What Problems Will High-Mileage Jeep Gladiators Have?
With its square body design and available diesel engine, the midsize Jeep Gladiator pickup is an instant classic truck. Jeep first offered the Gladiator “JT” generation in 2019, so there’s not a ton of data on how reliable it will be as it reaches high mileage. But some early recalls and extensive data from components the Gladiator and Wrangler share gives us a good preview of how high mileage Jeep trucks might hold up.
Let’s talk about the Jeep Gladiator’s engine
At the heart of the base model Jeep Gladiator is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Chrysler Corporation launched this engine family in 2010, and it is the entry-level engine for vehicles ranging from the Dodge Challenger to Ram 1500. In the Jeep Gladiator, this popular engine makes 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
According to 1A Auto, some Pentastar V6 engines are prone to oil leaking through their valve cover gaskets–namely in 2007 through 2018 Wranglers. Because the oil in the engine’s valvetrain is not highly pressurized, a leaking valve cover gasket often manifests as a small amount of oil seeping out of the top of the engine. But because this oil can collect on the engine or the exhaust, eventually catching fire, it is wise to replace the valve cover gasket as soon as possible.
A second common Pentastar V6 problem is a malfunctioning throttle position sensor causing the engine to run poorly or not at all. The Repair Pal website has received complaints of this issue on 1990-2007 Wranglers, as well as 2012, 2013, and 2015 models. It is more common after 100k miles. There are no reports of the issue on the current-generation Wranglers yet. We’ll have to wait and see if it strikes high-mileage Gladiators as well. Luckily, the throttle position sensor is a relatively simple part to swap after removing the throttle body.
Jeep Gladiators already have an automatic transmission recall
My colleague Thom Taylor reported that Jeep has recalled the 2022 Gladiator over transmission problems. In affected Jeeps, leaking transmission fluid is catching fire, filling the cabin with smoke. As if that isn’t serious enough, Jeep is working to determine whether this issue is connected to a sudden loss of pressure or even the driveshaft falling out of the transmission. The recall procedure includes replacing the entire 8HP75 transmission.
This recall is strange because Chrysler Corporation has used this eight-speed transmission for years. It was engineered by ZF in Germany but is built under license here in the US. But there may be an upside. Once Jeep recalls a specific Gladiator and swaps its transmission, the result may be a truck with a very reliable drivetrain that lasts well into high mileage territory.
Will Jeep Gladiator’s have other high mileage issues?
Because the Jeep Gladiator is relatively new to the game, there’s no telling if it might exhibit other, surprising, high mileage issues. But it does share many components with the Wrangler. While the Wrangler does have certain downsides (poor mpg because it has the aerodynamic properties of a brick, for example), it tends to stand the test of time. In fact, certain Wranglers have better resale value than the Tacoma. So the value of a high mileage Gladiator is promising.
There is another thing we know: the Gladiator is a midsize truck. It is a beefy midsize truck with an enhanced cooling system that gives it a 7,000 pound maximum towing capacity. But it’s still a midsize truck. This means that relatively few used gladiators will have suffered heavy towing and hauling duty or ever been fit with a snowplow. Those who know high mileage trucks know that this is one of the biggest dangers when shopping for a full-size truck.
Next, find out whether a 5th gen Ram 1500 truck can last 200k miles or learn more about the Gladiator’s reliability in the video below:
