2021 Jeep Gladiator

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2022· STEERING,SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  My 2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport is very unsafe to drive specially at Highway speeds or speeds above 45 mph and multiple dealerships service departments are refusing to fix or even acknowledge the issue after not being able to fix the problem already due to no major recalls being offered by Jeep only a bulletin. Steering is very loose, and I cant drive my Jeep Gladiator Sport straight specially on a windy day. I have to constantly adjust my Jeep Gladiator Sport from side to side to keep it in my lane specially if being passed by a semitruck. My Jeep Gladiator Sport sways at speeds as low as 45 mph, but the problem increases at higher speeds. Most of the pulls on highway speeds or windy days are to the left and I have to hang on to the steering wheel for dear life or constantly correcting the wheel.

• 12/27/2022· STEERING

  The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel started to shake abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front outer drag-link socket needed to be replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was 16,801.

• 12/27/2021· SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

  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 driver’s foot firmly engaging the brake pedal, the vehicle sends rogue commands to the throttle to surge in the direction opposition to the driver’s inputs and intentions. The BTO malfunction creates a serious safety hazard as it impacts stopping distance. It also causes driver distraction / confusion causing them to second guess that they accidentally brushed the accelerator, which could lead to a serious accident. There is a significant risk that the vehicle’s BTO system may not prevent an unintended acceleration (UA) event leading to severe injury or death. For driver safety, the BTO system should be fully operational and the throttle should not spike while braking. The BTO malfunction was reproduced and confirmed by multiple service personnel at the local dealership. However, the Service Director falsified and backdated the service records to claim that they “couldn’t duplicate concern” and that the “vehicle is driving normal.” An FCA Technical Advisor (TA) inspected the vehicle, and he stated that “the brake pedal should always take precedence over the accelerator”. The FCA TA stated that the vehicle was “operating as designed” when he could not recreate the issue. However, the same FCA TA stated the vehicle was “operating as designed” after he was able to recreate the throttle surge while braking multiple times. Both of these statements cannot be factually correct as they directly contradict. The FCA TA claims that vehicle is “operating as designed” indicating that the Jeep Engineering Team violated the BTO standard governing the safe operation of a motor vehicle when designing the Gladiator. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

• 12/26/2022· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  During show fall the snow gathers in the head lamp dishes causing them to fill and block out the light. This causes me to pull over and clear the head lamps so I can see about every mile or two. This is a known problem due to not having heat to melt the snow from the head light. Jeep knows this since there are companies out there selling heated head lamps. I was almost hit last week during the big snow fall we had in Western Washing ton Dec 2022. also in the mountains in CA. Where I lived. in 2021 in Tehachapi CA. This is a major safety hazard for driving and having to pull over to clean headlamps while driving on highways opening up personal safety out of the vehicle in inclement weather. There are multiple articals on the internet discussing this problem of driving in cold weather with Jeeps with factory headlamps on how the fill with snow.

• 12/24/2021· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

  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 throttle to the idle position when the driver removes the actuating force from the accelerator control.” 571.124 Section 5.1 requires that “there shall be at least two sources of energy capable of returning the throttle to the idle position within the time limit specified by S5.3 from any accelerator position or speed whenever the driver removes the opposing actuating force.” 571.124 Section 5.3 requires that the “maximum time to return to idle position shall be 1 second.” After testing, the average return to idle time is 5.2 seconds, indicating the failure of a dual-redundant fail safe. The excessive delay in the return to idle is due to frequent but unpredictable throttle spikes that occur without input to the controls as the driver’s foot is completely off the accelerator. These unexpected / unwanted throttle surges vary from ~200 to ~1,500 RPMs. The excessive delay in the return to idle poses a significant safety risk to the driver and others. The throttle malfunction was reproduced and confirmed by 4 personnel at the local dealership, including the Service Technician, Shop Foreman, Service Manager, and Service Director. However, the Service Director falsified and backdated the service records to claim that they “couldn’t duplicate concern” and that the “vehicle is driving normal.” An FCA Technical Advisor (TA) inspected the vehicle, and he recreated the failure to return to idle within 1 second. However, the FCA TA claims that vehicle is “operating as designed” indicating that the Jeep Engineering Team violated this Federal Regulation governing the safe operation of a motor vehicle when designing the Gladiator. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

