CSR

Jeep · NHTSA safety record

2020 Jeep Gladiator

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

479

Complaints

11

Crashes

7

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator have filed 479 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2019 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 181 of them (38%). The typical failure was reported at 3,000 miles, the median across the 212 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 116 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 74 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 7 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (7)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

24V652000 · September 5, 2024

The defect
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."
The 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.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · up to 32,863 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

23V116000 · February 23, 2023

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · up to 69,201 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

21V028000 · January 28, 2021

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · up to 42,887 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS

20V580000 · September 24, 2020

The defect
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Wrangler and Ram 2500, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 and 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. In the event of a crash, a front seat belt retractor may not properly slow the occupant's forward movement after locking.
The risk
In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.
The remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat belt retractors, free of charge. The recall began November 12, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W67.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 2,114 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

20V191000 · September 10, 2020

The defect
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
The risk
The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 319,610 vehicles across all model years covered · fixed by software update

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

20V124000 · March 3, 2020

The defect
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Jeep Wrangler and 2020 Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
The risk
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.
The remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reroute a wire harness and inspect the clutch system, and replace components as needed. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W12.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 33,237 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

19V636000 · August 29, 2019

The defect
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. The rear driveshafts may have been incorrectly assembled without grease in the monoblock joint.
The risk
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.
The remedy
FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began October 10, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US number for this recall is V95.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 3,733 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure

PE25014

Still open preliminary evaluation · opened October 23, 2025

the electrical system

The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) is opening a Preliminary Evaluation on 2020 Model Year Jeep Gladiators and Wranglers involving a malfunctioning Instrument Panel Clusters (IPC) resulting in the loss of important vehicle metrics and other status information.  ODI has received 89 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging a complete or partial loss of the IPC display while driving.  The subject vehicles' IPC display includes the speedometer, fuel gauge, engine temperature, turn signal indicators, warning light, and other gauges that are normally illuminated while the vehicle is in operation.  Loss of the fuel gauge while driving may lead to an inability to determine the fuel level and result in a loss of motive power, and the loss of other safety-related information may impede a driver’s ability to take action to prevent a safety risk.  Furthermore, an IPC that is suddenly not visible to the driver may divert the driver’s attention from the driving task, potentially causing a vehicle crash. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to evaluate the scope, severity and frequency of the alleged IPC malfunctions and to assess potential safety-related consequences. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 479.

STEERING 181 38%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 180 38%
POWER TRAIN 53 11%
ENGINE 45 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 33 7%
SUSPENSION 32 7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 23 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 16 3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11 2%
STRUCTURE 11 2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11 2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 127.

2019 2025 2026
2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS

2 injured · crash · towed · 1,200 miles

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 PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB

NHTSA complaint 11316012. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · fire

Electrical system malfunction. Gladiator is burned down completely. Copart now has it under my insurance companies instruction. Large electrical fire. I took my vehicle into the dealer because the start stop feature stopped working. I received a call at the end of the day and was notified that both my batteries where bad. They replaced both under warranty and kept it over night for testing. Received a call the fallowing late morning informing my that my vehicle was repaired and was ready to be picked up. On my way home I was stopped at a light and noticed smoke coming out around the hood. I immediately pulled over and opened the hood. The electrical wire on the passenger side below the fuse

NHTSA complaint 11465618, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

1 injured · crash · towed

I was rear ended while stopped and the seat belts didnt lock causing injury to my face from hitting the steering wheel.

NHTSA complaint 11744084. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured

While exiting the vehicle from the front passenger door, I put my left hand on the door frame to close the front door. Simultaneously, the passenger in the rear passenger side exited the vehicle and closed the door. One of my fingers got caught between the door frame and the door and severed part of my my finger off. While I understand closing the door on my hand is not Jeeps fault, the normal result of closing the door on a finger is not instant amputation! I used a stick to see if I could replicate the results, and 100% of the time the door snapped the stick when placed above the door hinge. If that had been a childs hand, it would have cut it clean off.

NHTSA complaint 11428861. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

45,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Midas, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle was diagnosed and determined to need a new instrument panel. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA complaint 11752435. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The instrument Custer went blank during a vacation trip, did not know how much fuel was in it. Took to dealer they tried to put in a new one and it was also faulty, been waiting 3 weeks and still no new part🤬

NHTSA complaint 11746011. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The digital dash that displays the speed, shows fuel level and if 4x4 is active went blank, when I went to turn my vehicle on

NHTSA complaint 11743950. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The start-stop system reports unavailable, then within a few miles of driving, the check engine light will come on, followed by problems with the transmission shifting gears, sometime causing the vehicle to stay in first or second gear while accelerating and creating a dangerous driving situation. Power cycling the vehicle sometimes helps. Diagnostic trouble codes show low voltage in one or more O2 sensors, "too lean" warnings and cylinders randomly misfiring. Engine runs very rough at idle with the strong smell of gas in the exhaust. Dash information shows battery voltage around 12.3 at start up increasing to low 13 while idling. This occured around 40,000 miles and dealer replaced the aux

NHTSA complaint 11743102, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
TRUCK WOBBLIES WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING TAKES TWO TO THREE INCHES TO TURN THE STERRING WHEEL BEFORE THE TRUCK STARTS TO TURN. NOT RESPONSIVE AS IT WAS.

NHTSA complaint 11742752. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Jeep Gladiator

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 15 1
2024 22 2
2023 55 6
2022 115 8
2021 288 8

Other 2020 Jeep models

Every Jeep on this site — 104 vehicles, 303 recall campaigns and 7 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst