Front and Rear Axle Sensor Kit **Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation the technician may find that the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) has been set: ? C1451-11 - Service Axle Locker System** Customers may also comment on a Service Axle Locker message displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) for this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Jeep Gladiator lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Jeep Gladiator have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Gladiator | 4 |
| 2021 Gladiator (this page) | 11 |
| 2022 Gladiator | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 11 lighting complaints filed for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Headlamp Condensation Clearing Procedure Some customers may report that on occasion, vehicle exterior head lamp assemblies are fogged with a light layer of condensation on the inside of the lenses.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illumination (MIL). Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P203E ? Reductant Level Sensor 1 Circuit Intermittent-Erratic Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Headlamp Condensation Clearing Procedure Some customers may report that on occasion, vehicle exterior head lamp assemblies are fogged with a light layer of condensation on the inside of the lenses (Fig. 1) . This bulletin is to communicate the procedure for head lamp condensation clearing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Headlamp Condensation Clearing Procedure Some customers may report that on occasion, vehicle exterior head lamp assemblies are fogged with a light layer of condensation on the inside of the lenses (Fig. 1) . This bulletin is to communicate the procedure for head lamp condensation clearing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The third brake light stands out as a recurring problem. Multiple owners report the center high-mounted stop lamp failing silently—the light simply goes dark with no warning on the dash, no error code, and no dealer diagnostic alert visible to the customer. Owners discover the failure during state inspection or only after a dealer scan reveals a hidden code. At least one failure occurred at 18,000 miles. The issue is attributed to PCB malfunction inside the LED assembly, and repair requires replacement of the entire light unit. Some owners note that aftermarket heated headlight kits exist, suggesting Jeep is aware of the design gap.
Headlight problems also emerge. One owner reported melted wires inside the headlamp assembly at 42,000 miles, requiring assembly replacement. Another reported the headlight beam pattern blinding oncoming drivers, who flashed back and swerved; he was pulled over and the dealership could not diagnose the issue. A third noted reverse lights create glare off the license plate that washes out the backup camera image.
Snow and moisture accumulation in the recessed LED headlight housings is reported during winter driving. The sealed design generates no heat to melt snow, forcing owners to stop repeatedly to clear the lenses—a safety hazard when traveling on highways. One rear turn signal randomly quit working.
Failure modes owners describe
Third brake light (CHMSL) failure
The center high-mounted stop lamp (third brake light) on the tailgate fails, typically due to PCB malfunction within the LED assembly. The light simply goes out with no warning to the driver and no diagnostic indicator on the instrument cluster, leaving owners unaware of the failure until caught by inspection or accident.
When: Under 3 years of ownership; 18,000–42,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Third brake light does not illuminate; No warning light or error code on dash; Silent failure detectable only through dealer diagnostic scan
Repairs/costs cited: Entire LED assembly must be replaced (not just bulb); dealer replacement required
Headlight assembly malfunction — melted wires
Wires leading into the headlamp assembly melt, causing the headlight to fail. Failures reported on both passenger and driver side. Dealership diagnosis confirmed headlamp assembly failure requiring replacement; manufacturer provided no assistance.
When: 42,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlamp does not illuminate; Visible melting of wires inside headlamp assembly; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Headlamp assemblies require replacement; vehicle not repaired per owner report
Headlight aiming / beam pattern issue
Headlights beam obstructs the view of oncoming drivers, causing them to flash back and swerve. Owner was pulled over by law enforcement. Dealer could not duplicate the failure.
When: 2,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight beam obstructs oncoming driver vision; Oncoming drivers flash headlights and swerve; Vehicle pulled over by law enforcement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose or repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but no assistance provided
Reverse camera display failure — light glare
When vehicle is in reverse, the reverse lights create excessive white glare reflecting off the license plate, washing out the rearview camera display so the image does not display properly.
When: 2,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rearview camera image fails to display in reverse; Excessive white light glare from reverse lights reflecting off license plate; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose or repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but no assistance provided
Headlight snow/moisture accumulation
Snow and ice accumulate inside the recessed LED headlight housings during cold weather, blocking light output. The sealed LED design prevents heat generation needed to melt snow, forcing owners to manually clear the lights repeatedly during winter driving.
When: Cold weather operation; reported during winter months
Symptoms owners cite: Snow and ice fill headlight housings and block light; Requires repeated manual cleaning while driving; Third-party heated headlight aftermarket solutions available
Repairs/costs cited: Owner manual cleaning required; aftermarket heated headlamp kits available from third parties
Rear turn signal failure
Rear turn signal randomly quits working. Reported in combination with third brake light failure.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Rear turn signal randomly stops working
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
During show fall the snow gathers in the head lamp dishes causing them to fill and block out the light. This causes me to pull over and clear the head lamps so I can see about every mile or two. This is a known problem due to not having heat to melt the snow from the head light. Jeep knows this since there are companies out there selling heated head lamps. I was almost hit last week during the…
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, he noticed that the headlights were obstructing the view of other drivers on the road, and that the drivers were flashing their headlights at him while swerving approaching the vehicle. The contact also stated that he had been pulled over due to the headlights. Additionally, the contact…
Had lighting trouble with your 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 22,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Jeep/Gladiator.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.