VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Jeep Gladiator2020–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Jeep Gladiator
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Jeep Gladiator Years to Avoid
6 recalls · 340 complaints
8 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
5 recalls · 213 complaints
11 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
5 recalls · 98 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the Gladiator became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Jeep Gladiator — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 79 | 40 | 65 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 13 | 1 | — | 79 | 55 | 71 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 2 | 18 | — | — | 79 | 68 | 75 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 4 | 38 | — | — | 69 | 78 | 72 | Good |
| 2022 | 5 | 98 | 2 | — | 54 | 85 | 65 | Good |
| 2021 | 5 | 213 | 11 | — | 54 | 88 | 66 | Avoid |
| 2020 | 6 | 340 | 8 | — | 54 | 87 | 66 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Jeep Gladiator Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Gladiator compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Gladiator to buy?+
The 2024 Jeep Gladiator scores highest on our Buyer Score (75/100) — combining a reliability score of 79/100 with a value score of 68/100. It has 2 recalls and 18 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Gladiator years have the most problems?+
The 2020, 2021, 2022 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2020 Gladiator leads with 6 recalls and 340 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Gladiator problems?+
The most frequently reported Jeep Gladiator issues involve: STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.