2021 Jeep GLADIATOR: complaints, problems and recalls

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 DEF…

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374392 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395940 at NHTSA ↗

DEFROST ONLY WORKS FOR THE CENTER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. NO AIR COMES FROM THE RIGHT OR LEFT SIDES OF THE DEFROST VENTS. THE LEADS TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER ESPECIALLY IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS.

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395941 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11404078 at NHTSA ↗

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 ON THE SHIFTER COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARLOW MOTOR COMPANY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (707 N. COMMERCE AVE, FRONT ROYAL, VA 22630) HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN P…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11404192 at NHTSA ↗

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 LOCAL DEALER MIRACLE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1290 NASHVILLE PIKE, GALLATIN, TN 37066) WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11404357 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405091 at NHTSA ↗

2021 GLADIATOR STEERING PROBLEM. BE DRIVING STEERING GETS LOOSE.. ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 2 INCHES EITHER WAY WITHOUT THE WHEELS MOVING THEN TIGHTEN BACK UP FOR AWHILE THEN HAPPEN AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SAY IT'S"NORMAL PLAY FOR A JEEP" COULD SEE OR PRODUCE THE PROBLEM. HAD THE JEEP IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH SINCE MARCH UNTIL TODAY I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE GEAR BOX OR POWER STEERING POWER THEY SAID NO BUT COULDN'T GIVE A REASON WHY IT WAS DOING IT

Owner-reported narrative. 21 miles reported. Look up ODI 11416330 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2021-01-28 (January 28, 2021)

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Jeep Wrangler and 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.

Consequence: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will add software to reduce engine torque capability when clutch assembly temperatures rise to a level that may damage the inner pressure plate, free of charge." FCA has ordered a stop sale for the affected vehicles as of February 25, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2021.

Reported: 2022-08-25 (August 25, 2022)

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jeep Wrangler, RAM 1500 and 2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA, LLC's number for this recall is Z86.

Reported: 2022-10-13 (October 13, 2022)

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stall.

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP and inspect and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z96.

Reported: 2023-02-23 (February 23, 2023)

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler, and 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.

Consequence: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the clutch assembly and update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed from November 16, 2023 through July 25, 2024. Owners may contact (FCA US, LLC) customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 19A. This recall expands and replaces previous recall 21V-028. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V-028 will need to have the new remedy completed.

Reported: 2023-04-13 (April 13, 2023)

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and 2022-2023 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail.

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 01A.

Reported: 2024-08-01 (August 1, 2024)

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.

Reported: 2024-09-05 (September 5, 2024)

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.

Reported: 2026-06-04 (June 4, 2026)

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.