• 12/23/2024· STEERING

  I purchased my Gladiator in May of 2021 and the "Death Wobble" started in December of the same year. I took it to the dealership that I purchased my Jeep from and they told me that "it was due to the overly aggressive tires that were on the jeep". I told them that I purchased the jeep from them with those tires on it! Since then I have had out of pocket repairs totaling in excess of $3000.00. The "wobble" has been reproduced for them but that was the answer I got. The wobble happens every month or so but definitely happens when I hit a bump in the road or when I hit 60 mph and there is a deviation in the road (i.e. a divit, curve or sometimes even if I change lanes). The wobble is so bad that I have to immediately brake and drop my speed below 25 mph to eliminate the wobble. This has been a safety hazard where I have had cars behind me almost rear-end me because I had to slow down or I would lose control of the entire car. I don't drive my car for any distances longer than 10 miles from my home.

• 12/18/2023· STEERING,SUSPENSION

  This vehicle has around 8000 miles on it. While driving at highways speeds, several times the steering would start to wobble violently. Normally after hitting a small bump in the road. After researching this was called a death wobble. The vehicle is stock and has not been modified. Has jeep issued a remedy?

• 12/17/2022· VISIBILITY/WIPER

  I turned on my defroster and a 8 inch long crack happens from the middle bottom of the windshield. This is the second time in a year this has happened. There are numerous examples online of this happening. I live in Florida so it’s not because of the extreme temperature changes. It was only 50 deg F.

• 12/17/2021· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  Right rear axle seal leak causing oil to go onto brake pads Oil leak from shock absorber reservoir

• 12/17/2021· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

  While ACC deactivated but not turned off (in "cancelled state", where you can resume with a button), I was at a Drive-Thru ordering my food, when I finished ordering I slowly lift my foot of the brake then suddenly the car lunged forward as if it was going to catch up to set cruise control speed, fortunately I braked immediately otherwise I could have crashed into the car in front of me. Another incident happened on my driveway, I stopped on my driveway to open the garage door, when I lifted my foot of the brake, the car lunged forward. (Same as before, ACC deactivated but not turned off). It is very scary and worrisome, I am worried that it will happen again and I won't be so lucky then.

• 12/17/2021· STEERING

  From when I picked up the new vehicle from the dealership there's been excessive "play" in the steering wheel. The vehicle drifts in its lane, requiring constant corrections. Issue is more pronounced on a highway versus city driving.

• 12/16/2021· POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES

  Right rear axle leaking possibly causing brake contamination and unexpected decrease in braking

• 12/13/2023· SUSPENSION

  Extreme wobble in front suspension and steering wheel when driving at freeway speeds. Also conventionally known as the "Death Wobble". Occurred on 3/8/23 - repair of steering stabilizer by dealer did not remedy the issue Returned to dealer on 3/13/23 - replaced inner and outer tie rod ends and drag link Recurred on 12/7/23 -again replaced tie rod ends for excessive play in ball and socket joints.

• 12/13/2023· STEERING

  At highway speed and encountering a small bump the front-end will jump violently side to side. This can only be stopped by braking to below 50 MPH. Nearly got rear-ended numerous times.

• 12/12/2022· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  While driving down the highway, the vehicle went over uneven area and sent the vehicle in a violent jumping motion. We had to slow down in the middle of the highwayand then pull off to the side. This was all in high traffic times. This had also happened in slow travel and the vehicle jumped across the lane into oncoming traffic. Apparently, this is not a new issue but one that I would consider very dangerous. We also have another 2021 Jeep Wrangler and is now having the same issue. So both vehicle will be back at the dealership again for the same issue. Something needs to be done about this.

• 12/08/2023· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE

  The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. 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. Parts distribution disconnect.

• 12/08/2023· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE

  The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. 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. Parts distribution disconnect.

