2021 Jeep Gladiator · symptom sheet
Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble"
- 48owner reports
- 19,000median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
94 of the 291 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 48 of those describe death wobble, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 Gladiator.
Tick what matches of 48 reports
Death wobble on other Gladiator years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2022.
What this problem usually is
This is the violent one. Owners describe the steering wheel shaking hard at highway speed, often right after the front end hits a bump or an expansion joint, and it keeps going until they slow way down. Six in ten complaints in this group use the word wobble, and plenty of owners call it the "death wobble."
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering damper (9 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the steering system covers the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The electric hydraulic power steering pump wiring may overheat and cause a vehicle fire, even when the vehicle is parked with the ignition in the "Off" position.
All 8 recalls on the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the Gladiator
Underhood fires. Closed sep 24, 2026, led to recall 26V-363.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 9,500 and 25,000 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Drag Link Long Socket FOR STEERING SHIMMY DIAGNOSIS, PLEASE REFERENCE S1819000004 Rev. Q AND 19 - Steering / Diagnosis and Testing (IN SERVICE LIBRARY).
What owners wrote
“This vehicle has around 8000 miles on it. While driving at highways speeds, several times the steering would start to wobble violently. Normally after hitting a small bump in the road. After researching this was called a death wobble. The vehicle is stock and has not been modified. Has jeep issued a remedy?”
Filed Dec 18, 2023 · 8,000 miles
“My Gladiator frequently experiences the Death Wobble at Highway speeds when I hit bumps in the road.”
Filed Jan 30, 2023
“Steering wheel shaking wile driving around 65 MPH, specially on cold weather around 30 to 40 degrees. Death wobble is the term I found been coming on jeep wranglers and gladiators. But not understand how this issue is not a recall from the FCA company. I bring my vehicle one time to the dealership the entire front suspension was replaced and the issue was ok for 11 months, now is happening again.”
Filed Jan 19, 2023
“1) Frequent spontaneous windshield cracks. 2) violent, out of control steering wheel vibrations at highway speeds nearly causing severe collisions. Reoccurring incidents. Iâm ready to file a lawsuit.”
Filed Nov 25, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 48 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 41 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 26 reports