IllustrationTHE VEHICLE DEVELOPED SEVERE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS IS TYPICALLY REFERRED TO AS DEATH WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE STEERING, SUSPENSION, AND TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN MODIFIED FROM THE FACTORY. THE STEERING HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE PURCHASING THE ISSUE BUT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED INTO A MUCH MORE UNSAFE CONDITION.
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Gladiator years
Owner complaints for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator are substantially higher than the model-year median of 23.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Gladiator years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1590–25K
2125–50K
1750–75K
1075–100K
4100–150K
1150K+
212 reports with mileage · 271 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 183 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 181 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports7 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
483 reportsAT A LOW SPEED IN A RIGHT HAND TURN, A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OCCURRED. STEERING SEAMED TO LOCK UP. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE, USED SOME FORCE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTER ATTEMPTING THIS TASK, WHEN TURNING TH STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, ABILITY TO STEER RETURNED. VEHICLE WAS THEN MOVED INTO THE GARAGE AND L…
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AT A LOW SPEED IN A RIGHT HAND TURN, A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OCCURRED. STEERING SEAMED TO LOCK UP. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE, USED SOME FORCE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTER ATTEMPTING THIS TASK, WHEN TURNING TH STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, ABILITY TO STEER RETURNED. VEHICLE WAS THEN MOVED INTO THE GARAGE AND LEFT. THIS OCCURRED2 DAYS AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPORTED BY DEALERSHIP AS BEING REPAIRED. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, TURNED OVER TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE.
1 INCH OF PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT OF CENTER AT ALL TIMES. VEHICLE WANDERS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION TO HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE AT ALL SPEEDS. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55+) IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES REPEATED BACK AND FORTH MOTION TO KEEP VEHICLE IN LANE.
THE VEHICLE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE AT HIGHWAY SPEED REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WILL WONDER WITHIN THE LANE. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THERE IS A DEAD ZONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT'S FAR ABOVE ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN
THE STEERING IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAYS SPEED WITH WANDERING AND CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTION NEEDED. AT TIMES, THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTCHY FEELING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS - JUST A BIT OF RESISTANCE THEN IT'S GONE. THE WANDER AND STEERING CORRECTION IS WORSE THE WARMER IT IS. I PICKED THE DATE OF MY LAST LONGER T…
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THE STEERING IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAYS SPEED WITH WANDERING AND CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTION NEEDED. AT TIMES, THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTCHY FEELING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS - JUST A BIT OF RESISTANCE THEN IT'S GONE. THE WANDER AND STEERING CORRECTION IS WORSE THE WARMER IT IS. I PICKED THE DATE OF MY LAST LONGER TRIP BUT IT'S BEEN COMMON SINCE SUMMER 2020.
EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL PLAY OF APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 8 DEGREES BEFORE VEHICLE RESPONDS TO INPUTS. THIS CAN BE NOTICED DRIVING ON FLAT LEVEL STREET AND MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT UNTIL VEHICLE JUST STARTS TO RESPOND. STEERING PLAY SEEMS TO VARY A BIT BETWEEN VERY HOT AND VERY COLD OUTDOOR TEMPS. AT HIGHWAY SPE…
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EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL PLAY OF APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 8 DEGREES BEFORE VEHICLE RESPONDS TO INPUTS. THIS CAN BE NOTICED DRIVING ON FLAT LEVEL STREET AND MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT UNTIL VEHICLE JUST STARTS TO RESPOND. STEERING PLAY SEEMS TO VARY A BIT BETWEEN VERY HOT AND VERY COLD OUTDOOR TEMPS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE REQUIRES CONSTANT FOCUSED ATTENTION TO MAINTAIN POSITION WITHIN LINES. IN HIGH WIND SITUATIONS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVING FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR BECOMES STRESSFUL DUE TO TRYING TO KEEP VEHICLE ON ROAD. SO FAR THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT DOES MAKE HIGHWAY DRIVING VERY ANNOYING AND STRESSFUL. IN CITY DRIVING THE STEERING IS NOT TOO BAD UNLESS DRIVING 40 OR FASTER. TURNING AND CORNERING STEERING RESPONSE SEEMS NORMAL WITHOUT THE PLAY, ONCE PRESSURE IS INITIATED IN THAT DIRECTION. PLAY SEEMS TO BE LOCALIZED IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION OF THE STEERING BOX. THIS IS A CONTINUING ISSUE WITH NO PART RECALL, THERE HAS BEEN A FCA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-0807420 GROUP 08 ELECTRICAL DATED AUGUST 10, 2020 BUT MANUFACTURE PARTS AND RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN UNACCEPTABLE.
