Sports and off-road · model years 2020 to 2022
Jeep Wrangler vs Jeep Gladiator: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Wrangler and the Gladiator split evenly (2 each, the rest too close to call).
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2020 to 2022 | Wrangler | Gladiator |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.5% | 2.6% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.1% | 1.8% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 23,000 | 19,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 7.7 | 5.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 5 | 3 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Wrangler owners complain about most is electrical; for the Gladiator it is steering. Complaints citing fuel and propulsion make up 10% of all Wrangler complaints, against 4.1% on the Gladiator. The Gladiator leans the other way on steering: 35% of its complaints, against 29% for the Wrangler.
Jeep WranglerJeep Gladiator
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Wrangler is death wobble (16% of its complaints), and the Gladiator shares it (13%).
| Problem | Wrangler | Gladiator |
|---|---|---|
| Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble" | 16% 311most in 2021 · 20k mi | 13% 112most in 2021 · 20k mi |
| Suspension noise, struts or alignment | 15% 289most in 2021 · 21k mi | 10% 92most in 2021 · 20k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 12% 238most in 2021 · 26k mi | 6.5% 58most in 2021 · 23k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 7.3% 142most in 2020 · 35k mi | 11% 97most in 2020 · 49k mi |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 11% 213most in 2021 · 34k mi | 5.7% 51most in 2020 · 20k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 5.5% 107most in 2021 · 28k mi | 3.9% 35most in 2020 · 40k mi |
| Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power | 7.8% 152most in 2021 · 23k mi | 0 |
| Power steering cuts out or goes heavy | 2.2% 43most in 2021 · 25k mi | 5.0% 4520k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Gladiator owners report problems earlier. Half the Gladiator complaints that give a mileage come before 19,000 miles; for the Wrangler the halfway point is 23,000. 79% of Wrangler reports and 81% of Gladiator reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Jeep WranglerJeep Gladiator
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 482 for the Wrangler and 294 for the Gladiator.
Worst and best years
The 2024 Wrangler draws 2.8 times the complaints of a typical Wrangler year for its age. The 2020 Gladiator draws 2.9 times the complaints of a typical Gladiator year for its age.
Jeep WranglerJeep Gladiator
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Wrangler draws more recalls: 7.7 campaigns per model year against 5.0 for the Gladiator. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Jeep Wrangler
23 recall campaigns and 5 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (5), electrical (5) and backup camera (3).
- 22V-767 (fuel system) covers 3 model years
- 23V-116 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE25014: Instrument panel cluster (ipc) failure (open)
- PE24024: Underhood fires (closed, led to a recall)
- RQ24012: Loss of motive power (open)
Jeep Gladiator
15 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (7), seat belts (2) and backup camera (2).
- 23V-116 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 3 model years
- 24V-652 (electrical) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE25014: Instrument panel cluster (ipc) failure (open)
- PE24024: Underhood fires (closed, led to a recall)
- EA23001: High pressure fuel pump failure (open, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
Crashes turn up in about the same share of complaints on both (2.5% and 2.6%). Fire reports: 50 for the Wrangler and 23 for the Gladiator.
Jeep WranglerJeep Gladiator
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Jeep Wrangler or the Jeep Gladiator more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Wrangler and the Gladiator split evenly (2 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Wrangler has 1,939 complaints and the Gladiator 893 for model years 2020 to 2022, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Wrangler or the Gladiator?
The Wrangler has 23 recall campaigns and the Gladiator 15 across model years 2020 to 2022. The Wrangler draws more recalls: 7.7 campaigns per model year against 5.0 for the Gladiator.
What are the most common problems on the Wrangler and the Gladiator?
The most reported problem on the Wrangler is death wobble (16% of its complaints), and the Gladiator shares it (13%).
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