VehicleVerdict

2020 Jeep Gladiator problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator carries two red flags at once: 631 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 25.2× the Gladiator norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure). It is one of the Gladiator years to avoid. Complainants reported 11 injuries in total across these filings.

Electrical System leads the complaint categories with 181 reports (29% of the total).

631

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

1

Investigations · 1 open

16

Crash-involved

12

Fires reported

11

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2020 compare to other Gladiator years?

Gladiator NHTSA complaints by model year, 2020 highlighted631 complaints1969: 0 complaints1970: 0 complaints2020: 631 complaints2021: 436 complaints2022: 167 complaints2023: 77 complaints2024: 25 complaints2025: 25 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Gladiator NHTSA complaints by model year, 2020 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Gladiator years to avoid →

What are the most common 2020 Jeep Gladiator problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System18129%
Steering18129%
Transmission549%
Engine467%
Other335%
Suspension325%
Visibility & Wipers234%
Brakes173%
Driver Assistance142%
Lighting112%
Speed Control112%
Body & Structure112%
Fuel System91%
Seat Belts30%
Airbags30%
Tires & Wheels20%

Does the 2020 Jeep Gladiator have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

24V652000Electrical SystemSeptember 5, 2024 · 32,863 units

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."

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.

23V116000TransmissionFebruary 23, 2023 · 69,201 units

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.

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.

21V028000TransmissionJanuary 28, 2021 · 42,887 units

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.

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.

20V580000Seat BeltsSeptember 24, 2020 · 2,114 units

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.

Consequence

In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.

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.

20V191000Driver AssistanceSeptember 10, 2020 · 319,610 units

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."

Consequence

The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

20V124000TransmissionMarch 3, 2020 · 33,237 units

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

19V636000TransmissionAugust 29, 2019 · 3,733 units

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

Open NHTSA investigations

PE25014

Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure

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

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · May 4, 2022 · fire

“Steering is very loose, wanders all over the road and is especially noticeable at higher speeds. It’s very exhausting constantly correcting the steering to keep straight on the road. There is a lot of play in the steering box. I’ve taken my jeep to be fixed by the dealership more times than I…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · January 29, 2023 · crash

“I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN LOST POWER STEERING. IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION. AS I EXITED MY VEHICLE I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD VENTS. THE ENGINE BAY THEN BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE FIRE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · November 2, 2020 · fire

“I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN LOST POWER STEERING. IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION. AS I EXITED MY VEHICLE I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD VENTS. THE ENGINE BAY THEN BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE FIRE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 2, 2020 · fire

“THE CAR GOES INTO COMPLETE HALT UNDER BRIDGE WITH LOTS OF VIBRATION. IT REACTS BY PRESSING THE BRAKES. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO CRASH. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · May 6, 2020 · crash

2020 Jeep Gladiator — common questions

Is the 2020 Jeep Gladiator reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 631 complaints put the 2020 model at #1 of 9 Gladiator years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Gladiator years to avoid.

What are the most common 2020 Gladiator problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (181 complaints), steering (181 complaints), transmission (54 complaints).

Does the 2020 Jeep Gladiator have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2020 Jeep Gladiator under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Jeep Gladiator years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Gladiator years to avoid are 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. The cleanest record among Gladiator years belongs to 1970.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.