FCA HAS ADMITTED TO BAD TSB STEERING GEAR AND HAS NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLE FOR THE PART BUT HAS MADE THE PART AVAILABLE FOR FREE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH STEERING BEING WOBBLY. THEY NO LONGER STATE PART IS AVAILABLE. THEY HAVE CANCELED ALL PART REQUESTS.
I EXPERIENCE THE EXTREME VIBRATION ON HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN MY STEERING WHEN I HIT SMALL BUMPS. DEATH WOBBLE IT IS COMMONLY CALLED. I ASKED THEM TO FIX IT ONCE AND IT IS STILL THERE.
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AFTER TRAVELING OVER A SMALL BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE TO APPROXIMATELY 50MPH. A MILE OR SO DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING AT ABOUT THE SAME SPEED
WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS ON HIGHWAY AND SIDE ROADS WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT THE VEHICLE WANDERS BOTH TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. THERE IS ALSO ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
Official recalls
724V652000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
Sep 5, 2024
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator and 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The instrument panel cluster may experience an internal short circuit and fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between October 3, 2024, and January 23, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 30B.
23V116000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly
Feb 23, 2023
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler, and 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clutch assembly and update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed from November 16, 2023 through July 25, 2024. Owners may contact (FCA US, LLC) customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 19A. This recall expands and replaces previous recall 21V-028. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V-028 will need to have the new remedy completed.
21V028000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly
Jan 28, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Jeep Wrangler and 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will add software to reduce engine torque capability when clutch assembly temperatures rise to a level that may damage the inner pressure plate, free of charge." FCA has ordered a stop sale for the affected vehicles as of February 25, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2021.
20V580000 · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front:retractor
Sep 24, 2020
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Wrangler and Ram 2500, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 and 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. In the event of a crash, a front seat belt retractor may not properly slow the occupant's forward movement after locking.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat belt retractors, free of charge. The recall began November 12, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W67.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts:front:retractor
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Wrangler and Ram 2500, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 and 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. In the event of a crash, a front seat belt retractor may not properly slow the occupant's forward movement after locking.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat belt retractors, free of charge. The recall began November 12, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W67.
Seat Belts
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Wrangler and Ram 2500, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 and 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. In the event of a crash, a front seat belt retractor may not properly slow the occupant's forward movement after locking.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat belt retractors, free of charge. The recall began November 12, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W67.
20V191000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Sep 10, 2020
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
20V124000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly
Mar 3, 2020
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Jeep Wrangler and 2020 Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reroute a wire harness and inspect the clutch system, and replace components as needed. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W12.
19V636000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
Aug 29, 2019
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. The rear driveshafts may have been incorrectly assembled without grease in the monoblock joint.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A joint without grease may overheat and seize, possibly causing the driveshaft to fracture, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power. If the driveshaft completely separates from the vehicle it may become a road hazard. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began October 10, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US number for this recall is V95.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE25014 · Instrument Panel Cluster (ipc) Failure
Opened Oct 23, 2025 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) is opening a Preliminary Evaluation on 2020 Model Year Jeep Gladiators and Wranglers involving a malfunctioning Instrument Panel Clusters (IPC) resulting in the loss of important vehicle metrics and other status information. ODI has received 89 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging a complete or partial loss of the IPC display while driving. The subject vehicles' IPC display includes the speedometer, fuel gauge, engine temperature, turn signal indicators, warning light, and other gauges that are normally illuminated while the vehicle is in operation. Loss of the fuel gauge while driving may lead to an inability to determine the fuel level and result in a loss of motive power, and the loss of other safety-related information may impede a driver’s ability to take action to prevent a safety risk. Furthermore, an IPC that is suddenly not visible to the driver may divert the driver’s attention from the driving task, potentially causing a vehicle crash. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to evaluate the scope, severity and frequency of the alleged IPC malfunctions and to assess potential safety-related consequences. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov