2020 Jeep Gladiator Problems

TRUCK WOBBLIES WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING TAKES TWO TO THREE INCHES TO TURN THE STERRING WHEEL BEFORE THE TRUCK STARTS TO TURN. NOT RESPONSIVE AS IT WAS.

This complaint is a follow-up to NHTSA complaint number 11729095. Since submitting the original complaint, the issue has continued and is now occurring while the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle is experiencing intermittent electrical and communication failures affecting multiple systems. The issue began approximately three weeks ago after completing a normal drive and has persisted since that time, occurring randomly and without warning. Both the main battery and auxiliary battery have been replaced; however, the condition remains unresolved. Current symptoms include: •Multiple warning messages and warning lights activating simultaneously while driving (including “Service Antilock Brake System” and “Service Shifter”) •Loss of communication between multiple control modules •Fault codes that temporarily clear but return •Instrument cluster instability and erratic system behavior Power steering assist becomes intermittent during these events, making steering significantly more difficult, particularly when navigating curves or operating in heavy traffic. This creates a serious safety hazard due to reduced vehicle control. Diagnostic trouble codes associated with this condition include multiple communication-related faults (U-codes), indicating loss of communication between critical control modules. The condition may temporarily improve when the auxiliary battery system is bypassed and the battery sensor is disconnected, but the failures consistently return. The issue is ongoing, intermittent, and reproducible. No accidents have occurred to date; however, the condition presents a clear and increasing safety risk. Photographic evidence of warning indicators and system faults occurring during vehicle operation is available. Root cause remains UNKNOWN but is suspected to involve the auxiliary battery system, battery management system, wiring, or vehicle communication network.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Midas, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle was diagnosed and determined to need a new instrument panel. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

The instrument Custer went blank during a vacation trip, did not know how much fuel was in it. Took to dealer they tried to put in a new one and it was also faulty, been waiting 3 weeks and still no new part🤬

The start-stop system reports unavailable, then within a few miles of driving, the check engine light will come on, followed by problems with the transmission shifting gears, sometime causing the vehicle to stay in first or second gear while accelerating and creating a dangerous driving situation. Power cycling the vehicle sometimes helps. Diagnostic trouble codes show low voltage in one or more O2 sensors, "too lean" warnings and cylinders randomly misfiring. Engine runs very rough at idle with the strong smell of gas in the exhaust. Dash information shows battery voltage around 12.3 at start up increasing to low 13 while idling. This occured around 40,000 miles and dealer replaced the aux battery and reset system. It occurred again around 60,000 miles (20 months later) and owner replaced both auxiliary battery (testing showed bad) and main battery. System functioned normally after resetting codes. It occurred again about 8 months later at 72,000 miles. The F42 fuse was pulled, cleared codes and reset computer by removing battery power for 1 hour. System returned to normal.

This complaint is a follow-up to NHTSA complaint number 11729095. Since submitting the original complaint, the issue has continued and is now occurring while the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle is experiencing intermittent electrical and communication failures affecting multiple systems. The issue began approximately three weeks ago after completing a normal drive and has persisted since that time, occurring randomly and without warning. Both the main battery and auxiliary battery have been replaced; however, the condition remains unresolved. Current symptoms include: •Multiple warning messages and warning lights activating simultaneously while driving (including “Service Antilock Brake System” and “Service Shifter”) •Loss of communication between multiple control modules •Fault codes that temporarily clear but return •Instrument cluster instability and erratic system behavior Power steering assist becomes intermittent during these events, making steering significantly more difficult, particularly when navigating curves or operating in heavy traffic. This creates a serious safety hazard due to reduced vehicle control. Diagnostic trouble codes associated with this condition include multiple communication-related faults (U-codes), indicating loss of communication between critical control modules. The condition may temporarily improve when the auxiliary battery system is bypassed and the battery sensor is disconnected, but the failures consistently return. The issue is ongoing, intermittent, and reproducible. No accidents have occurred to date; however, the condition presents a clear and increasing safety risk. Photographic evidence of warning indicators and system faults occurring during vehicle operation is available. Root cause remains UNKNOWN but is suspected to involve the auxiliary battery system, battery management system, wiring, or vehicle communication network.

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)

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.

the rear control arm welds have repeatedly broken on this 2020 jeep gladiator which creates a hazardous handling condition that may lead to a tragic accident. the local dealer, Hilltop Jeep in Richmond, CA and Stellantis Customer Service have passed the buck and said it isn't their responsibility and have referred us to a body shop to get the suspension repairs done. this seems like a manufacturing defect.

When driving over 50 mph and hit a small bump the jeep goes to shacking "death wobble". I have taken it to the dealership where I had purchased it, and they looked and stated it was a recall. This was back in March 2024. Here it is end of October 2024 and still waiting on the part to be shipped to the dealer ship so it can be fixed. It is unsafe to drive as it is. And is my only vehicle. What is taking so long on the parts

Front defroster only blows in the center and does not distribute air to the sides of the front windshield when the driver looks out.

