2021 Jeep Gladiator Complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 09/28/2026

While I was driving home with 2 of my boys, the instrument cluster malfunctioned and went completely blank while driving. I had a mechanic check the vehicle and the fuses were/are working fine. He stated that he found issues online about Jeep Gladiators from this model year having issues with the instrument cluster suddenly going blank due to a parts issue. There is an active recall for this issue, but my truck is not included. When I called Jeep Customer Care, I was told that NHTSA was responsible for which VIN #'s were included. They also facetiously stated that if I had any issues with that I should reach out to the NHTSA, so I did. I spoke with a helpful NHTSA agent that stated it was the manufacturer who was responsible for which vehicles were included (Call Reference # 1889375) and it would be helpful for me to make a formal complaint using the website.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 03/01/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that two years ago the vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V116000 (Power Train); to prevent the clutch from overheating. However, the failure started after the vehicle was repaired under the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to perform the inspection or confirm the failure due to the age and mileage on the vehicle. The contact stated that the software update included a transmission kill switch to be activated whenever the clutch overheated, but the kill switch failed to operate as intended. The message that the clutch was overheating was displayed on the instrument panel during the failure. There was a burning odor and smoke during the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 06/10/2026

My Transmission is skipping on 3rd gear ratio code and reverse is getting stuck with only 70,000 2021 and i was the only owner.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/24/2026

Component Affected: Power Train / Automatic Transmission (850RE 8-Speed)Description of Safety Hazard:While driving my 2022 Jeep Gladiator (53,940 miles), the transmission experienced a severe internal component failure, specifically throwing error code P0733-00 (Gear 3 Shift Incorrect Ratio). This causes the transmission to violently slip, shift harshly, or completely fail to engage 3rd gear while accelerating.This creates an immediate and severe safety hazard on public roads. When the transmission fails to engage the gear, the vehicle experiences a sudden, uncommanded loss of motive power while in traffic. This leaves the vehicle coasting without acceleration, exposing myself and my passengers to an extremely high risk of being rear-ended by oncoming traffic.This issue is a known manufacturing defect involving the internal transmission "D" Clutch assembly, as documented in manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin TSB 21-009-25. The dealership refused to properly pull the historical codes or address the issue, leaving a dangerous, defect-plagued vehicle on the road. Stellantis / Jeep needs to issue a mandatory safety recall for this 850RE transmission D-clutch defect before this sudden loss of acceleration causes a fatal accident

SUSPENSION — Filed 07/01/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH on uneven road surfaces, the vehicle experienced violent shaking in the front end and the steering wheel. The contact stated that the vibration reoccurred while depressing the brake pedal and ceased after the vehicle had decelerated. The failure was associated with the death wobble. A diagnostic test was performed at a dealer, and an estimate for the repair was provided; however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 08/04/2026

Truck failed to find gear shuddered lost speed in traffic while going up a hill. Limp mode was initiated. This is a known manufacturers defect with a tsb applied against the known issue. Issue is widespread when researched but not made known by the manufacturer of the truck. Dealership refusing repair under goodwill due to truck being out of mileage by 5000miles. Symptoms started prior to exiting warranty but due to no communication by dealership or manufacturer unit was not brought in for repair prior. Repeat this is a known defect that is being ignored by manufacturer.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/10/2026

Front brake caliper(s) was seizing up causing smoking and a burning smell. Vehicle was also pulling to the right when braking. Brake fluid or something like it coated the front drivers side wheel. Took vehicle back to dealership where vehicle was purchased new. Vehicle is still under warranty/extended warranties. The dealer did inspect and found front calipers to be seizing up causing excessive wear on brake pads and rotors. They did replace both front calipers but not the brake hoses. They also replaced and charged me for new brake pads and rotors. Not even a week later, I called the dealer to report the same problem, the brakes were again seizing up and there was a smoking/burning smell. The dealer ordered the new brake hoses, found that the brake hoses they attempted to re-use had collapsed causing all the above mentioned problems. The dealer had them installed and so far so good.

STEERING,SUSPENSION — Filed 07/26/2026

I am experiencing the "Jeep Death Wobble" which occurs intermittently after hitting any road imperfections i.e. uneven road surface connections, potholes, or rumble strips, causing a violent and sudden shaking of the steering wheel at highway speeds. I feel like the wheels are going to fall off it shakes so bad!!! I either have to slow down to under 45 mph or less, or come to a complete stop in order for it to stop wobbling. This does not happen on smooth road surfaces. I have a stock 2021 Jeep Gladiator which I bought brand new the end of 2020. Whenever this happens, I need to get off the road if there are people behind me as I need to slow my speed and or exit the roadway. This puts me at risk especially when traveling interstate highways with tractor trailers and other large vehicles behind me. I advised the dealership in the past that I was experiencing this problem and they were supposed to order a stabilizer for my jeep but have never heard back about it. My Jeep is available for inspection as it has not been fixed. My Jeep was just in for bad calipers/brakes/rotors and had a multi-point inspection on 7/11/26 and 7/22/26. However, the wobble still happens. I am listing below the most recent date that this wobble occurred which was 7/26/26

STEERING — Filed 07/22/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had passed the inspection. The contact was advised to continue to park the vehicle away from the residence. The contact was confused. The contact asked the dealer why the vehicle was still considered a fire risk. No explanation was provided. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.