• 12/05/2022· PARKING BRAKE,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE

  The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, she noticed an abnormal clicking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact also stated that she had received several messages from Uconnect indicating a Power System failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with the parking brake due to unknown components being detached and hanging underneath the vehicle. The dealer repaired the parking brake; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

• 12/03/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I was driving my 2021 Jeep Gladiator and stopped at a red light at a busy intersection. When the light changed to green, I removed my foot from the brake and attempted to go through the intersection. Instead of moving forward the truck engine turned off and would not restart. As this was a busy intersection this was an extremely dangerous situation for both myself and other motorists. A local police officer assisted me in pushing the truck out of the intersection. The truck then had to be towed to a Jeep dealership. After an initial diagnosis at the dealership the issue was not readily apparent, and the dealership could not get the truck to start. After multiple diagnosis attempts the dealership believes the issue is a faulty Radio Frequency Hub Module, Fuse, Relay, and Auxiliary Battery. The truck is still at the dealership awaiting the parts so it is not clear if this will correct the truck turning itself off. Also, there were no warning signs or indicator lights on when this occurred. One final note, this model truck is known to have an issue with a leaking rear window. My rear window did leak and was replaced under warranty. I have learned that the Radio Frequency Hub Module is located in the rear wall of this truck below the rear window.

• 12/02/2022· EXTERIOR LIGHTING,BACK OVER PREVENTION

  The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, he noticed that the headlights were obstructing the view of other drivers on the road, and that the drivers were flashing their headlights at him while swerving approaching the vehicle. The contact also stated that he had been pulled over due to the headlights. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the rearview image failed to display due to the reverse lights reflecting off the license plates and causing a white light glare. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the mechanics were unable to duplicate the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000. The VIN was not available.

• 12/01/2021· WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES

  Axle has leaked for a second time. No notification. Grease starts to seep out of the right rear passenger side onto the brake rotor and wheel. Fixed at 6800 miles. Happening again at 8500. Was without the truck for a month the first time. There is no warning when this happens.

• 11/28/2022· STEERING,SUSPENSION

  On Monday, 28 November 2022 I was driving on I-40 in downtown Knoxville, TN. After hitting a bump in the rode the steering wheel began to shake violently and the front-end shake and wobble. I was traveling approximately 65 mph. When I slowed down to 35 mph it stopped. This occurred on a busy interstate at approximately 0900 hrs. I was lucky to be in the outside lane. There were no warning lights before or after. This happened three (3) more times in the same fashion today. When I got back home I scheduled an appointment with my local Jeep dealer. The earliest appointment is 20 December 2022. There was no crash and no police report.

• 11/28/2021· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,LANE DEPARTURE

  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 after 80 days I have to pick up the car unfinish until part will arrive saying the car was safe to drive but battery could drain , never mentioning what could be the reason , a few days after I notice the wiper turning on randomly , the hight beams no working properly and the car having issues with the start. I when to the Dealer with big concern about could be something releared with the computer because they worked on it already and they told me no way could be the cumputer issues .A weeks after I took the car to the Dealer and in a week they fixed the problems without gave me a report about what they did , almost the same that happen in my 80 days before . Verbally at the Dealer they say was somting with the computer but that all what I got from them so far . NHTSA the reason Im filling this is because you can check the safety of the car when are new or even when they are been on the road for a while but Dealer doing what they are not supost to do bring accident to Our Cummunity as wells , We should stop those bad practices before become tragery . Thank You

• 11/27/2023· STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Each time I drive my 2021 Jeep Gladiator Diesel over 55-60mph, I experience the 'death wobble' and i have to brake /slow down to under 50mph before it will stop. This is really dangerous on the Atlanta highways where people are driving far in excess of 60mph and tend to tailgate & change lanes quickly. When I first bought the truck, I didn't experience this but in the past year, it has been happening pretty much every time I drive on the highway (which I avoid now). The most recent time was the WORST, which is prompting this complaint.

• 11/26/2021· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Accelerating while driving three times last time almost most cause accident I took it to Koons dealership in Tyson corner on 12/26/2021 advisor was greg Jackson it wasn’t happening while I was there so nothing was done….

• 11/25/2022· STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURECrash

  1) Frequent spontaneous windshield cracks. 2) violent, out of control steering wheel vibrations at highway speeds nearly causing severe collisions. Reoccurring incidents. I’m ready to file a lawsuit.

