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2021 Jeep Gladiator Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 292 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, most often about the steering (32% of complaints, typically around 2,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Gladiator model year since 2000 and has 8 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2021 Jeep Gladiator problems
Steering
94 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 2,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, hydraulic power assist.
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.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering assist. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle with manual steering functionality. The contact stated that one and a half miles later the vehicle…
Transmission
71 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, clutch assembly.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired under manufacturer recall number: 26a for the right rear axle shaft; and the dealer determined that the left rear axle shaft was leaking. The dealer diagnosed and determined that the left rear axle, the…
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…
Engine
54 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles.
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 unavailable. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power, and then after a…
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was test-driven; however, the dealer refused to diagnose the vehicle while it was covered under warranty. The vehicle was then taken to an…
Electrical
46 complaints · 16%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…
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that on two separate occasions the vehicle failed to immediately start while pressing the start button. The contact indicated that while attempting to start the vehicle, there were several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle failed to start. The…
Suspension
41 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel started wobbling. The contact stated that the rear of the vehicle was also wobbling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the stabilizer needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving approximately 70 MPH, the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel began shaking violently. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, and the shaking gradually disappeared. The vehicle was taken to a…
Fuel system
33 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
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…
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 unavailable. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power, and then after a…
Other or unspecified
28 complaints · 10%Brakes
17 complaints · 6%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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2021 Jeep Gladiator recalls
Steering: pump
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Transmission: software
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: clutch assembly
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Backup camera: display function
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Transmission: clutch assembly
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Underhood fires
Summary
On september 6, 2024, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe24024 to investigate allegations of engine compartment fires in model year 2021-2023 jeep wrangler and gladiator vehicles. Most reports described fires starting on the front passenger side of the engine compartment while the vehicle was turned off, with several originating specifically at the electrohydraulic power steering pump's electrical connector. Following the opening of the investigation, odi sent an information request letter to the vehicle manufacturer to assess the cause, scope, and frequency of the alleged defect. Additionally, odi continued to receive reports of vehicle fires with a li
High pressure fuel pump failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe21-021 on october 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (my) 2019-2020 ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7l cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, odi sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both fca and bmw, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by fca and bmw.during the investigation fca filed rec
Questions about the 2021 Jeep Gladiator
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (94 complaints, typically around 2,000 miles); transmission (71 complaints, typically around 31,000 miles); engine (54 complaints, typically around 23,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2021 Jeep Gladiator have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 4, 2026 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2021 a bad year for the Jeep Gladiator?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Gladiator model year since 2000, with 292 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.