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Jeep Gladiator VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Jeep Gladiator you are looking at. Then check its model year against 18 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefix1C6

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Jeep Gladiator

About the Jeep Gladiator

Jeep has sold the Gladiator in the US since the 2020 model year. Across those years NHTSA lists 18 vehicle recall campaigns and 992 owner complaints. The 2020 has the most complaints of any model year (483). EPA rates it at 18–24 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2020–2026
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks
NHTSA recall campaigns18
Owner complaints992 at NHTSA
Jeep Gladiator photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Jeep Gladiator at a glance

One generation in the data, 2020–2026: 18 NHTSA recall campaigns and 992 owner complaints.

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Gladiator
2020–2026Standard Pickup Trucks
20202025
2020–2026

Jeep Gladiator

EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks
EPA combined mpg18–24
NHTSA recalls18

Engines (EPA)

  • 3.6 L 6-cyl · 2020–2026
  • 3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo, diesel) · 2021–2023

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD
  • manual (2020–2024), automatic (2020–2026)

Known issues to check

Steering (329)Electrical system (292)Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (158)4 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 992 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Gladiator1C6HJTAG?LL······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport, built in Toledo, Ohio
Check a Gladiator VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Gladiator model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 18 campaigns on file for Gladiator model years 2020–2026, and the 2021 and 2022 show up in the most (8 each). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2022
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Jeep Gladiator owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2020 and 2021 hold 775 of the 992 complaints, or 78%. Tap any bar or generation.

992NHTSA complaints, 2020–2026
25mention a crash
30mention a fire
22injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearGladiator: 992 complaints · most for the 2020 (483)

Top complaint areas · Gladiator

Mentions in 992 complaints, 2020–2026.

Steering329
Electrical system292
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)158
Engine and cooling130
Suspension106
Fuel system61
Crashes 25Fires 30Injuries 22

2020–2026

NHTSA data summary

The 2020 is the outlier. On its own it has 483 of the JT’s 992 complaints (49%), more than any other Gladiator model year, and owners across the generation name steering most often (329 mentions), then electrical system (292).

What Gladiator owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2020–present (1st generation)

Steering is the main complaint area. Many NHTSA owners of the 2020 and 2021 describe the truck wandering on the highway and violent front end shaking known as death wobble, and CarComplaints ranks wandering at highway speeds first for 2020, followed by a check engine light with misfires and coolant leaks that led to engine damage. Recalls cover manual transmission clutch pressure plates on 2020–2023 models that may overheat and fracture, rear driveshafts on some 2020 models built without grease and diesel fuel pumps on 2021–2022 models that may fail and cause a stall. [1] [2] [3]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the clutch recalls on manual trucks, the driveshaft recall on 2020 models and the diesel fuel pump recall.
  • Ask for steering and front suspension repair records and any coolant leak repairs.
  • On the drive, hold a steady highway speed to feel for wandering, drive over bumps at speed to check for front end shaking and watch for a check engine light.
Sources (3) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2020 Jeep Gladiator
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2020 Jeep Gladiator problems
  3. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2021 Jeep Gladiator

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Gladiator complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Diesel Gladiator versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

992complaints, 2020–2026
25mention a crash
30mention a fire
22injuries reported
Most complaints: 2020 (483), 2021 (292), 2022 (120)
483’20292’21120’22’25

2020 · 483 complaints

Crashes 11 · fires 7 · injuries 6

Electrical system183
Steering181
Power train54
Engine45
Unknown or other33

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Gladiator CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 18 Gladiator versions for model years 2020–2026 (gas and diesel). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 423 g/mi, for the 2023 diesel. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Gladiator2020–2026

18–24 mpg · CO₂ 423–500 g/mi

2025
19combined MPG
466CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,550EPA yearly fuel cost
6/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
4/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III SULEV30 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 30Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2025: 4WD · Auto 8-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L — 19 MPG · 466 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
350400450500550202020252020 · Gas: 4662021 · Gas: 4662022 · Gas: 4662023 · Gas: 4662024 · Gas: 4662025 · Gas: 4662026 · Gas: 4692021 · Diesel: 4232022 · Diesel: 4232023 · Diesel: 423
GasDiesel

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Gladiator vs Toyota Tacoma vs Ford Ranger

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2020–2026. NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the Gladiator, against 13 for the Toyota Tacoma and 34 for the Ford Ranger. Pick a range to compare.

Jeep Gladiator

Model years 2020–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
18
NHTSA owner complaints
992
EPA combined mpg
18–24
Engines (EPA)
6-cyl 3.0, 3.6 L
Also listed
turbo, diesel
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Steering 329
  2. Electrical system 292
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 158

Toyota Tacoma

Model years 2020–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
13
NHTSA owner complaints
537
EPA combined mpg
18–24
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.4, 2.7 L · 6-cyl 3.5 L
Also listed
turbo, hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 123
  2. Brakes 74
  3. Structure and body 66

Ford Ranger

Model years 2020–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
34
NHTSA owner complaints
432
EPA combined mpg
17–23
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.3 L · 6-cyl 2.7, 3.0 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 179
  2. Electrical system 65
  3. Engine and cooling 61

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Jeep Gladiator VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Gladiator

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

White Jeep Gladiator (JT generation) crew cab pickup, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

As a pickup truck with Wrangler DNA, the Gladiator carries its VIN in truck-specific locations: the dashboard plate readable through the windshield, a frame rail stamp near the front axle, the driver's door jamb sticker, and a cab corner stamp behind the driver's door. Body modifications are common on Gladiator, and a VIN check is particularly important to verify frame integrity hasn't been compromised by unauthorized lift kit installations.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Jeep Gladiator VIN questions

Which Jeep Gladiator model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2020 leads with 483, ahead of the 2021 (292) and 2022 (120). Those first two alone make up 78% of the 992 Gladiator complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Jeep Gladiator had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 18 vehicle campaigns for model years 2020–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Jeep Gladiator recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 20V-124, 21V-028, 23V-116 and 26V-363. Park-outside advisories came with 26V-363. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Jeep Gladiator get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2020–2026 Gladiator at 18–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Jeep Gladiator compare with the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger on recalls?

For 2020–2026 models the Gladiator has 18 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Toyota Tacoma has 13, the Ford Ranger 34. Complaints run 992, 537 and 432 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

Other Jeep models

Check another Jeep model

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