• 11/22/2021· STEERING

  Multiple incidents of violent death wobble at higher rates of speed between 60 and 75 mph. Vehicle must be rapidly brought to below 35 mph before it settles down. Seems to happen most often on the highway when going over and overpass where the seam between the road and the bridge is. Especially happens when the transition strip is diagonal to the path of travel. Vehicle has been at the dealership twice, first for sloppy and loose steering which they said they were unable to verify, that everything seemed fine. And most recently for the incidents of death wobble. Again the dealership claims they cannot replicate the issue. We feel the vehicle is unsafe to drive and will not pick it up until Chrysler has resolved the issue

• 11/21/2025· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Without any warning and after about 7 minutes of driving, Jeep turned off while driving at about 40 mph. There were no dash lights or warnings and the Jeep has never had an issue or any other symptom previously. Would not start and had to be towed. 8 hours later it was still in a crank no start condition. Both batteries were fully charged so not a battery issue. I'm a long time Jeep owner, VP of the Middle Peninsula Jeep Association LLC and fairly well versed in Jeep mechanics. I only say that to let you know that I have a lot of experience with Jeeps, was able to exclude certain causes and have not encountered thisnwith any of my previous Jeeps. Jeep is in show condition and meticulously cared for. The day after vehicle shut off, all dash lights and windows also stopped working so issue also caused batteries to fully drain. Dealership says it is needs a new PDC. I strongly suspect this is due to manufacturer defect related to PCM and some of manufacturing defects associated with COVID-era manufacturing issues. Uncertain if it could also be related to other open recall. Vehicle has less than 50K on it. It really doesn't feel right that just a large component would go out on such a new Jeep and definitely isn't in accordance with the quality I've come to know and expect when owning other Jeeps. Would appreciate anything you can do to assist. On another note, about half of the Gladiators I see have the 3rd brake light out (mine included). Any idea what the issue could be with that as I also have to get that replaced, too. Many thanks!

• 11/21/2023· SUSPENSION,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  This Jeep has the death wobble. When you’re going 70+ miles an hour and hit a bump. It violently shakes and you have to slow down to 55 quickly for it to stop. This has been an ongoing issue and I have even put a new set of tires on and it’s continued. This is a known issue but there’s not been a recall. I had a previous 2012 Jeep and it did the death wobble on that as well.

• 11/20/2025· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  Approximately two months ago while driving about 65 mph on the interstate the power steering failed, and reverted to manual steering. The vehicle became extremely difficult to turn. I was near an exit, and as I slowed to leave the interstate, at 30-35 mph the steering began to work normally. I did not have the issue investigated. Two days ago while going to work, and descending a mountain which had numerous sharp curves the power steering failed again. I was traveling around 40 mph, and the vehicle was extremely difficult to steer. As I reduced speed to about 25mph the steering resumed normal operation. I was making a 90 degree downhill turn when this event occurred. I almost departed the road on a steep drop off. Had my wife been driving I do not think she would have possessed enough strength to keep from going off the road. I had the vehicle checked, by a mechanic and there were no codes or anomalies detected. I am a certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, as well as an Aviation Safety Inspector. This issue with my Jeep is an accident waiting to happen. There are a significant number of complaints for this same issue. NHTSA needs to address this issue.

• 11/19/2024· FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

  The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the DEF tank message was displayed, notifying the contact to “See the Dealer”. Additionally, there was a message indicating 200 miles were remaining before the vehicle would fail to start. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the tank and sensor needed to be replaced; however, the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 165.

• 11/16/2022· STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS

  Vehicle is 2 years old, with only 21,000 miles. Driving on the freeway, above 65mph, the vehicle wobbles violently if you hit a pot hole or a small bump. It jerks the steering wheel very hard from side to side, making it very difficult to stay within your lane. The only way to make the extreme wobble go away is to slow down significantly (<40mph) or sometimes come to a complete stop. A simple internet search and you will find MANY complaints about this with Jeeps, and it is commonly referred to as the "Death Wobble". PLEASE help us consumers put an end to this terrifying issue. I was on my way from Austin to San Antonio (1.5-hour drive) and was almost involved in two accidents because of this. Very few drivers expect for the vehicle they are following behind of to slam on their brakes, which is exactly what I had to do on several occasions to control the wobble. I was almost rear ended on the freeway going 60+ mph on more than one occasion. For the sake of every Jeep owner, AND everyone else on the road, Jeep cannot continue to release vehicles with this well-known defect. My vehicle is currently at the dealership being looked at, but I suspect it will be an issue with the suspension parts, either worn or loose. Either way, not acceptable for a vehicle with this type of mileage. No warning lamps or messages given before the wobble occurs. As mentioned before, you hit one pothole or bump the right way and it starts to wobble very violently.

• 11/16/2021· STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  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. Steering column violently shuddering, and required excessive force to control. Vehicle is dealer stock, completely unmodified, with only 9500 miles on it. Dealer currently has vehicle. Replaced rear axle assembly. Currently test driving to try and reproduce shaking in steering and front drivetrain.

