After being discontinued in 1988, Jeep Gladiator made a return in 2020. However, the latest Jeep Gladiator has raised more concerns than praises. But what are the common problems with the Jeep Gladiator?
The latest Jeep Gladiator registers several issues that are connected to the engine, suspension, steering wheel system, powertrain, and transmission. However, not all model years have many issues, but most of them come with one issue or the other.
The Jeep Gladiator is an excellent off-road machine with outstanding towing capacity and a spacious interior. Nonetheless, it is not great for on-road driving like most of its competitors, such as Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and GMC Canyon.
What are the common problems with a Jeep Gladiator?
Engine stalling when idling
One of the main causes of engine stalling while idling on a Jeep Gladiator is because of a malfunctioned pressure regulator. When the pressure regulator fails, the engine is cut and your car will start to stall while driving. Other issues that can make your engine stall are a bad injection, faulty pump, or faulty rail.
It is important to ensure that the pressure regulator is working fine to help regulate fuel. So, if any of these parts go bad, you need to replace them with new parts.
Steering wheel issues
This problem is common in the 2021 Jeep Gladiator. Several users have reported that the steering wheel losses control when it hit higher speeds of between 60 mph and 70 mph. Moreover, it happens when they are cruising down the highway.
Another user reported that they started having a wobbly steering wheel after hitting just 2,900 miles. Even after several corrections being made, this issue hasn’t gone away completely.
Transmission problem
Another worrying issue that the latest Jeep Gladiators have been exhibiting is their cars catching fire. It seems that these cars come with a transmission problem that causes fluids to leak, which overheats and catches fire at highway speeds.
When your car catches fire because of transmission issues, you may notice flames shooting from the undercarriage and may fill the SUV with smoke.
Defective driveshaft
So far, several Jeep Gladiator models have been recalled because of a defective driveshaft. The driveshaft becomes defective because the Monoblock joint on the rear driveshaft lacks grease. And without the much-needed grease for lubrication, the driveshaft could overheat and spoil.
If you have a Jeep Gladiator with this issue, return the car to the manufacturer so that they can fix it before enjoying your ride.
Engine problems
The main engine problem the Jeep Gladiator users might face is the floor panel heating up. Many users have reported that hot air comes from the pedal area and also around the floor panel on the passenger’s side of the cockpit. As a result, the floor panel heats up and it ends up burning the bottoms of the driver’s seat.
This issue usually occurs after hitting 60 miles. So, if you’re traveling far, this may be a very serious issue as it will cause discomfort.
Powertrain issues
Another common problem with the 2021 Jeep Gladiator is having powertrain problems. In most cases, this is connected to rear axle leaking, which ends up affecting the brakes. To fix this problem, you will have to replace the leaky rear axle.
Electrical problems
Different Jeep Gladiators experience different electrical issues. However, the most common electrical problems are the infotainment screen changing brightness randomly, the AC coming on by itself, and a clock that does not keep time. Have a mechanic fix most of these problems.
FAQ
Is Jeep Gladiator reliable?
Yes, the Jeep Gladiator is a reliable SUV. This may come as a surprise as this car has not yet been crash-tested. However, J.D. Power and Consumer Reports have rated it slightly above-average reliability. So, if you’re looking for a large off-road SUV, the Jeep Gladiator is an excellent option.
After how many miles does the Jeep Gladiator start to develop issues?
With proper care and maintenance, a Jeep Gladiator will cover more than 200,000 miles. However, if this car is not properly cared for and maintained, it may be difficult for it to clock more than 150,000 miles. Some start developing problems as early as 60,000 miles.
What is the least reliable Jeep Gladiator Model year?
If you want to avoid most of the above problems, try as much as possible to stay away from the 2020 Jeep Gladiator. This model year has registered several problems, which may also be costly and cumbersome to handle. So far, the 2022 model year is the most reliable, followed by the 2021 model year.
How much does it cost to maintain a Jeep Gladiator annually?
On average, the Jeep Gladiator will cost you about $630 to maintain annually. Note that this cost is for the latest models and not the old generation Jeep Gladiator. When you compare this to the average annual car maintenance cost, you will find that the Jeep Gladiator is not expensive to maintain.
How long does the Jeep Gladiator last?
This is quite a challenging question as the latest Jeep Gladiator has not lasted for more than 10 years in the market. However, the older Jeep Gladiator clocked an average of 200,000 miles plus. Of course, this was when it was well-maintained and taken care of with an average of 15,000 miles annually.
On the contrary, even though the latest Jeep Gladiator looks stylish and more advanced, it has more issues than the older model. Regardless, all Jeep models should last over 150,000 miles if they are properly maintained.
Conclusion
The Jeep Gladiator is an exceptional off-road SUV with lots of fantastic features. Nonetheless, this car also comes with multiple issues that interested buyers should learn about before investing in it. The most recent Jeep Gladiator models have lots of issues that are very concerning.
Besides, the least reliable Jeep Gladiator is the 2020 model year. This model comes with lots of issues that are very discouraging, considering it was launched a few years back after many years of absence. Overall, Jeep Gladiator is a nice off-road SUV for a large family.
