48 of the
1,395 complaints filed about the Jeep Gladiator
are about the braking system —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2020.
This happened on a 2024 Jeep Gladiator. When parking I went to set the parking brake and as I pulled the handle I heard a pop and felt the handle release all pressure. With the handle up there was no braking effect. Dealer repaired by hooking the right wheel cable back onto the bracket located under the center console, and then adjusting.
NHTSA complaint #11754299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Front brake caliper(s) was seizing up causing smoking and a burning smell. Vehicle was also pulling to the right when braking. Brake fluid or something like it coated the front drivers side wheel. Took vehicle back to dealership where vehicle was purchased new. Vehicle is still under warranty/extended warranties. The dealer did inspect and found front calipers to be seizing up causing excessive wear on brake pads and rotors. They did replace both front calipers but not the brake hoses. They also replaced and charged me for new brake pads and rotors. Not even a week later, I called the dealer to report the same problem, the brakes were again seizing up and there was a smoking/burning smell. The dealer ordered the new brake hoses, found that the brake hoses they attempted to re-use had collapsed causing all the above mentioned problems. The dealer had them installed and so far so good.
NHTSA complaint #11753476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parking brake would not hold vehicle on hill. When the handle was released, a metalic clinking noise was heard. Castle rock jeep dealership said all was fine. Upon my inspection, I found the parking brake cable connection under teh center console was no longer connected. The cable was reconnected, and the cable was tightened to specifications indicated my Jeep. THe vehicle had 6200 miles on it. p.s. THis was after the warranty replacement of the engine. THe dealership indicated they tested several other jeeps and they all acted as mine. No concern for safety.
NHTSA complaint #11746285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2024 Jeep Gladiator Mojave has an ongoing brake issue that persists despite inspections by multiple dealerships. When starting the vehicle in the morning, the brake pedal is unusually hard and sits lower than expected, requiring excessive force before the engine will engage. Once the engine is running, pedal pressure returns to normal. For comparison, I also regularly drive a 2020 Jeep Gladiator and a 2023 Jeep Wrangler, neither of which exhibit this condition. Additionally, after driving for approximately one hour or longer, the vehicle experiences significant brake fade. Increased pedal pressure is required to slow or stop the vehicle, particularly during downhill driving. I routinely drive long distances between Seattle and Tucson and consider this a serious safety concern. In an attempt to address the issue, I spent several hundred dollars upgrading the braking system with ceramic brake pads and drilled rotors. While overall braking performance improved somewhat, the hard brake pedal during startup and brake fade issues remain constant and unresolved. I have worked extensively with two Jeep dealerships regarding this matter: Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Tucson and West Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM. I also contacted a Jeep customer service representative, who advised that if dealership technicians could not identify a problem, then no issue existed. An independent mechanic suggested the symptoms may indicate a vacuum leak affecting the brake booster system, which could explain the excessive pedal force required during startup. However, to the best of my knowledge, neither dealership has performed a thorough investigation of the brake booster or vacuum system.
NHTSA complaint #11740330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle suffered a sudden; catastrophic hydraulic brake fluid leak and complete system failure shortly after a service visit with only 700 miles total on the new vehicle. Hours prior to the failure, Lindsay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Manassas, VA (where the vehicle was purchased new, earlier that month) performed and signed off on a multi-point inspection as fully functional while the vehicle was taken in for other warranty service (non safety or brake related). As a former mechanic, I inspected the vehicle immediately when I arrived home on the same day and discovered the brake fluid reservoir was almost half empty with fluid actively leaking and pooling on the frame and around the inner fender! Due to the catastrophic safety risk, the vehicle was immediately towed to Safford Jeep of Fredericksburg, VA to due it being geographically closer to my home, confirming the safety failure, and fixing the following defective components: Brake Hydraulic Control Unit and ABS Module. Lindsay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Manassas, VA (the originally servicing dealership) completely falsified the multi-point safety inspection that they signed off on, sending my vehicle on public roads in Northern Virginia, some of the most dangerous traffic in the world. Of note, I also drive the vehicle to/from work almost 100 miles per day during the week to/from Stafford, VA to Washington, DC. If I had not inspected the vehicle myself and waited until the first appointment for the first oil change, this would have without a doubt, caused a serious accident in [XXX] , which is the route i mostly travel, a large amount of property damage, likely injury or possible death, due to the absolute fact that I would have lost all brake fluid and have had no brakes at all. There were no warning lamps illuminated at all. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11739523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While my vehicle was still under factory warranty, a mechanical issue was diagnosed by the dealership and a replacement part was ordered. The part was placed on backorder, and I was advised I would be contacted once it arrived. I was never notified when the part became available. By the time I was contacted weeks later, the warranty period had expired. I immediately scheduled service once I learned the part was available. During the repair visit, I was informed that the prolonged delay resulted in additional damage, including components related to braking and sealing. These components are available for inspection and were identified by the servicing dealership. Brake system involvement raises safety concerns, as reduced braking effectiveness can increase stopping distance and risk to occupants and others. The condition was confirmed by dealership technicians during service. The issue was not caused by misuse and occurred due to a delayed repair that originated under warranty but could not be completed due to parts unavailability and lack of notification. The vehicle remains under dealer inspection and repair. Warning symptoms were present prior to service, and the condition was confirmed by the dealership upon inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11717180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was turning right and while turning the vehicle froze on me, these included the steering wheel brakes and almost crash into upcoming traffic since it was hard to turn I end up in the upcoming traffic lane
NHTSA complaint #11709485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Jeep Gladiator has recently been having multiple random error messages popping up. ABS warning, service 4WD, service shifter, traction control and others. Dealership charged $200 to diag a bad ABS module and charged $1400 to replace the module and controller. Less than 24 hrs later same issue occurred . Doing my own research this seems to be a common issue not just with Gladiators but other Jeeps as well. Many forums are saying it’s bad wire connectors or broken wires from improper initial installation. Causes issues with speed control, braking, and power steering.
