133 of the
1,395 complaints filed about the Jeep Gladiator
are about the engine —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2021.
On July 30, my 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon suffered an extremely dangerous, unexpected complete electrical and engine failure while in operation. The vehicle abruptly shut down without any warning, causing an immediate loss of power steering and power braking. Prior to and during this shutdown, diagnostic codes associated with lost communication were triggered, (Lost Communication with Transmission Control Module). A total loss of vehicle power and primary control systems while driving presents a severe, unacceptable safety hazard that places passengers and surrounding traffic at immediate risk of a high-speed collision or severe injury. Given that this model has low mileage (approximately 23,000 miles) and is under factory warranty, a catastrophic system shutdown like this indicates a critical safety defect within the electrical or powertrain control modules. I strongly urge the NHTSA to formally document and investigate this life-threatening defect to ensure manufacturer accountability and prevent potential accidents.
NHTSA complaint #11754898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My husband parked this car in my driveway at 8:15 pm. Our security cameras show a spark under the car at 8:35. By 8:42 the front half of the car was completely engulfed in flames. The front half of the car is totally burned.
NHTSA complaint #11753558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
5800 miles, the engine failed due to a connecting rod failure. Chrysler replaced the engine at no cost. Oil changes were done at the year mark as the mileage limit was not reached. Dealership indicates they replace several 3.6 engines a month for warranty failures Castle Rock Jeep, Castle rock Colorado.
NHTSA complaint #11746281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After getting gas and attempting to turn around in the parking lot the vehicle on its own accord while my foot was holding the brake attempted to speed up like cruise control was taking over on its on
NHTSA complaint #11743390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Multiple control modules lost communication due to faulty Can Bus connection behind glove box. Vehicle went into limp mode then forced me to put in park while at red light, essentially disabling vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11743129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On May 27, 2026 at approximately 11:00 PM, my 2020 Jeep Gladiator Overland (VIN: [XXX] ) suffered catastrophic engine failure during normal operation at 78,190 miles. The alternator seized, causing the harmonic balancer (crankshaft damper) to fracture. The broken balancer fell into the engine block, causing extensive internal damage requiring complete engine replacement at significant cost. This failure sequence points to a design and/or manufacturing defect in the OEM alternator and/or its mounting system on the 3.6L Pentastar V6. A properly designed alternator should not seize with enough force to fracture the harmonic balancer and deposit debris into the engine block under normal operating conditions. The vehicle was not involved in any accident or operator abuse. It was being driven normally with no prior warning — no dashboard lights, no unusual sounds, no prior related mechanical issues. I request NHTSA investigate whether this failure pattern is systemic across 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles and other 3.6L Pentastar V6 platforms, including the Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and Dodge Durango. Sudden complete engine failure at highway speeds is an immediate crash hazard to the driver and surrounding motorists. I respectfully request a formal defect investigation and, if warranted, a safety recall with full remediation and reimbursement of repair costs to affected owners. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11740885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At 90k miles head gasket failed letting coolant in engine cylinders which was diagnosed and repaired by a Jeep dealer. At 130k miles engine light back on with dealer suggesting it is rocker arm/lifter failure with cylinders misfiring. At initial purchase of vehicle touchscreen would black out and restart. Dealer replaced with another touchscreen but issue still exists after warranty term.
NHTSA complaint #11735748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine failure due to coolant leak: in December, 2025, vehicle was towed to dealership due to overheating engine. While driving home from work, Vehicle was exhibiting engine overheating including temperature warning lights, temperature gauge fluctuating from normal to extremely high, a strange sound coming from the front of the vehicle (almost like a fan was not working) and running rough, like a diesel idle. I immediately pulled the vehicle off to the side of the road & shut it off. (Fortunately engine didn’t seize or exhibit these symptoms while I was on the highway just minutes before) I called dealership & they said it needed to be towed in. After having my vehicle for 10 days, Dealership stated thermostat needed to be replaced. Vehicle then exhibited same symptoms a few weeks later along with a check engine light, vehicle is returned to dealership. Dealership NOW tells me they’ve “seen enough of these to know that it’s most likely going to need a left side cylinder head” due to coolant leak into the engine. I am now aware there have been multiple reports to NHTSA for similar issues and that a service bulletin has been issued to the dealerships for this very reason: its a KNOWN issue with no recall in sight. Jeep at this juncture, acknowledging it’s a problem, REFUSES to assist with very costly repair, instead suggesting I should report to NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #11713827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2023 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on a private road, but turned on, a fuel odor was detected inside the cabin. No warning light was illuminated. A few minutes later, the engine compartment on the passenger side caught fire. The contact's husband and their pets were able to safely exit the vehicle without injury. The vehicle burned to the ground. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The insurance company was notified of the failure, but had not yet declared the vehicle totaled. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE24024 (Steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11709930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The camshaft went out, along with the rocker arms, cam phasers, there is a box on the passenger side wheel well that goes out and will not allow the truck to shift or go into park. There is now something wrong with the automatic start/stop as the light continues to be on in the dash. Things started to go out as soon as the warranty expired… The truck has 80kmi. We fix one problem only for more to pop up. We purchased the jeep brand new and everything since it has had one problem after another.