STEERING — Filed 06/04/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V363000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle could be taken to the dealer to be inspected; however, the vehicle would remain with the dealer until parts became available. The dealer informed the contact that parts for the recall repair were expected in September 2026. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/15/2026

2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport S equipped with 6 speed manual transmission purchased from Landers Jeep in Little Rock Ar. Vehicle required the A-19 clutch recall. Recall was completed and I took ownership 6/17/2025. I returned the vehicle within the first week of ownership due to the "service transmission" light periodically coming on. Dealership reset the clutch counter and attempted to give me advice on how to drive a vehicle I was more than capable driving before purchasing. After 13 months and 13k miles I have now gotten a "clutch hot fully release clutch pedal and reduce clutch use" warning twice while traveling down the interstate at 65mph. When this light comes on the vehicle enters "limp mode" and dramatically loses power, not to mention the original recall warnings of fire and fragments. Now clutch is slipping and vehicle power is reduced. Today at a scheduled service appointment to readdress this issue, I was informed by the service manager at Landers that they only fix recalls once and will not readdress the issue.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 06/08/2026

The vehicle was bought in CA and hasn't had any issues till about after 3-4 yrs later. 1) Adaptive cruise control / emergency braking system / forward collision notification will occassionally state "not availble/unavailable" or "visibility" is not available and to clean windshield, but the windshield is not dirty or obstructing the camera. 2) The fuel emission system has had several diagnostic codes referring to the gas gap or fuel sensors. Vehicle is boggs down/loses power and starts ideling roughly and acts like it wants to shutdown and has shutdown. I've had to get vehicle towed twice for this issue. Replaced gas gap and still had issues. Then they went away for a few months, but now I am getting a diagnotic code stating that the fuel tank gas sensor is causing the check engine light.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 02/07/2024

Engine oil light came on. Inspected at Tom Obrien Jeep for low oil pressure. Technician found that one of the oil sprayers was not bolted onto block, screw was there and tight, sprayer was in oil pan. It was incorrectly assembled. Jeep would not warranty due to lack of oil change receipts which is irrelevant.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 07/05/2026

7/5/2026. Driving home on the highway the Jeep went into limp mode and shut down. The Fault flashed on the screen for about 15 seconds (Throttle Body Falut) Problem is there is no warning when it happens. It just shuts down. This creates a "REALLY SERIOUS HAZZARD" This time it did register a fault on the computer and we were able to pull it off the reader. The Fault reads as follows: POOAF In looking it up on this is a manufacuring problem that can be caused by a little dirt, Can be caused by hot weather. THIS IS NOT SAFE! MY I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT SAFE! This should be recalled and Fixed as I am sure this shutting down on the Hiways and Interstates have killed people that were not able to deal with a situation. Please force a recall befor lives are lost!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 06/04/2026

I purchased this vehicle on May 25th. On june 4th it was parked out side my front porch and my house along with the jeep burned completely down. the fire was first witnessed on the front porch right where the jeep was parked. I was out of town working and had a friend there dog sitting for me. She and the dogs got out safely althoug she was sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation and was released later that evening. The arson investigation is still on going. as of monday June 8th, Both the arson investigator and home insurnace investigator could not determine the origin of the fire. When the recall went public on june 11th i informed them of the recall and have not gotten much back from either of them. The scene has yet to be re-visted. I drove the truck maybe a total of 150 miles. The steering felt strange at times but i only had the vehicle for 5 days before i left for work. There is no solution from jeep. I would really like for a specialest to inspect the vehicle to determine if it did in fact set my house on fire.

STEERING — Filed 07/10/2025

My name is [XXX] , and I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding the loss of my vehicle due to engine fire. The vehicle was a 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, VIN [XXX] , with approximately 26,666 miles at the time of loss. I purchased the vehicle on May 13, 2021. The fire occurred on July 10, 2025. I was driving on the freeway, and my vehicle lost power and dashboard warning lights illuminated. When I pulled over, the engine was on fire. The fire department came and doused the flames but my entire engine was destroyed. After the fire, I retained legal counsel and initiated an independent investigation through Fire Cause Analysis in Berkeley, California. Their findings identified the origin of the fire as being linked to the power steering pump electrical connector. I later discovered that NHTSA has an open investigation identified as PE24024 concerning Jeep Gladiator engine fires which notes that the fires reported to NHTSA for this vehicle originated at the power steering pump electrical connector - coinciding with the finding of Fire Cause Analysis. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/20/2025