NHTSA complaint #11696879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driver side rear wheel speed sensor. This is a known issue national back order on the part, mechanic installed new part system does not reset and clear. In the current state, abs offline four-wheel drive system service required traction control service required. What is the true fix for this?
NHTSA complaint #11694493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle had suddenly started to vibrate and shake. The contact stated that the vehicle was maintaining its lane but was lurching from left to right. No warnings illuminated. The contact stated that she pulled off to the side of the road; however, when she turned the vehicle on, it would start shaking again. The contact stated that she would keep driving while the vehicle was shaking, and the shaking would eventually stop. The contact stated that the shaking was occurring at any speed and was also triggered when she would drive over any small bumps or dips in the road. The contact stated recently, while she was driving in traffic at approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle started to shake again, however, this time violently. The contact stated that at the time, it was raining. The contact stated that it felt like the vehicle had lifted up, and then she crashed into the guard rail on the driver's side front bumper. The contact stated that the bumper and an LED light bar attached to the front grill had made contact and were slightly damaged, and the driver's side headlight stopped functioning. The police were not called, and the contact was not injured. The contact reported that the driver's side front air bag had deployed but had not inflated and was draped on her lap. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact reported that after the crash, she observed the check oil and check brake warnings illuminated. The contact stated that she needed to depress the brake pedal with more force in order to stop. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
NHTSA complaint #11693667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Date of Incident: [XXX] Time: [XXX] Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Vehicle: 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X Mileage at Time of Incident: Approximately 11,000 miles System Involved: Adaptive Cruise Control / Braking System Speed at Time of Incident: 45 MPH in a 45 MPH zone Road & Weather Conditions: Dry, clear weather, good road conditions Description of Incident: While driving at approximately 45 MPH with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the traffic light ahead turned yellow. As I have done many times before in similar conditions, I applied the brakes firmly to slow and stop for the light. However, the vehicle did not slow down as normally expected. As the light turned red and cross traffic began entering the intersection, I pressed the brakes as hard as possible. The vehicle began to slow, and the tires felt like they were “hopping,” but the vehicle never came to a complete stop. Because I was now in the middle of the intersection with a red light and vehicles entering from other directions, I released the brake to avoid a collision. At that point, the vehicle lurched forward, and I realized the cruise control system was still engaged and was actively propelling the vehicle forward. A short time later, the cruise control system finally disengaged on its own. This malfunction nearly caused a serious accident. Under normal operation, pressing the brake pedal firmly at any speed should immediately disengage adaptive cruise control, but this did not occur. Dealer Response: Immediately after the incident, the vehicle was taken to the Mount Pleasant Jeep dealership, SC. The dealership’s technician connected a diagnostic code reader and stated there were no fault codes. They also checked for Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and stated none existed for this issue. The technician told me there was nothing further they could do. The dealership did not perform a road test, did not escalate the issue to the manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 5
NHTSA complaint #11691391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE PEDEL TO CLOSE TO GAS PEDEL.. WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES ON BRAKE PEDEL HE CAN PUSH ON THE GAS PEDEL.. THE TRUCK WENT FORWARD VERY FAST./. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK USED
NHTSA complaint #11679336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
During normal driving, dash would display multiple warning lights. There would be traction control, ABS inactive, and transmission errors displayed on the screen. Twice, there was a loss of power steering while driving. All signs pointed to a CAN buss issue, but dealer could not/ would not find it. Doing research, I found that the CAN buss connector located behind the glove compartment was known in the Jeep community to fail and cause these symptoms. The only replacement is offered by Mopar/Stellantis. Multiple models and makes under Stellantis company use this same connector that has bad solder connections inside. It causes increased resistance inside the connector, and causes CAN buss communication errors, and setting any one of hundreds of possible DTC. In every occasion, there was a loss of stability control, ABS, and multiple occasions of vehicle being locked in Park. In two occasions, the electric assist power steering was disabled.
