Is the 2020 Jeep Gladiator a bad year?
485 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Gladiator years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator are in line with other Gladiator years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2020 Gladiator owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 54,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 183 (38%) | 45k–74k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 182 (38%) | 0k–4k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 55 (11%) | 5k–27k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 45 (9%) | 1k–25k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 32 (7%) | 1k–28k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 18 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 54,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 485 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 5 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
62 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I entered the highway and my power steering light came on. I then lost power steering. Immediately got off at the next exit and pulled into the gas station.
I noticed a strong burning smell driving my 2020 Jeep gladiator while driving a forest access road in colorado.
Rear locker engaged while towing a winnebago hike 170s travel trailer on the interstate in 2H at 70 mph. The rear locker should not engage unless the vehicle is in 4LOW.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 54,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator: 7
The instrument panel cluster may experience an internal short circuit and fail. An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture. 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.
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture. 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.
In the event of a crash, a front seat belt retractor may not properly slow the occupant's forward movement after locking. In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.
A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture. 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.
The rear driveshafts may have been incorrectly assembled without grease in the monoblock joint. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Jeep: 372
Repair instructions Jeep sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
Service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV transmissions that have fault codes P07E4, P1DB2, P0716…
850RE D Clutch Repair Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must have at least 11,265 km…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
Neighbouring years
2021 Gladiator: 292 complaints, keep it.
Every Jeep Gladiator year
2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Gladiator years side by side
Other Jeep models: Jeep Cherokee · Jeep Commander · Jeep Compass · Jeep Grand Cherokee · Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe · Jeep Grand Cherokee L · Jeep Grand Wagoneer · Jeep Laredo · Jeep Liberty · Jeep Patriot · Jeep Renegade · Jeep Wagoneer · Jeep Wrangler · Jeep Wrangler 4xe · Jeep Wrangler Sahara. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2020 Jeep Gladiator a bad year?
485 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Gladiator years. At 54,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Jeep Gladiator?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (183), steering (182), transmission and drivetrain (55), engine (45), suspension (32).
How many recalls does the 2020 Jeep Gladiator have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 24V-652), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 23V-116), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 21V-028), Seat belts (NHTSA 20V-580) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.