YearToAvoid

2021 Jeep Gladiator Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 61 engine complaints for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, 21% of all complaints filed for the year. A related recall (22V767000) covers high pressure fuel pump failures on 3.0L diesel engines that can cause stalling. Median mileage at failure is 23,000.

Engine complaints
61
21% of 290
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
23,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls or loses power unexpectedly while driving at highway speed, sometimes requiring the battery terminal to be reset before the vehicle restarts.
  • Vehicle emits heavy white smoke from the engine compartment before the front end catches fire while driving at 60 MPH.
  • Engine auto-stop/start system activates or deactivates in situations owners say conflict with the owner's manual, including when the steering wheel turns, defrost is toggled, or the climate control fan is adjusted.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly auto-starts on its own when the driver's door opens or the brake pedal is pressed, which owners describe as a rollaway risk.
  • Vehicle stalls while idling with the clutch pedal fully engaged, raising concern about stalling in traffic.

When 2021 Jeep Gladiator engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 22, 2021, latest Aug 11, 2026.

2021 Jeep Gladiator engine complaints: complaints filed per month18Mar 2021May 2022Dec 2022Jun 2023Oct 2023Sep 2024Oct 2025
61 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2021 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2022 (18).

Engine recalls for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator

  1. NHTSA 22V767000Oct 13, 2022Engine60,413 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP and inspect and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z96.

Engine complaints by Gladiator model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 202057 (12%)
  2. 202161 (21%)
  3. 202224 (20%)
  4. 20238 (14%)
  5. 20245 (22%)
  6. 20253 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2021 Jeep Gladiator have?
NHTSA lists 61 engine complaints for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, making up 21% of the 290 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an engine recall for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
Yes. Recall 22V767000 covers 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles with 3.0L diesel engines whose high pressure fuel pump may fail and cause engine stalling. The remedy is dealer replacement of the pump and inspection of fuel system components.
At what mileage do 2021 Gladiator engine problems usually appear?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 23,000 miles for engine-related complaints on this model year.
Are the engine problems serious?
NHTSA records tied to engine complaints for this year include 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 4 injuries.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.