NHTSA complaint #11677657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loss speedometer and all dash gauges. Known problem on Forums; however NO TSB or Recall to fix issue. Plethora of CEL codes to include causing speed to not display on digital or analog indicators.
NHTSA complaint #11649131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the parking brake lever was engaged but failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to stop and continued rolling forward. The contact stated that the vehicle came to a stop once the gear shifter was shifted into park(P). The contact stated that after the first failure, the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the parking brake had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, unknown parts were replaced. The failure reoccurred the third time and the dealer refused to repair the vehicle and stated that the failure was due to the operator’s error. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,711.
NHTSA complaint #11641995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When you place the vehicle in park it rolls which is very dangerous. You go to step out of the vehicle and it is rolling, yikes!! Can't reach anyone at Jeep.
NHTSA complaint #11618440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle has a repeating electronic problem involving the warning lights and function of abs, traction control, four-wheel drive system, forward collision warning, and both adaptive and normal cruise control. When the steering wheel is turned slightly right, like when navigating a highway curve, those warnings illuminate and the vehicle disables cruise control. It also has a lack of power due to what seems to be the traction control system activating. Also, the brake system has a shutter in the pedal and has reduced effectiveness for a few moments until the ABS and traction control systems stop function. I have taken the vehicle into a dealer, Larry H Miller CDJR in West Bountiful, Utah when it started to show this problem as I was leaving Portland. They replaced the front left ABS wheel speed sensor. This did not rectify the problem. I then took it to Gene's Chrysler in Fairbanks, Alaska upon my return home. That shop failed to warranty the repair, and charged additional diagnosis fees on top of correcting the Z96 high pressure fuel pump recall. They advised replacing the clock spring in the steering wheel that provides electrical connection to the buttons and is integrated in all of those safety systems. Prior Jeep models have had a consistent problem with the clock spring failing and a recall was issued due to affecting airbag deployment from the steering wheel. I am concerned that this clock spring related issue may lead to reduced braking effectiveness, loss of power at speed to react to traffic, and failure to deploy the airbag in an accident. The dealerships will not warranty this repair.
NHTSA complaint #11611506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2021 Jeep Gladiator received the 19A Clutch Recall in late June 2024. The recall was issued due to clutch pressure plates disintegrating, blowing a hole in the transmission housing, and causing vehicle fires. Upon return, my vehicle was unable to drive smoothly. After further investigation, I determined that if the clutch and throttle were operated concurrently, the engine would shut off. The engine would shut off anywhere between 1 MPH and highway speed causing issues with operating hydraulically assisted systems (power brakes and power steering). In practice, this led to the engine shutting off between most gear shifts causing a jerky driving condition due to the engine needing to clutch start itself. I did not test how well the steering or brakes worked while the engine was shut off due to safety concerns. While pulling into my driveway, I momentarily lost control of the vehicle when the engine died while traveling at low speed and with the steering wheel turned. I lost power steering and was unable to correct the direction in travel before driving onto my lawn. I returned the vehicle to the dealership and replicated the issue for them. They confirmed the issue was present. The issue was determined to be a faulty ECU flash causing the issue. A revised flash was made available to dealerships 7/12/24 and installed in my vehicle 7/15/24. Component that Failed: Faulty ECU flash Safety: The vehicle's engine would shut off while moving Reproduced by Dealership: Yes Inspected by Manufacturer: No Warning lights or messages: No Additional Info: I have been in contact with other owners with the same issue. This faulty ECU flash seems to only have had this effect on 2021 models. The following is personal input. I hope the irony is not lost on you all that a safety recall fix caused an arguably more pronounced and repeatable safety problem. Additionally, I notified Jeep Cares that this could kill or injure someone and they told me to send Chrysler a letter.
NHTSA complaint #11602818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parking brake cable adjustment nut loosened itself, which caused park brake cable to fall out of connector underneath center console, causing park/emergency brake to completely fail. I reinstalled cable into bracket, set adjustment nut to manufacturer specification, and the park brake worked properly again. A few weeks later the adjustment nut once again loosened itself, causing the cable to dislodge and causing the park brake to fail once again. At this point I replaced the lock nut with an aftermarket fastener and brake is once again working as designed.
NHTSA complaint #11591949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parking/emergency brake has become unattached and no longer functions. It is a manual transmission and the parking brake is required to keep the vehicle from possibly rolling once parked.
NHTSA complaint #11584730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.