2022 Jeep Gladiator Problems: 17 Known Issues

On the 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator, vehicles equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission may experience clutch pressure plate overheating, which can cause the pressure plate to fracture and crack the transmission case. Heated debris can contact ignition sources, creating a fire risk. NHTSA Recall 20V-124 (Manufacturer W12) initially covered 2018-2020 models; expanded recall 23V-116 covered 2021-2024 models. Some underhood fires have been reported while parked.

On the 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator, the 8-speed automatic transmission (8HP75) can stall at low speeds, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly shift into park and apply the emergency brake. Related to the eTorque mild-hybrid system on 3.6L V6 equipped models. NHTSA opened a probe covering 2022 models with 5.7L eTorque Hemi V8, but 3.6L models also affected. Owners report inability to restart after stalling.

On the 2020-2025 Jeep Gladiator, gladiators equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission experience premature clutch hydraulic system failure. The clutch master cylinder and/or slave cylinder develop internal leaks, causing a soft or sinking clutch pedal and difficulty shifting. In severe cases, the clutch pedal goes to the floor with no resistance, leaving the vehicle undriveable. The slave cylinder is concentric (inside the bell housing), making replacement labor-intensive. Some owners experience failure as early as 20,000 miles.

On the 2020-2022 Jeep Gladiator, the 3.5-inch instrument panel cluster display can fail due to a bad circuit board (made by Marelli) that shorts out internally. Drivers lose speedometer, fuel gauge, engine temperature, turn signal indicators, and other warning lights. NHTSA opened investigation EA25-003 covering over 232,000 Gladiator and Wrangler vehicles from the 2020 model year.

On the 2021-2025 Jeep Gladiator, the electrical connection at the electric hydraulic power steering (EHPS) pump can develop high resistance and overheat, igniting adjacent combustible material in the engine bay. Because the pump circuit remains energized under some conditions, fires have started with the vehicle parked and the ignition off. NHTSA opened an investigation covering roughly 781,000 Wrangler/Gladiator vehicles after underhood fire reports, and FCA US ultimately recalled about 1.08 million 2021-2025 Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles under NHTSA campaign 26V363000, with 51 fires and one injury identified. Owners were told to park outside and away from structures until repaired.

On the 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator, the 7.0-inch and 8.4-inch Uconnect 4 head units in the Gladiator intermittently lock up, reboot in a loop, or drop the rear camera feed - the screen goes black when reverse is selected while the rest of the radio still works. Owners report the fault appearing after a software update, after a battery replacement/disconnect (the radio loses its vehicle configuration), or spontaneously with no trigger. Because the backup camera is federally required equipment, a permanently blank camera is a safety-inspection failure, not just an annoyance.

On the 2020-2025 Jeep Gladiator, the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) sensors in Gladiators fail prematurely, often within 2-3 years. The sensors are exposed to harsh conditions — off-road impacts, mud, water crossings, and tire changes — that exceed the design life of the batteries and electronics. When sensors fail, the TPMS warning light illuminates and the system cannot monitor tire pressure. Gladiator owners who run a second set of wheels for off-road use experience double the sensor failure rate.

On the 2020-2025 Jeep Gladiator, the solid front axle design on the Gladiator is susceptible to "death wobble," a violent shaking of the front end typically triggered by hitting a bump at highway speeds. NHTSA received over 170 steering complaints for the 2020 model year alone. Contributing factors include worn ball joints, loose track bar bolts, and degraded steering stabilizer. Recall 21V-853 addressed lower ball joints on vehicles built between 9/16/2020 and 8/4/2021.

On the 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator, the Rubicon's electronic front sway bar disconnect uses a motor and clutch pack mounted low on the front axle, directly in the water and mud path. Water intrusion through the motor housing and connector corrodes the internals, and the engagement dogs can bind if the bar is loaded when the button is pressed. Owners report the disconnect indicator flashing indefinitely while the bar stays connected, the bar refusing to reconnect on the trail (leaving the truck with poor on-road body control), and total actuator death after a water crossing.

