Before you buy a used Jeep Gladiator (JT).

2020–2026 · Petrol / Diesel · 2 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

3 documented, sourced faults across its 2 engines.
2 of them depend on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
2 official recalls on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm they have been done.
According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 2 of its engines.

Diesel high-pressure pump, driveline and steering on the GladiatorKnown weak points
Period mentioned
2020 onwards
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

3.6 V6

Petrol

Leaking oil filter housing and cooler on the 3.6 PentastarEngine
Period mentioned
2011 onwards
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.

3.0 V6 CRD

Diesel

EGR cooler and bearings on the VM 3.0 V6 diesel (EcoDiesel)Engine
Period mentioned
2011 onwards
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Third-generation engine (from 2020): mainly the fuel-pump campaign and oil-pressure warnings.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Jeep Gladiator (JT)
Engine	Documented faults	Recalls
3.6 V6Petrol	21 with conditions	2
3.0 V6 CRDDiesel	22 with conditions	2

According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
Ask an official Jeep dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.

Overheating power steering pump connectionSteering

How to check it: Confirm VIN under Canadian recall 2026271; inspect and replace pump or wiring if required. For affected VINs, follow official advice to park outside, away from buildings and vehicles until repaired.

View full entry

Jeep airbag and seat-belt recalls (2000–2026)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 3 checked

Engine

Leaking oil filter housing and cooler on the 3.6 Pentastar
Look out for: Oil spots under the car, oil on the block below the housing (in the engine’s “V”), frequent top-ups and, in serious cases, a low oil-pressure warning; sometimes coolant leaks too.
Ask them to check: Look for oil in the centre of the engine and under the car; do not overtighten the filter cap. The usual repair is replacing the whole assembly (aluminium versions exist), removing the intake manifolds, with new gaskets.
EGR cooler and bearings on the VM 3.0 V6 diesel (EcoDiesel)
Look out for: Coolant loss, white smoke or combustion in the intake manifold (cracked EGR cooler); deep metallic knock and the oil-pressure warning (bearings); on engines from 2020, low oil-pressure warnings or a failing high-pressure pump shedding metal.
Ask them to check: Check the EGR-cooler and pump campaigns by VIN; watch the coolant and oil pressure; with knocking or the oil warning, stop. Avoid lugging the engine at very low revs under heavy load.

Known weak points

Diesel high-pressure pump, driveline and steering on the Gladiator
Look out for: On the 3.0 diesel, the high-pressure fuel pump can fail and stall the engine (2021–2023); a rear driveshaft assembled without grease in the joint (2020); a gearbox park pawl that may not engage (2022); an instrument cluster that goes blank (2020–2024); power-steering pump wiring that can overheat and cause a fire even when parked (2021 onwards).
Ask them to check: Check campaigns by VIN; if the diesel stalls, check the high-pressure pump.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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