BRAKE PEDEL TO CLOSE TO GAS PEDEL.. WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES ON BRAKE PEDEL HE CAN PUSH ON THE GAS PEDEL.. THE TRUCK WENT FORWARD VERY FAST./. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK USED

ENGINE — Filed 07/10/2025

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, there was an alarming amount of white smoke emanating from the engine compartment and permeating the interior of the vehicle, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway and evacuate the vehicle. Moments later, the entire front of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Local Emergency Services arrived on the scene and were able to extinguish the fire. During the failure several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and deemed a total loss by the Insurance provider. A fire report was filed and preliminary findings on the potential cause of the fire were provided but the contact was unaware of the cause. A Police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact's father suffered minor burns to both hands but had not sought medical attention. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the vehicle was retrieved for inspection. The manufacturer provided a determination of the inspection, and the vehicle was returned to the contact without providing the contact with the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 12/28/2024

The contact owned a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a corner, another vehicle was speeding and crashed into the front driver's side quarter panel. The impact pushed the vehicle forward, causing the front driver's wheel to swipe a telephone pole before landing on a residential lawn. The other vehicle then crashed into a telephone pole. The front driver's side air bag deployed, but there was a hole in the side air bag and the driver's air bag failed to fully deploy. Additionally, a burning odor was detected after the air bags deployed. The police and fire departments arrived on the scene, and a police report was filed. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact had surgery on her left arm from wrist to elbow, which required four titanium plates. The vehicle was towed to the tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,250.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 02/25/2023

On February 25, 2023, while slowing down as I approached an intersection controlled by a red signal light and applied my brakes which was slowing me down. My foot never moved off the brake pedal as I slowed down. Suddenly, the Jeep Gladiator "accelerated/surged" forward and stated gaining speed. Although I was applying constant pressure on the brake pedal, the vehicle never slowed down or stopped because after traveling 200-300 feet and striking two signal light poles and a communications box, the vehicle came to a stop. This was the third incidence of Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA). Tshe vehicle is available for inspection and under the supervision of Safeco Insurance. In this case, injuries were limited to a passenger broken toe and the driver being bruised. Similar accidents involving striking stationary poles resulted in death but we were spared that outcome. The first instance of SUA occurred on a street near my home and while applying constant pressure on the brake pedal, the vehicle finally skidded to a stop after traveling approximately 200 feet. The second instance of SUA occurred while pulling into a parking lot, and again, after applying constant pressure on the brake pedal, the vehicle came to a stop after traveling approximately 300 feet. After the first and second instances, I took the vehicle into the dealership, but they could not find anything wrong. The police report blamed an electrical/mechanical failure. No warning lights or messages were noted.

STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE — Filed 11/25/2022

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.

STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS — Filed 11/01/2022

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.

SUSPENSION,ENGINE — Filed 01/20/2022

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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 09/10/2022

While slowing to a stop and fully depressing only the brake with my right foot my vehicle rapidly accelerated into the back of another truck. It felt like the front brakes engaged, but the rear wheels continued to accelerate as the vehicle transmission worked to downshift. Serious safety issue-I am 100% confident that I was standing on the brake and not the accelerator. The road was dry with no gravel and I was gradually slowing to a stop when this occurred.

STEERING,SUSPENSION — Filed 01/19/2022

I was exiting the freeway with a speed limit of 75 mph. On the off-ramp I lost control of the Gladiator. The front end wobble was so bad that I could not hold onto the steering wheel for fear of breaking my wrist. Instead I had to wrap my arms about the wheel in an attempt to stop the wobble. I was unable to keep the vehicle in my lane, and finally ended up in a large ditch next to the off ramp. What happened appears to be a problem with the Mopar 1.5" lift kit installed by the dealer. The kit was installed 8/17/2021. This incident occurred in Jan 2022, about 4,000 miles later. I had the kit installed and then inspected about a month later specifically to check for any loose bolts, and to double check the torque for the bolts. The CV bar in the front lost a the bolt on the passenger side, dropping the cross bar and resulting in total loss of control of the passenger side front tire. I felt very lucky not to have been injured, and not to roll the jeep. It took about 150 feet to stop the vehicle in the ditch. I am attaching a photo of the bar held in place after the accident using bungie cords. This was done just to get the bar off the road and allow for moving the vehicle. The mechanic was able to secure the cross bar with a new bolt. The original bolt and nut were not found. We speculate that either the bolt was not torqued correctly or might have been missing a lock washer. At any rate, potentially this could have resulting in much worse. If this happened just a few seconds earlier on the freeway, the damage and injuries could have been much worse. Now the vehicle is driving like new, after new bolt and alignment. However, I will be checking those bolts more frequently, particularly if I notice any extra play in the steering. Before this happened, the play in the steering had increased. I thought I just needed an alignment, but it was much worse than that. Really I would think this cross bar needs redesign to ensure it can't break loose.