2020 Jeep Gladiator

This complaint is a follow-up to NHTSA complaint number 11729095. Since submitting the original complaint, the issue has continued and is now occurring while the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle is experiencing intermittent electrical and communication failures affecting multiple systems. The issue began approximately three weeks ago after completing a normal drive and has persisted since that time, occurring randomly and without warning. Both the main battery and auxiliary battery have been replaced; however, the condition remains unresolved. Current symptoms include: •Multiple warning messages and warning lights activating simultaneously while driving (including “Service Antilock Brake System” and “Service Shifter”) •Loss of communication between multiple control modules •Fault codes that temporarily clear but return •Instrument cluster instability and erratic system behavior Power steering assist becomes intermittent during these events, making steering significantly more difficult, particularly when navigating curves or operating in heavy traffic. This creates a serious safety hazard due to reduced vehicle control. Diagnostic trouble codes associated with this condition include multiple communication-related faults (U-codes), indicating loss of communication between critical control modules. The condition may temporarily improve when the auxiliary battery system is bypassed and the battery sensor is disconnected, but the failures consistently return. The issue is ongoing, intermittent, and reproducible. No accidents have occurred to date; however, the condition presents a clear and increasing safety risk. Photographic evidence of warning indicators and system faults occurring during vehicle operation is available. Root cause remains UNKNOWN but is suspected to involve the auxiliary battery system, battery management system, wiring, or vehicle communication network.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the messages "Gear Shift Reset", and "Loss of Stability Control" were displayed, and the check engine warning light, the brake system warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the power steering feature suddenly failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired by the dealer; however, the contact completed the repair himself. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

I am submitting a complaint regarding my 2020 Jeep Gladiator, which has exhibited persistent and dangerous steering issues since shortly after I purchased it. The issue is commonly referred to as the "death wobble." Despite 5 separate repair attempts performed by an authorized Jeep/Stellantis dealership, the safety defect continues to occur. This issue is very commonly know to Jeep. I have even been told my the Service Agent I worked with at the dealership that the steering damper is known to be inadequate, but still continually put on the Jeep. The issue started at approximately 25,000 miles, and upon the 5th time bringing it in for the same safety defect, the car is at 92,000 miles. At highway speeds, if the vehicle hits any uneven pavement, the car will begin to shack violently and the vehicle becomes difficult to control. On multiple occasions, the vehicle felt uncontrollable. This creates an extremely unsafe driving condition for me, my family, and other drivers on the road. I have to be hyper focused to avoid any pothole or other change in pavement in order to try and prevent the steering defect to happen. Even when the steering damper has been replaced, the new one can break at any point again, creating a danger every time this vehicle is driven on the highway. I have opened a formal complaint with Jeep as I can no longer use the vehicle in good conscious with my 4-month old daughter. The defect-steering damper breaking can happen anytime, as the exact same part is replaced each time with no successful remedy. I am asking the NHTSA to investigate the steering defect, determine whether a broader safety recall is necessary, assist in compelling Stellantis to provide an appropriate remedy for a vehicle that has undergone multiple unsuccessful repair attempts for a safety-critical defect. I have included all service documents and my communication with Jeep/Stellantis.

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle had suddenly started to vibrate and shake. The contact stated that the vehicle was maintaining its lane but was lurching from left to right. No warnings illuminated. The contact stated that she pulled off to the side of the road; however, when she turned the vehicle on, it would start shaking again. The contact stated that she would keep driving while the vehicle was shaking, and the shaking would eventually stop. The contact stated that the shaking was occurring at any speed and was also triggered when she would drive over any small bumps or dips in the road. The contact stated recently, while she was driving in traffic at approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle started to shake again, however, this time violently. The contact stated that at the time, it was raining. The contact stated that it felt like the vehicle had lifted up, and then she crashed into the guard rail on the driver's side front bumper. The contact stated that the bumper and an LED light bar attached to the front grill had made contact and were slightly damaged, and the driver's side headlight stopped functioning. The police were not called, and the contact was not injured. The contact reported that the driver's side front air bag had deployed but had not inflated and was draped on her lap. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact reported that after the crash, she observed the check oil and check brake warnings illuminated. The contact stated that she needed to depress the brake pedal with more force in order to stop. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

During normal driving, dash would display multiple warning lights. There would be traction control, ABS inactive, and transmission errors displayed on the screen. Twice, there was a loss of power steering while driving. All signs pointed to a CAN buss issue, but dealer could not/ would not find it. Doing research, I found that the CAN buss connector located behind the glove compartment was known in the Jeep community to fail and cause these symptoms. The only replacement is offered by Mopar/Stellantis. Multiple models and makes under Stellantis company use this same connector that has bad solder connections inside. It causes increased resistance inside the connector, and causes CAN buss communication errors, and setting any one of hundreds of possible DTC. In every occasion, there was a loss of stability control, ABS, and multiple occasions of vehicle being locked in Park. In two occasions, the electric assist power steering was disabled.

this 2020 Jeep Gladiator has repeatedly experienced the infamous Jeep Gladiator "Death Wobble" related to front steering component defects/failures/poor design. It creates a very hazardous driving condition. The local dealer, Hilltop Jeep in Richmond, and Stellantis declined to make repairs and instead left us on our own to get the needed repairs done at a local Jeep 4x4 specialist shop and the repairs cost ~3000+ dollars. Stellantis has refused to pay for the needed repairs.

almost had an accident do you to the Jeep 2020 gladiator going haywire steering wheel got hard like you had no power steering luckily I was going 45 miles an hour wipers went crazy the shifter went into parking luckily my wife my son and myself we're OK no accident had towed to my house replaced both batteries auxiliary and main battery still nothing replaced can bus it says it does not have connection with ECM