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U.S. public vehicle records

2020 Jeep GLADIATOR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

482 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

3,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 212 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 181 of 482 complaints (37.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior17335.9%
Electrical and battery issues7114.7%
Braking behavior306.2%
Transmission and shifting296.0%
Engine operation91.9%
Fuel system concerns20.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering
181
Electrical System
168
Power Train
53
Engine
45
Unknown Or Other
33
Suspension
32
Visibility/Wiper
23
Service Brakes
17
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering181
Electrical System168
Power Train53
Engine45
Unknown Or Other33
Suspension32
Visibility/Wiper23
Service Brakes17

Steering: 181; Electrical System: 168; Power Train: 53; Engine: 45; Unknown Or Other: 33; Suspension: 32; Visibility/Wiper: 23; Service Brakes: 17

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
159
25,000 to 49,999
21
50,000 to 74,999
17
75,000 to 99,999
10
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000159
25,000 to 49,99921
50,000 to 74,99917
75,000 to 99,99910
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 159; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (159). 270 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2019
34
2020
111
2021
36
2022
34
2023
44
2024
56
2025
127
2026
40
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201934
2020111
202136
202234
202344
202456
2025127
202640

2019: 34; 2020: 111; 2021: 36; 2022: 34; 2023: 44; 2024: 56; 2025: 127; 2026: 40

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 173 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 71 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11257539 · 2019-09-23 (September 23, 2019)

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 STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY BACK AND FORTH WITH ABOUT 2" OFF PLAY BEFORE IT MOVED THE WHEELS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A "JEEP THING " AND I WOULD GET USE TO IT. BUT I HAVE OWNED 2 WRANGLERS AND CURRENTLY HAVE A GRAND CHEROKEE AS WELL …

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11257539 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11269484 · 2019-10-18 (October 18, 2019)

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 WITH A STEERING DAMPER WHICH DOES NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE LASH BEING OUT OF SPEC FOR THE VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11269484 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11342146 · 2020-07-29 (July 29, 2020)

LEASED BRAND NEW GLADIATOR. NOTICED AT SPEEDS ABOVE ~40MPH, VEHICLE WANDERS. THE STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE, RESULTING IN NEEDING TO ACTIVELY STEER THE VEHICLE JUST TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT (NOT AN ISSUE WITH ALIGNMENT). WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLES PASSES ME, IT PULLS ME TOWARDS THEIR LANE (LIKE WHEN A SEMI PASSES). TOOK IT IN TO DEALER 3 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH OF OWNING IT, WHO SAID IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS DUE TO THE NEW ELECTRICAL STEERING. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IT IS NOT SAFE.

Owner-reported narrative. 19 miles reported. Look up ODI 11342146 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11352814 · 2020-09-02 (September 2, 2020)

ON MY 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR RUBICON ESS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 249 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE WAS P0300 MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER MONROE DODGE AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY FOR ESS AND DID A RECOMMENDED PCM FLASH FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I PULLED OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS IMMEDIATELY BACK ON FOLLOWED BY ESS LIGHT. DEALER IMMEDIATELY HOOKED UP THE SCANNER AND THEY SAID THE P0300 MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE IS BACK ON. DEALER IS SAYING THEY HAVE TO TEAR INTO THE ENGINE. THIS SEEMS TO BE …

Owner-reported narrative. 249 miles reported. Look up ODI 11352814 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11282861 · 2019-11-29 (November 29, 2019)

THE STEERING HAS TOO MUCH PLAY BEFORE ACTUALLY TURNING TO EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS IS VERY NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS MAKES THE TRUCK WANDER HAVING TO CORRECT IT CONSTANTLY AND WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES IT MAKES THE TRUCK PULL TO EITHER SIDE. I HAVE BEEN NEAR HITTING OTHER CARS AND CONSTANTLY CORRECTING THE WHEEL TO STAY IN LANE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I OWNED A JL THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE UNTIL THE DAMPNER RECALL WAS DONE. THE DEALER TELLS ME IS A JEEP THING AND I KNOW NO DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR IS A JEEP THING.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282861 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11316012 · 2020-03-04 (March 4, 2020)

I PURCHASED THE JEEP ON 12/30/2019. IT HAD 1,200 MILES WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN 4WD AND ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE FAILURE. I HIT THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN I COULD NOT STOP AT A RED LIGHT.*DT CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY WAITING ON DIAGNOSIS AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. DURING THE ACCIDENT CONSUMER HAD NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. POLICE REPORT HAS BEEN FILED CASE [XXX]. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONAL…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316012 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11258523 · 2019-09-27 (September 27, 2019)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258523 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11318040 · 2020-03-14 (March 14, 2020)

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2020 GLADIATOR NOT EVEN A MONTH OLD, 6 SPEED MANUAL. VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING PROFUSELY AND WAS EXPECTING A FIRE, LUCKILY ONLY BURNT CLUTCH SMELL. CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT AND ITS BRAND NEW. THE TRUCK CAN EITHER START ON FIRE OR EXPLODE! THIS IS BASICALLY A ROLLING TICKING TIME BOMB. IT'S IN AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW WITH STILL NO REMEDY. FCA SHOULD BUY THIS BACK FROM ME. W12 RECALL PRESSURE PLATE IS ONLY A GUESS AND FRANKLY ITS [XXX]. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A MORE ROBUST AND RUGGED SOLUTION THAT MAT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11318040 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11425847 · 2021-07-21 (July 21, 2021)

Truck had very low power from day 1. Start/stop functionality mpcb short. Engine shacking and making noises. Engine burns oil. Trucks fuel economy is worse then a v12!I was getting 14 miles per gallon. The steering sucks it tilts to the right. Truck feels very unsafe to steer. The steering radius on ir is terrible. Trucks engine temperature goes up when is idling. Starter was staying on and hard to start. Engine would stall crossing the street. Engine stalled in the highway going 65 mph.it generated 10 check engine codes.the chassis of the tr…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11425847 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11497435 · 2022-12-14 (December 14, 2022)

On 12/2/22 while driving at 70 mph, I suddenly lost power steering. Every system warning light came on and windshield wipers began running when this happened. I managed to get it to the side of the road, but it has zero gauges, no acceleration, cannot shift, and cannot be shut off. After 30 minutes, the warnings began to clear themselves and I was able to safely drive it to a dealer. The battery was assumed to be the issue and it was replaced. Picked the vehicle back up on 12/7/22 and the exact same scenario occurred on 12/13/22; highway speeds…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11497435 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11327211 · 2020-06-04 (June 4, 2020)

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPORTING P018B CODE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THEN WHEN I DID GET IT STARTED WILL NOT ACCELERATE FROM STOP, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR ABOVE 5TH, AND MPG DROPS TO 5-8. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND FUEL SUPPLY LINE. TWO DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITH SAME CODE. DEALER REPORTED THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND WILL TAKE 3 WEEKS TO SHIP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327211 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11523428 · 2023-05-23 (May 23, 2023)

Began driving vehicle on short 4.5 mile trip to the store with over 1/4 tank of fuel. Began to smell of fuel inside and noticed that when accelerating from a stop vehicle would hesitate and stutter. Halfway through trip noticed that vehicle had only 1/8 tank of fuel left and light came on. Pulled into parking lot at destination, shut vehicle off near empty and noticed trail of gasoline behind vehicle and pooling fuel below. Observed underneath that fuel had been spraying at a high pressure from the top of the fuel tank ( exact source not visibl…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523428 at NHTSA ↗