Steering damper is affected by a recall and i have not received the recall. Causes truck to abruptly jerk left or right causing a lif e threatening matter to everyone one the road

While I was driving the vehicle, the instrument cluster screen went completely blank and it won’t display any information like the speed, gas or anything about the vehicle information. Went completely blank while driving the vehicle, which could’ve caused an accident.

The side mirror amber lights warning of a vehicle in the blind spot randomly illuminate and remain on for upwards of an hour or upon turning the vehicle off and back on. The dash randomly notifies me that the forward collision warning isn't available and both side mirror blind spot warning lights illuminate for upwards of an hour or until I turn off and restart the vehicle. The Dash randomly goes blank and doesn't display any information such as speed, RPM, warnings etc.

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.

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?

The information center on my 2020 Jeep gladiator will go out and will stay off for months at a time, as well as all warning lights. I consider this to be a serious safety hazard.

The Instrument Panel Cluster has failed and is blank rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive as vital information is not being presented to the driver. Despite this Jeep Gladiator having been produced and sold in 2020, Stellantis Recall and Customer Service Departments are claiming that the VIN does not indicate there is Recall coverage despite the 2019-2024 NHTSA Safety Recall for this known failure. see: [XXX] The local dealer, Hilltop Jeep, in Richmond, CA has confirmed the failure of the Instrument Panel. Stellantis is not willing to remedy the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The digital instrument cluster in my 2020 Jeep Gladiator has failed. The center display (LCD) went completely black, even though the backlight still glows faintly. This screen typically displays critical information such as vehicle speed, warnings, messages, and alerts. Without this display, I cannot monitor key safety information while driving. The analog gauges still function, but the central digital panel remains blank regardless of ignition mode (RUN or ON). After diagnosing the issue myself, I confirmed power was present at the fuse terminals. I inspected and replaced fuse F36, which was damaged and likely contributed to the display losing power or shorting. I also inspected related fuses F43 and F57 (BCM and IOD power supply), which were intact. This is not an isolated problem. Research shows that other Jeep Gladiator owners (especially 2020 models) are experiencing identical symptoms — black instrument displays, “Push Brake to Start” messages that stay on after shutdown, and modules not entering proper sleep mode. These issues align with the symptoms listed in TSB 08-002-21A, which relates to software and communication faults between the BCM and IPC. Jeep dealership confirmed the failure and quoted $700–$1,000 for full cluster replacement, stating there are no DTC codes and no reflash updates available, and that the cluster must be replaced outright. Jeep has not issued a recall, yet this is clearly a widespread failure affecting visibility and safety of vehicle operation. The problem poses a safety risk to myself and others. I cannot see alerts or diagnostic messages while driving. If this happened at night or during highway travel, it could increase accident risk. Jeep should issue a recall or warranty coverage extension for the instrument cluster failure in affected 2020 Gladiators.

The digital instrument cluster on my 2020 Jeep Gladiator has been completely nonfunctional since late November 2024. This failure means I cannot see the odometer, digital speedometer, and all other vehicle status indicators displayed through the cluster. The problem has been confirmed by an authorized Jeep dealership, which has been unable to secure a replacement part due to a reported supply shortage. Jeep corporate has had this case escalated for months without resolution. As a result, I have been driving without these essential instruments for over 8 months, with no timeline provided and no workaround. In addition to the loss of fuel and mileage visibility (and potentially odometer functionality), I also cannot confirm whether the cruise control is active. This could cause potential safety risks during highway travel. There were no warning lights or error messages prior to the failure. The cluster simply went dark. The faulty component is still in the vehicle and available for inspection. Jeep is aware of the issue, and a case is currently open.

