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Jeep Gladiator: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Jeep Gladiator problems by model year, from 951 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2021 (47%, 128 drivetrain complaints), 2023 (42%, 22 drivetrain complaints) and 2022 (39%, 43 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 4 Jeep Gladiator years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2020 (21%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2020 (21%) to 2021 (47%), up 26 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2021 drew the most drivetrain complaints (128 of 293 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Jeep Gladiator year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Gladiator | no elevated signal | 21% | 100 | 483 | 4/4 | 7 |
| 2021 Gladiator | high | 47% | 128 | 292 | 1/4 | 8 |
| 2022 Gladiator | elevated | 39% | 43 | 120 | 3/4 | 8 |
| 2023 Gladiator | high | 42% | 22 | 56 | 2/4 | 6 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Jeep Gladiator years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Jeep Gladiator transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the Jeep Gladiator involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2019 | 19V636000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2020 |
| Mar 2020 | 20V124000 | power train: clutch assembly | 2020 |
| Jan 2021 | 21V028000 | power train: clutch assembly | 2020–2021 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V639000 | power train: automatic transmission: internal: park pawl | 2022 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V767000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2021–2022 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V116000 | power train: clutch assembly | 2020–2023 |
| Apr 2023 | 23V263000 | fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump | 2021–2023 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V641000 | power train: manual transmission | 2022–2023 |
| Aug 2024 | 24V572000 | power train: manual transmission: control module: software | 2021 |
7 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2020 | 20V191000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2020 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V580000 | seat belts | 2020 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V638000 | back over prevention: display function | 2021 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V766000 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2022 |
| Mar 2024 | 24V199000 | air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette | 2023 |
| Sep 2024 | 24V652000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2020–2023 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V363000 | steering: hydraulic power assist: pump | 2021–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Jeep Gladiator
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Jeep Gladiator
What are the worst years for the Jeep Gladiator?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Jeep Gladiator years are the 2021 (47% of relevant complaints, high), the 2023 (42% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2022 (39% of relevant complaints, elevated). 3 of 4 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Jeep Gladiator?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Jeep Gladiator years are the 2020 (21%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Jeep Gladiator have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 4 scored years, 293 of 920 relevant NHTSA complaints (32%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Jeep Gladiator reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 4 Jeep Gladiator years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 32% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Jeep Gladiator?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Jeep Gladiator years we track, out of 16 in total: 23V263000 (Apr 2023, 2021–2023), 23V641000 (Sep 2023, 2022–2023), 24V572000 (Aug 2024, 2021), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.