• 11/15/2024· STEERING,SUSPENSION

  Just purchased this vehicle from Anderson Nissan of Lake Havasu City, AZ with 4759 miles. After leaving the city and driving on [XXX] heading [XXX], I immediately encountered fairly serious speed wobbles at 70 mph after driving over the bridges for drainage under the highway. Immediately slowed to 60 mph to stop wobble. This occurred approximately 8 times on [XXX] after driving over these bridges or irregular pavement. Nearly home, I was involved in an extremely serious speed wobble at 70 - 75 mph in an area of [XXX] in [XXX]. A slight vibration occurred then an extremely violent speed wobble ensued. Cars in this area drive at very high speeds. Fortunately, I was able to get the car to the side of the road without getting hit or wrecking. I barely kept control of it and very surprised I did not wreck with the other cars. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 11/14/2022· STEERING

  Driving down the road approximately 60 MPH and the vehicle front end starts to wobble and the steering wheel starts turning violently back and forth. Very hard to keep control. Slowed down drastically and vehicle returned to normal. This happened twice on two trips 20 minutes apart. This could have easily caused a crash, and created a hazard requiring my vehicle to slow dramatically from highway speeds to regain control.

• 11/14/2021· STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  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 acceleration out doesn't help, nor hard braking. It's NOT consistent, but it's happened to me three times in recent weeks as the summer temperatures subsided from the 80's F into the fall 40-60 F. Again, purchased brand new May 2021, tire pressures are proper, only driver, no other passengers or cargo. The onset is unexpected and frightening. The local Dodge / Jeep dealer where I have had one oil change seems to be unaware of a fleet issue or problem. It seems to be widely reported on various automotive blogs. Please help. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

• 11/13/2024· STEERING

  The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started to wobble. The contact's husband researched the failure and determined that the vehicle was experiencing the death wobble. The vehicle was uncontrollable while driving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, where it was determined that the steering damper needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall for the failure. The contact called the recall center and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

• 11/12/2020· POWER TRAIN

  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 CAN BE FELT CAN VARY AND SEEM LIKE THE VEHICLE IS BEING HIT FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR SOMETIMES IT MAY FEEL LIKE A SLIGHT PUSH FROM BEHIND. WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS LIKE IN A PARKING LOT THE SURGE FROM DOWNSHIFTS ARE A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. THE LOUD DOWNSHIFTS AS WELL AS THE SURGING DOES NOT HAPPEN ON EVERY DOWNSHIFT. A SEARCH OF ONLINE JEEP FORUMS REVEALED OTHER JEEP GLADIATOR OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES WHILE OTHERS HAVE VERY SMOOTH SHIFTING VEHICLES. JEEP SHOULD BE AWARE OF ISSUES BUT CLEARLY WITH MY 2021 MODEL BEING THE SECOND YEAR OF PRODUCTION, THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT FIXED.

• 11/11/2023· POWER TRAIN

  Clutch has overheated during routine maneuvers with a distinctive punjent odor and smoke. According to the recall notice, the clutch pressure plate can overheat which may result in cracks in the transmission case allowing heated debris to be expelled from the transmission case. "Heated debris expelled from the transmission bell housing may come in contact with an ignition source in the vehicle or surrounding area, potentially leading to a fire. A fire can result in increased risk of occupant injury and injury to persons outside the vehicle." Concerned for our safety, we replaced the clutch but have been refused reimbursement.

• 11/08/2022· STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS

  “Death Wobble” at Highway Speeds > 45 MPH. The steering wheel begins to “Wobble” after hitting a pot hole or uneven surface such as a bridge joint. I have taken it in and was told everything is to factory specs. This is not the case and I have video. The latest incident occurred Saturday Nov 5th.

• 11/06/2022· STEERING,SUSPENSION

  Four times within 8 months of the vehicle being new and now being the fifth time I have experienced what is termed "death wobble" where loss of control due to violent pounding/shaking of the front end occurs where most times it is necessary to slow down or stop drastically from highway speeds to get vehicle back in control.

