500, Ram 3500 cab chassis, Ram 2500, Ram 4500 cab chassis, Ram 5500 cab chassis, 2023 Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a GVWR less than 10,000 lbs., and Chrysler Voyager vehicles. The steering column control module may not be welded properly, which can prevent the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Consequence An air bag that does not deploy in a crash can increase the risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the steering column control module, as necessary free of charge. Some owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2024 through June 20, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's numbers for this recall are 14B, 33B, 34B, 35B, 36B.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Updated hourly

Generations, Who It’s For, and the Core Trade-Off

Just one generation so far:

• JT (2020-present) – built on a stretched version of the JL Wrangler platform, with a 5-foot bed and roughly 19 inches more wheelbase than a four-door Wrangler. Launched with the 3.6L Pentastar V6; a 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 option ran from 2021 to 2022 before being dropped for low demand. No turbocharged four-cylinder or hybrid powertrain has ever been offered on the Gladiator, unlike the Wrangler.

The Gladiator is built for buyers who want genuine open-air, doors-off, roof-off Jeep capability with an actual pickup bed – it’s cross-shopped against the Wrangler Unlimited more than against mainstream midsize trucks like the Tacoma or Ranger. The core trade-off: the longer wheelbase makes it slightly more stable at speed than a Wrangler, but it shares the same solid-front-axle design, so death wobble risk is not eliminated, and manual-transmission models carry a specific, still-evolving recall the Wrangler and Gladiator share.

Technical Specs: Engine, Transmission & Real-World Fuel Economy

Real-world combined economy typically runs 10-15% below the EPA-rated figure, more with larger aftermarket tires.

Common Problems & Faults

Engine & Transmission – the Clutch Recall

This is the single most important thing to check before buying a manual-transmission Gladiator. Starting in 2020, FCA/Stellantis recalled manual-equipped Wranglers and Gladiators for a clutch pressure plate that can overheat, crack, and in rare cases ignite – warning signs include a burnt-clutch smell or a clutch pedal that travels farther than normal. The problem has proven difficult to fully resolve: Jeep issued more than one recall round (software recalibration, then a full clutch assembly replacement), and owner reports as recently as 2025 describe the issue recurring even after a repair. If you’re looking at a manual Gladiator built between late 2018 and February 2023, treat a documented, complete recall repair as a condition of purchase, not a nice-to-have – check the VIN-specific status in the recall lookup above rather than taking a seller’s word for it. Automatic-transmission Gladiators are not affected by this recall. Separately, the Pentastar V6 carries the same oil filter housing leak tendency found across the rest of the Jeep lineup once past 100,000 km (60,000 mi).

Electronics & Software

Because every Gladiator is JL-generation underneath, it does not carry the older JK Wrangler’s TIPM failure pattern. Reported electrical issues are lighter and less consistent than on the Wrangler or Grand Cherokee, mostly limited to occasional Uconnect glitches. A small number of 2024-model-year owners have reported engine-bay fire-related complaints unconnected to the clutch recall above; the cause has not been publicly confirmed as of this writing, which is exactly the kind of thing worth checking a specific VIN against before buying a newer example.

Suspension, Steering & Chassis

Because it shares the Wrangler’s solid front axle, the Gladiator carries the same death-wobble risk – a violent, high-speed shake in the steering wheel and front axle caused by worn or loose front-end components (track bar, tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings) rather than a single defective part. Owner reports concentrate most heavily in the 2020-2022 model years. It is fully preventable with the front-end inspection schedule below. Rubicon-trim Gladiators add front and rear locking differentials and a front sway bar disconnect for trail use – both are simple, mechanically reliable systems with no notable failure pattern of their own.

Annual Maintenance Cost & Reliability Score

Repair-cost data and owner-complaint data tell a similar story here – moderate cost, but a real and specific issue to watch for:

• RepairPal: average annual repair cost of approximately $630, slightly above the typical midsize pickup range but well below luxury-vehicle territory.
• Auto Reliability Index (2020-2026 model years): average score of 55/100 (“Mixed”), driven mainly by steering-related complaints – the 2022 model year is the weakest tracked (49/100), while 2025 and 2026 both score 64/100, reflecting the clutch recall becoming better known and death-wobble front-end wear being caught earlier by owners and shops.

On a simple 1-10 scale: a 2025-2026 automatic-transmission Gladiator with documented service lands around 6.5-7; a 2020-2022 manual-transmission example without a confirmed, completed clutch recall repair should be scored closer to 4-5 until that’s verified.

Parts that wear faster than average on this model: the clutch pressure plate on manual-transmission examples (recall-dependent, not a normal wear item), front track bar bushings, tie rod ends and ball joints, the oil filter housing O-ring, and brake pads given the added weight of a bed and higher factory tow ratings than a Wrangler.

Recommended Maintenance Schedule

The Pentastar and EcoDiesel both use timing chains, not belts – no scheduled replacement, only periodic inspection. The front-end check below matters more on this model than almost any other vehicle covered on this site.

Related Gladiator Guides & Repairs

Model-specific how-to guides and repair walkthroughs will be linked here as they’re published.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Jeep Gladiator expensive to maintain?

Moderately – around $630/year on average, which is typical for a midsize truck. The real cost risk isn’t routine maintenance, it’s buying a manual-transmission example with an incomplete clutch recall repair, which can mean a five-figure transmission repair in the worst case.

Should I avoid a manual transmission Gladiator?

Not automatically, but don’t buy one without verifying the clutch pressure plate recall has been completed on that specific VIN – and be aware that as of the most recent reporting, some owners who already had the repair done have seen the issue return. If a seller can’t produce a clean, complete recall history, that’s a real reason to walk away or negotiate hard, not just a formality.

What’s the best model year to buy?

2025 and 2026 currently score highest in aggregated reliability data (64/100), with 2022 the weakest tracked year, driven mainly by steering complaints. Whatever year you choose, pull the VIN-specific recall history before agreeing on price.

How do I prevent death wobble on a Gladiator?

Same approach as the Wrangler: have the track bar, tie rod ends, ball joints, and control arm bushings checked for play at every intermediate service, keep tires balanced, and get an alignment any time a steering or suspension component is replaced.

Is the EcoDiesel Gladiator worth seeking out?

If towing range matters, yes – it offers meaningfully better real-world fuel economy and more low-end torque than the V6. The trade-off is a narrower production window (2021-2022 only), a smaller used-vehicle pool, and the same emissions-system service requirements found on other EcoDiesel-equipped Jeeps.