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#BS-2021-JEEGLA-65D5

2021 Jeep GladiatorProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 456 owners and 8 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
456
Crashes
15
Fires
3
Recalls
8
TSBs
700
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 456 complaints, 15 crashes, 3 fires, and 8 recalls. Complaint rate is 1.8x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

steering wanders

3 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

seal leaks on right rear axle

2 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

death wobble

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
4

front end wobble

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
5

speedometer malfunctioning

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SteeringHIGH

91 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 20K miles.

!Inspect the DrivetrainMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

38
0–30K
14
30–60K
1
60–90K
2
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (38 reports) • Median: 20K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering (91 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering91 (20%)
Drivetrain67 (15%)
Engine54 (12%)
Electrical46 (10%)
Suspension40 (9%)
Fuel System32 (7%)
Other28 (6%)
Brakes17 (4%)

2021 Jeep Gladiator: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 20% of all reports filed for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, with 91 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 20,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 20K-mile mark.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, with 67 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, with 54 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, with 46 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

1
20
67
21
137
22
84
23
57
24
52
25
58
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (8 recalls)

21V028000Mar 2021

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

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.

22V638000Oct 2022

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jeep Wrangler, RAM 1500 and 2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

22V767000Oct 2023

ENGINE

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stall.

23V116000Nov 2023

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

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.

23V263000Oct 2023

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and 2022-2023 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail.

+ 3 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Jeep Gladiator NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

Not rated

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

Not rated

Rollover

★★★★★

3 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (2)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

EA23001OpenOpened Mar 2023

High pressure fuel pump failure

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

PE24024ClosedOpened Sep 2024 · closed Sep 2026

Underhood fires

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

The worst model year for the Jeep Gladiator is the 2020 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is steering.

2021 Jeep Gladiator vs. Class Average (Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD)

This vehicle

456

Class avg

258

1.8x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical standard pickup trucks 4wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 456 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 8 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Jeep Gladiator Model Years

202620252024202320222021202019701969
View all Jeep Gladiator years →

2021 Jeep Gladiator: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Jeep Gladiator is related to the steering, with 91 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Jeep Gladiator reliable?
The 2021 Jeep Gladiator has 456 complaints, 15 crash reports, and 3 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 1.8x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Jeep Gladiator problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Jeep Gladiator have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Jeep Gladiator has 8 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Jeep Gladiator problems start?
Based on 55 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 20,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Jeep Gladiator data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 13, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 456 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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