The factory sunroof on my 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon detached at highway speeds. The springs that hold tension on the clamps that secure the soft top to the frame, unbeknownst to me at the time, lost tension. While travelling down the highway the soft top clamps loosened from a small bump and the wind caught the soft top itself. I immediately reacted, reached up, and tried to bring the soft top back down as I was frantically slowing down on the highway and merging right. The soft top ripped from my hand cutting it open and smashed into the rear of the vehicle. When the soft top smashed into the rear of the vehicle several hinges broke, luckily one was still holding the soft top from completely falling off. This obviously poses a very large safety risk as the soft top could have flown into another vehicle disabling it or much worse; causing injury or death. The problem has been reported by others through online forums and the consensus is that the springs inside the clamps weaken over time leading to this issue. The soft top was not inspected by the dealer or anyone else, they did not care to investigate. The dealer only replaced the soft top after more than a month of waiting for parts to arrive. I have informed Jeep Cares and Jeep Customer Care over the phone; however, they did not seem interested in actually fixing the issue. Jeep instead directed me the dealership only to have the soft top replaced. I am now following up with NHTSA regarding this issue as the other avenues have yielded no results. It should be noted that in my forum post I ended up paying more than the $500 deductible, there was constant confusion between the dealership and insurance, the invoice is attached. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Regarding my 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Rear Window Cracks Around Rear Glass Frame. On [XXX], I took my Gladiator to Jeep dealership to repair leak in roof that wasn't covered under warranty. It was in the seal of the roof panels which they said many Gladiators are experiencing. Paid $402 out of pocket to have those seals repaired. At that service visit, the service attendant advised me that they are aware of a structural defeat causing cracks around the seal of the rear window. They said the whole rear window needs to be replaced at an out of pocket cost to the consumer of $1800. Jeep Warranty nor our extended warranty covers any of it. Also there is no recall for it! They told us to call Jeep to complain as they didn't think this was right. They were going to call as well. I called the number they gave me 1-877-426-5337 and the rep said it wasn't covered but gave me a case number and said he would pass on our complaint. Being a defect and a large window, it could most definitely be a safety issue and we feel Jeep should issue a recall. I believe many consumers out there are beginning to have this same issue. The Gladiator first came out in 2019 and issues with them are just coming to light. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Cruise control suddenly turns off. Clock spring issue with steering wheel. Buttons on steering wheel occasionally don’t work

Ever since I got this vehicle it’s been a roller coaster. As I’m driving the vehicle home from the dealership the vehicle displays on the screen that it’s going to shut off. I pulled over immediately on the side of the road and the vehicle turned off while in drive at 0 MPH! I put my emergency signals on and waited 15-30 minutes before the car would let me turn it back on! I drove home and as soon as I’m pulling into the driveway the car literally shuts off in reverse with no signs foreshadowing this! It was so embarrassing. What a birthday surprise. I had to call triple A to come tow it back to dealership. They had to change battery. Which is about 1 hour away at least depending on traffic. Picked up the vehicle sometime that week. The beginning of the next week as I’m driving to work the vehicle displays on the dash that the engine is overheating! I notice the vehicle starting to smoke so I pulled over immediately. I missed work that day. I had to call another tow to the dealership. The manager said that the truck would be in the shop for a month at least because they have to order a new engine! They gave me a terrible rental. I got the truck back around a month later. Months go by random creaking occurs periodically. I go to the dealership and they say I need new ball joints. Item is on back order so they’ll let me know when it arrives. Months go by start/stop system doesn’t work anymore. I go to the dealership and they keep it for a few days and don’t end up fixing the problem but schedule an appointment for next month. Appointment comes and they fixed start/stop system supposedly but every now and then it stops working. Months go by airbag signal turn on. I go to the dealer and they said they fixed something but needed to order a part. I am waiting on their call for that part now as well. This has truly been a crazy experience. I would never recommend anyone to go to a Fred beans dealership like I made the mistake of doing. 70k for such a failure.

I was rear ended while stopped and the seat belts didnt lock causing injury to my face from hitting the steering wheel.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the instrument panel became inoperable. The contact was able to continue driving the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was permanent. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V652000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. Additionally, the contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt had failed to retract as needed and remained loose. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V580000 (Seat Belts); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

my wife and I were driving on a freeway each time this happened. After driving over a bump in the road, the front end vibrated violently to the point we had to slow down drastically and pull over. It controlled okay after slowing down to a very slow speed. This has happened approximately 5 times. We are scared to drive this vehicle. It causes the steering wheel to vibrate. We called the dealership today (Sat.) noone called back but we will call them Mon. This vehicle is too dangerous to drive.It has between 27 and 28 thousand miles. It has never been off road.We bought it new off the lot and will pursue this with the dealer. We wanted to report it before someone is in an accident. It is available for inspection.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, WENT OVER A ROUGH SURFACE ON THE ROAD AND THE GLADIATOR STARTER SHAKING AS IF I HAD HAD A BLOW-OUT. ONCE I SLOWED DOWN IT STABILIZED. HOWEVER, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TWICE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA. UPON RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I'VE COME TO LEARN THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT HAPPENS ON JEEP OFF-ROAD VEHICLES, WHICH MAKES IT ALL THE MORE CRITICAL THAT NHTSA REQUIRE CHRYSLER-FIAT TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. THANK YOU.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that the instrument panel failed to illuminate or display the mileage, fuel level, and other information necessary to the operation of the vehicle. The contact stated that when the sun visor was down to block the sun and the vehicle was driven over uneven pavement, the sun visor occasionally slightly detached and blocked the view of the driver. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The dealer confirmed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V652000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the sun visor had detached both the driver and passenger sides. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the sun visor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.