2022 Jeep Gladiator Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2022 Gladiator most often describe a violent front-end shake after hitting a bump at highway speed, plus a wide range of electrical complaints — blank or dead instrument clusters, sudden shutdowns, battery drain, and reports of engine-bay fires while parked. Many electrical and diesel fuel-pump complaints are tied to open recalls or parts shortages, and several owners say the vehicle is otherwise stock and unmodified.

1. 1
   Steering

   Front-end shake after bumps ("death wobble")

   • 26 complaints (22%)
   • median 21,800 mi at 4.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the front end and steering wheel shaking violently after hitting a bump, pothole, or overpass joint at highway speeds, sometimes requiring a slow-down to 45-50 mph before it settles. Vehicles are typically described as stock and unmodified. Dealers and mechanics have replaced steering dampers, drag links, shocks, and steering rods, and in several complaints the shake returned after repair; some owners report parts on back order. Reported from roughly 3,000 to 49,500 miles, most often at highway speeds of 55-80 mph triggered by road impacts.

   Recall 26V3630002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at highway speed over expansion joints and rough patches before buying. Ask whether the steering damper, drag link, or front-end parts have been replaced, and whether any related service bulletin work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “issue with Death Wobble. Factory 2 leveling lift was installed. Shortly after that I had issues. I was informed to replace the steering damper. that didnt fix the issue. Then I replaced the drag link with a after market one and the issue is better. But it is still an issue on some roads. the death Wobble is still there.”

   NHTSA complaint #11722676, filed 2026-03

   “This is to file a former complaint against jeep for the “death wobble” I experience every time I get on the highway and hit a bump. I lose control over the vehicle. The dealership said the parts to fix the problem are on back order and cannot even be order for up to 6 months.”

   NHTSA complaint #11503917, filed 2023-01
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Sudden electrical shutdown, dead battery, or no restart

   • 31 complaints (26%)
   • median 20,900 mi at 3.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle losing all electrical power while driving or at a stop — dash lights flashing, wipers running, shifter locked, no restart, and occasional loss of power steering or braking assist. Several owners report battery drain and repairs to the main and auxiliary batteries, fuse box, and wiring, with the problem returning after repair. Reported from roughly 300 miles on a new vehicle up to about 38,450 miles, in both moving and parked situations.

   Recall 26V3630003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about battery and auxiliary battery replacement history and any electrical repairs. Check that the vehicle starts cleanly from cold and that all warning lamps behave normally on start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2022 Gladiator with only 2700 miles on it locked up at a stop light. Every light on the dash was blinking, and the wipers came on. I couldn’t move the shifter, or turn the Jeep back on. Hazard lights would not come on initially. Not being able to move the vehicle or turn on hazard lights on a busy 6 lane road was extremely scary. I have never had a vehicle do anything like this before. I had it towed to the dealership. I explained what happened and they had never heard of this before. I have read of it happening on social sites and forums. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11499288, filed 2022-12

   “The check engine light came on and said the vehicle will be shutting down and the vehicle died while driving and wouldn't restart! It said to service the power steering, vehicle not in service electronic stability control. It currently still won't restart. It has 300 miles and is one week old.”

   NHTSA complaint #11486321, filed 2022-09
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Clutch failure and manual-transmission problems

   • 19 complaints (16%)
   • median 22,068 mi at 2.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners of manual-transmission trucks report the clutch failing, smoking, or refusing to engage, leaving the vehicle unable to move or shift, and in one report a fire followed the loss of propulsion. Several complaints concern the clutch recall itself, saying the remedy part was unavailable for months or that a replaced clutch failed again. Reported from as early as 1,300 miles up to about 49,500 miles, often at low speed or during routine driving.

   Recall 23V116000Recall 23V6410001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm whether the clutch recall (23V116000) was completed and ask for documentation. On a manual truck, test low-speed engagement and reverse, and check for clutch smell or slipping.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Lost the clutch, no ability to shift, had no propulsion. 60 seconds later, the car was on fire while driving. Pulled over, got out, and within 20 minutes the car completely burnt to the ground. Wa state law states that the vehicle used or new should not have been sold in condition. Vehicle was purchased in 2025. Carfax report shows that vehicle was sold from dealership in Florida days after the recall was issued.”

   NHTSA complaint #11731551, filed 2026-04

   “The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V116000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed and entering his driveway, he noticed smoke coming from the clutch. The contact parked the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11530662, filed 2023-07, 1,300 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Fire from engine bay or under-hood electrical area

   • 20 complaints (17%)
   • median 2,650 mi at 2.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   A number of owners describe smoke or fire from under the hood or near the battery, in some cases while the vehicle was parked and shut off, and in one case after a power steering warning. Complaints mention fire department response and, in some instances, the vehicle being declared a total loss. Reported from about 4,000 to 15,000 miles, both while driving at low speed and while parked with the ignition off.

   Recall 26V363000

   What to check: Ask whether the power steering pump wiring recall (26V363000) has been completed. Look for signs of scorching, melted connectors, or prior harness repairs near the battery and steering pump.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2022 Jeep GLADIATOR SPRT STARTED ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY,SAID VEHICLE HAD’nt been driven in 4days , the fire and police departments were dispatched to put out said fire . My jeep was a total lost . I have the police report in hand .”

   NHTSA complaint #11642770, filed 2025-02

   “The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while the vehicle was occupied and driven at 5 MPH in the residential driveway, smoke started to be emitted from under the hood. The contact opened the hood and discovered fire primarily emitting from the top of the battery. No warning lights illuminated. The contact then used a broom to try to turn off the fire, and the contact then used water to turn off the fire. There were no injuries sustained. The contact did not file a fire report, and a police report was not filed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11651720, filed 2025-03, 4,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster blank or inoperable

   • 5 complaints (4%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners report the instrument panel going black or freezing, sometimes at start-up and sometimes while driving over bumps, with gauges and warning lights unavailable. Several complaints link the symptom to a recall covering an internal short in the cluster, and owners say dealers told them the part was on back order and that the odometer unit had to be ordered and recalibrated. Reported from about 20,000 to 36,600 miles, at start-up and while driving at lower speeds.

   Recall 24V6520003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the cluster recall (24V652000) was performed and whether the cluster has ever gone blank. Verify all gauges, warning lamps, and the odometer read correctly on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle in the morning, the instrument cluster was black. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle several times to reset the instrument cluster; however, the failure persisted. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11687544, filed 2025-09, 35,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information as intended. No warning light was illuminated before the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V652000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11725302, filed 2026-03, 20,000 miles

Buying note. Check that all open recalls for this model year — steering pump wiring, instrument cluster, clutch, and diesel fuel pump — have been completed with paperwork, and drive the truck at highway speed over bumps to judge the front-end behavior. Electrical history matters here: ask about battery, cluster, and wiring repairs before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.