• 11/05/2022· POWER TRAIN

  As I was driving my vehicle was losing power intermittently to the drive train. It was like the clutch was being engaged partially although I was not shifting gears. As I made a left turn I was nearly in a collision as power was not transferred to the drive train as it normally would have been. another 10 miles later my vehicle lost all power to the drive train although the engine was still running. I coasted to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. I could smell something burning although no flames were evident. I waited a few minutes and restarted the vehicle. I tried shifting gears but the transmission would not engage. I left the vehicle at the side of the road and called the dealership where I purchased the vehicle as well as notifying Jeep Cares (I don’t think so). The vehicle was in the shop for 4 weeks as the clutch had to be replaced as well as some transmission cables which I understand were damaged from the heat generated by the clutch and pressure plate failure. I now understand there was a recall related to a faulty clutch pressure plate system and I am told the fix, a software modification that reduces power to the drive train when excessive heat is detected, was done prior to my purchasing the vehicle new in April 2021. The repairs done to my vehicle were done as a good will gesture according to the dealer but I have no confidence that the same thing will not happen again. Losing power in an intersection or on a major highway is a safety concern that I now have. In addition I have read of these Jeep vehicles with manual transmissions and faulty clutch / pressure plate systems actually catching fire. In my conversations with representatives from Jeep and AutoNation where I purchased the vehicle no one is willing to admit there is an ongoing problem and safety issue. This is why I am notifying the NHTSA.

• 11/04/2025· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

  The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that there were several unknown warnings illuminated, and the instrument cluster had started flashing on and off. The contact stated that the vehicle slowed down while depressing the accelerator pedal and continued to lose motive power. The contact stated that a warning flashed on the instrument cluster to "Pull Over" and that "Vehicle Was Going to Shutdown". The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the left or the right and that the brake pedal was difficult to depress, requiring the activation of the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed back to the residence. The contact stated that her husband determined that the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The contact stated that a new battery was installed; however, the vehicle had failed again with the same symptoms. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

• 11/04/2021· STEERING

  The steering seems like it has a lot of play and when driving you have to do a lot of corrections to keep vehicle in its lane

• 10/29/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  UNKNOWN 3rd brake light has faulty solder and keeps going out. Had it replaced under warrenty and now needs replaced again. Out of warrenty. Needs to be a recall on this. Safety issue when 3rd brake light does not work.

• 10/29/2023· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

  While driving multiple warnings appears on the dash including bus communication, airbag, transmission communication, and abs. The vehicles engine began to randomly change rpm. The transmission began to shift speratically and was unable to maintain speed. The vehicle would not allow me to turn on hazard lights to warn surrounding motorists. Similar warnings appeared on the dash once before and the vehicle would not start and left me stranded. When taken in for service for the no start issue, the dealer performed no repairs for this issue and stored P codes were cleared prior to the vehicle being returned to me. I am currently awaiting a service appointment for the issue that happened while driving.

• 10/26/2022· SUSPENSION,ENGINECrash

  Under heavy breaking the rear wheels of my vehicle lifted off of the pavement. This loss of traction and shift in weight resulted in a head on collision with a vehicle in the opposite lane of traffic. After the accident I discover that the suspension for my vehicle was incorrect to the level that FCA released a TSB regarding the issue. The suspension that was equipped with the vehicle was designed for the gasoline motor and the weight associated with that motor. My vehicle has the diesel motor (approximately 600lbs heavier) along with factory equipped steel bumpers adding additional weight. This factory design failure created a vehicle that could not perform as designed and as I found out via an automotive accident, a vehicle that under heavy breaking can lift its rear wheels off of the ground.

• 10/25/2022· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

  The vehicle suddenly accelerates. The rpm’s shoot up real high, the Jeep accelerates and the brakes do NOT work. This has occurred while driving at 55-60 mph and twice driving in city traffic going approx. 30-35. The acceleration increases and is stuck. I press the brakes and they do not work until whatever is sticking releases.

• 10/24/2023· POWER TRAIN

  COMPLAINT: It is unacceptable that there is NO fix for this safety recall. The vehicle can not be considered safe to drive by my local Jeep dealer until a fix is done. Jeep has had since Feb and still there is no remedy. I am losing the safe use and operation of my vehicle.

• 10/24/2023· POWER TRAIN

  The manual transmission would slip out of second gear while driving. This happened often and with no grinding noise. This causes problems while driving as the car will not be in gear when driver thinks that it is. This can be dangerous when driving in certain situations. There is no warning when it is about to happen. Car was at dealer for 31 days before they diagnosed the problem.