Jeep Gladiator years to avoid (and the best years)
985 NHTSA owner complaints and 16 recalls across 6 model years, 2020 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 985complaints
- 16recalls
- 25reported crashes
- 29reported fires
- 22reported injuries
Which Jeep Gladiator years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Jeep Gladiator years to avoid are 2020 and 2021. The typical Jeep Gladiator year has 87 complaints on file.
- 2020: 483 complaints, 5.6 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (38% of complaints) and the steering (37% of complaints).
- 2021: 290 complaints, 3.3 times the typical year. Most complaints name the steering (32% of complaints) and the transmission and drivetrain (24% of complaints).
What are the best Jeep Gladiator years?
The Jeep Gladiator year with the fewest complaints on file is the 2023 (56). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | 0.2× | 1 | 2 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2024 | 23 | 0.3× | 2 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 56 | 0.6× | 6 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 118 | 1.4× | 8 | 5 | 8 | Some concerns to check | Steering |
| 2021 | 290 | 3.3× | 8 | 7 | 7 | Approach with caution | Steering |
| 2020 | 483 | 5.6× | 7 | 11 | 6 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 985 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Steering, suspension & tires342 (35%)
- Electrical & infotainment271 (28%)
- Engine & powertrain243 (25%)
- Other systems47 (5%)
- Structure & body35 (4%)
Recalls (16)
Steering · 26V363000 · Jun 2026 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 24V652000 · Sep 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 24V572000 · Aug 2024 · model year 2021
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 24V199000 · Mar 2024 · model year 2023
An air bag that does not deploy in a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Transmission · 23V641000 · Sep 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
A disabled rearview image can decrease the driver's visibility of the rear view, and disabled reverse lights may not alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fuel system · 23V263000 · Apr 2023 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
Fuel pump failure can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 23V116000 · Feb 2023 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
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.
Fuel system · 22V767000 · Oct 2022 · model years 2021, 2022
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 22V766000 · Oct 2022 · model year 2022
A seat belt with pretensioner failure may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 22V638000 · Aug 2022 · model year 2021
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 22V639000 · Aug 2022 · model year 2022
A malfunctioning parking mechanism may result in the loss of the 'park' position, including vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 21V028000 · Jan 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
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.
Seat belts · 20V580000 · Sep 2020 · model year 2020
In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.
Safety · 20V191000 · Sep 2020 · model year 2020
The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 20V124000 · Mar 2020 · model year 2020
The 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.
Transmission · 19V636000 · Aug 2019 · model year 2020
A joint without grease may overheat and seize, possibly causing the driveshaft to fracture, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power. If the driveshaft completely separates from the vehicle it may become a road hazard. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.