NHTSA complaint #11707286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My jeep has 140,000 mile engine oil has been changed on time every time. And the engine has cylinders that are missing and it's using antifreeze and riddles like a diesel from time to time. I looked it up and it seems to be a common problem with these engine and there has not been a recall for this. But funny thing is they make a repair kit for this issue. Why has this not been recalled yet it's on all the jeep forms. Even wright ups of fires after a while of driving in this condition.
NHTSA complaint #11705624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle has a 3.6 pentastar engine. Around 75,000 miles the check engine light came on. I took it to the dealership to run diagnostics and find the problem. After completing the diagnostics the service tech informed me that is was an issue related to a TSB 09-011-25. This is a major manufacturing issue that causes engine failure. My engine needs to be replaced. This issue affects many vehicles in the Stellantis lineup and should be a recall. They have not made any effort to inform customers of this issue to have it inspected
NHTSA complaint #11699092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that there were several unknown warnings illuminated, and the instrument cluster had started flashing on and off. The contact stated that the vehicle slowed down while depressing the accelerator pedal and continued to lose motive power. The contact stated that a warning flashed on the instrument cluster to "Pull Over" and that "Vehicle Was Going to Shutdown". The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the left or the right and that the brake pedal was difficult to depress, requiring the activation of the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed back to the residence. The contact stated that her husband determined that the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The contact stated that a new battery was installed; however, the vehicle had failed again with the same symptoms. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11697415 — 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.
My vehicle has a 3.6 pentastar engine. Around 60000 miles the engine developed a noticeable tick. Now the engine has multiple cylinder misfires, is leaking oil all over the engine compartment and causing issues with other electronic components (wheel speed sensors, power steering, electronic shifting, brake lights) Upon research I found this is to be a known issue with this motor. There apparently have been some associated recalls but I couldn’t find them. There are class action lawsuits as well
NHTSA complaint #11693727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing regarding my 2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave, which recently suffered engine damage due to a faulty head gasket. I understand the vehicle is approximately 5,000 miles over the 60,000-mile warranty; however, I believe this issue should not be my financial responsibility given the circumstances. At around 60,000 miles, I brought my Jeep in for a full service and inspection to ensure it was in top condition. I was informed at that time that everything looked fine and that there were no issues to address. Since then, I’ve continued to maintain the vehicle properly and drive it with care. The sudden head gasket failure, which ultimately led to engine damage, came as a complete surprise. This situation has been extremely difficult — not only because of the unexpected cost, but also because this Jeep was meant to be my long-term vehicle. My family and I have been loyal Mopar customers for years, and I’ve always trusted in the quality and reliability of your vehicles and service network. Given that I sought professional service and maintenance through authorized channels, and that no issues were identified at the time, I kindly request that Mopar consider a goodwill repair or assistance. I don’t believe it’s fair to be held financially responsible for a mechanical failure that likely existed but went undetected during a recent inspection. I’m grateful that nothing happened to me on the road, as I was unaware of the developing problem under the hood. I truly hope Mopar can stand behind its reputation for integrity, safety, and customer care by helping me through this situation. Thank you for your time, understanding, and continued support. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
NHTSA complaint #11691593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that there were several electrical issues while driving the vehicle at various speeds; there were surges in the RPM accompanied by the vehicle wobbling abnormally. The contact stated that the instrument panel was completely blank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the PCA harness was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #11687986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power, lost braking power, and lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving at high speeds, which caused the contact to be frightened. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure had not been determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was unavailable.
NHTSA complaint #11687699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.