On the 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator 3.6L Pentastar V6 (ERB / ERC), the Pentastar's variable valve lift followers use a roller only on the low-lift portion; the high-lift pad slides directly on the cam lobe. When the needle bearings in the rocker arm fail or the sliding pad wears, the follower cuts a groove into the intake camshaft lobe, valve lift drops and the cylinder misfires. Owners report a light tick appearing within a few thousand miles of a service interval that grows into a loud diesel-like clatter by 10,000-20,000 miles, often followed by a check engine light. Left alone, the wearing lobe and bearing cage shed metal through the oil system.

On the 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator 3.6L Pentastar V6 (ERB / ERC), the 3.6L Pentastar mounts its oil filter and engine oil cooler in one plastic housing in the valley between the cylinder banks. Constant heat cycling makes the plastic brittle and warps the sealing surfaces; the housing cracks or the internal cooler O-rings harden, producing an oil leak, a coolant leak, or oil and coolant mixing. Owners describe oil pooling in the valley and running down the back of the block, coolant loss with no visible external puddle, and a persistent burning-oil smell. Overtightening the filter cap during service is a frequent trigger.

On the 2021-2023 Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 (EXL), the Bosch CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump on the 3.0L EcoDiesel relies on diesel fuel for lubrication of its roller-lifter cam followers. US ultra-low-sulfur diesel has far less lubricity than the European fuel the pump was designed around, so the follower can lose contact with the cam, scuff, and grind itself apart. The resulting steel debris is pumped downstream through the rails and injectors, contaminating the entire fuel system. This drove a safety recall covering 2021-2023 Gladiator (and Wrangler) EcoDiesels; the failure typically strands the truck without warning.

On the 2021-2023 Jeep Gladiator 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 (EXL), the exhaust gas recirculation cooler on the 3.0L EcoDiesel can crack internally, allowing coolant to weep into the exhaust gas stream. Because the coolant boils off into the intake and exhaust, the truck loses coolant steadily with no puddle on the ground; owners report topping off repeatedly while dealers chase a phantom external leak. The coolant combines with soot to varnish the intake ports and EGR valve, causing driveability faults and NOx-related emissions codes. Some cases mimic a head gasket failure with combustion gas detected in the coolant.

On the 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator, the Gladiator frame can develop premature corrosion at weld seams and joints, particularly in northern climates with road salt exposure. Owners have reported surface rust appearing as early as 1-2 years of ownership. The frame coating and weld protection from the factory is insufficient for harsh environments, which is concerning for a truck marketed for off-road and outdoor use.

On the 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator, the Gladiator uses aluminum doors, hood and swing gate hardware bolted to steel structure and steel hinges. Where the dissimilar metals meet, moisture and road salt set up a galvanic cell that corrodes the aluminum from underneath the paint - owners see paint bubbling and blistering radiating from door hinges, the hood edges, the tailgate and door bottoms, often on trucks only two to four years old. Jeep revised the hinge design around 2022 to add a zinc barrier between the steel hinge and aluminum panel, which reduced but did not eliminate reports.

On the 2020-2025 Jeep Gladiator, the Gladiator's rear sliding window leaks water into the cab during rain, car washes, or off-road water crossings. The seal between the sliding window panel and the rear window frame deteriorates, allowing water to enter. Water collects behind the rear seats and under the rear floor mat, potentially causing electrical issues with the under-seat wiring. The issue affects both hardtop and soft-top equipped vehicles, as the rear window is the same design on both.

On the 2020-2025 Jeep Gladiator, the electronic locking rear differential (standard on Rubicon, optional on others) develops actuator failures that prevent the e-locker from engaging or disengaging. The electric motor actuator that engages the locking ring can fail from moisture intrusion, corrosion, or internal motor burnout — particularly after water crossings or heavy off-road use. When stuck in the locked position, the differential causes binding and tire chirping on pavement. When stuck disengaged, it fails to provide traction when needed.