Jeep Gladiator: best & worst years

Based on CarVitals reliability verdicts, the Jeep Gladiator years to approach with the most caution are 2020. Below is every model year we cover (2020–2024), ranked, with the owner-reported problems behind each call.

Every Jeep Gladiator year, ranked

YearVerdictScoreTop owner-reported problems
2024 Caution 6 Digital instrument cluster goes blank or flickers while driving, hiding the speedometer, fuel gauge and warning lights; tied to broader CAN-bus / electrical-network faults and dead/draining batteries. The dominant complaint on the 2020 launch year.; Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.; Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting. Full report ↗
2023 Caution 6 Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.; Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.; Underhood / engine-compartment fires, several occurring while parked, with some traced to the power-steering-pump electrical connector and wiring harness; subject of recall activity. Full report ↗
2022 Caution 5 Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.; Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.; Underhood / engine-compartment fires, several occurring while parked, with some traced to the power-steering-pump electrical connector and wiring harness; subject of recall activity. Full report ↗
2021 Caution 5 Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.; Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.; Underhood / engine-compartment fires, several occurring while parked, with some traced to the power-steering-pump electrical connector and wiring harness; subject of recall activity. Full report ↗
2020 Avoid 4 Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.; Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.; Underhood / engine-compartment fires, several occurring while parked, with some traced to the power-steering-pump electrical connector and wiring harness; subject of recall activity. Full report ↗

Jeep Gladiator problems by year

2024 Jeep Gladiator Caution

Refreshed JT with new tech and airbags and the lowest complaint volume so far (still young in service); supremely capable and characterful, but pricey with the usual rough ride and weak fuel economy.

  • Digital instrument cluster goes blank or flickers while driving, hiding the speedometer, fuel gauge and warning lights; tied to broader CAN-bus / electrical-network faults and dead/draining batteries. The dominant complaint on the 2020 launch year.
  • Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.
  • Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.

2023 Jeep Gladiator Caution

A more sorted Gladiator: complaints down sharply, the early blank-cluster and electrical gremlins largely addressed and death wobble rarer, though the firm ride and high running costs remain.

  • Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.
  • Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.
  • Underhood / engine-compartment fires, several occurring while parked, with some traced to the power-steering-pump electrical connector and wiring harness; subject of recall activity.

2022 Jeep Gladiator Caution

Complaint volume falling but death wobble, sudden power-steering loss and underhood-fire/electrical reports persist; strong off-road and towing with ongoing reliability asterisks.

  • Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.
  • Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.
  • Underhood / engine-compartment fires, several occurring while parked, with some traced to the power-steering-pump electrical connector and wiring harness; subject of recall activity.

2021 Jeep Gladiator Caution

Still a high-complaint year: death wobble, power-steering loss, third-brake-light and clutch/transmission issues; capable but buy with eyes open and confirm any steering recall work.

  • Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.
  • Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.
  • Underhood / engine-compartment fires, several occurring while parked, with some traced to the power-steering-pump electrical connector and wiring harness; subject of recall activity.

2020 Jeep Gladiator Avoid

Launch-year JT with the heaviest complaint volume: blank instrument-cluster and CAN-bus electrical failures, Pentastar misfires and Wrangler-shared death wobble. Superb off-road, but the least-sorted year.

  • Front solid-axle "death wobble": violent front-end shaking at highway speed after hitting a bump or pavement seam, forcing the driver to slow sharply to regain control. A trait shared with the Wrangler JL; worst on the earliest build years, improved by later steering-damper updates.
  • Sudden loss of power steering at highway speed with no warning light, requiring heavy effort to steer until the vehicle slows; assist typically returns after slowing or restarting.
  • Underhood / engine-compartment fires, several occurring while parked, with some traced to the power-steering-pump electrical connector and wiring harness; subject of recall activity.

Rankings come from CarVitals reliability verdicts, built on public NHTSA complaint and recall data. See how we build these reports, the most reliable used cars overall, browse all Jeep models, or check any listing free with the CarVitals extension.