MODULE - STEERING CONTROL & COLUMN
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Jeep Gladiator steering problems
severe Owners of the 2021 Jeep Gladiator have filed 93 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
93
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Gladiator | 181 |
| 2021 Gladiator (this page) | 93 |
| 2022 Gladiator | 34 |
| 2023 Gladiator | 10 |
| 2024 Gladiator | 6 |
2crashes
1fire
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 93 steering 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
Steering accounts for 33% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 93 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
"Drag Link Long Socket FOR STEERING SHIMMY DIAGNOSIS, PLEASE REFERENCE S1819000004 Rev. Q AND 19 - Steering / Diagnosis and Testing (IN SERVICE LIBRARY). PLEASE REFER 19 - Steering / Linkage / END, Tie Rod / Diagnosis and Testing IF YOU HAVE BALL JOINT LOOSENESS CONCERN. PLEASE DO NOT REPLACE DRAG LINK AND TIE ROD UNLESS PART HAS VISIABLE DAMAGE OR FREE PLAY EXCEEDS SPECS."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Drag Link Long Socket FOR STEERING SHIMMY DIAGNOSIS, PLEASE REFERENCE S1819000004 Rev. Q AND 19 - Steering / Diagnosis and Testing (IN SERVICE LIBRARY). PLEASE REFER 19 - Steering / Linkage / END, Tie Rod / Diagnosis and Testing IF YOU HAVE BALL JOINT LOOSENESS CONCERN. PLEASE DO NOT REPLACE DRAG LINK AND TIE ROD UNLESS PART HAS VISIABLE DAMAGE OR FREE PLAY EXCEEDS SPECS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DAMPER - NONE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Heated Steering Wheel Inoperative And Or Not Hot Enough.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2021 Gladiator steering system generates two dominant failure categories across these 87 complaints: death wobble and power steering loss. Death wobble—violent, uncontrollable front-end and steering-wheel shaking triggered by bumps, bridge transitions, or road irregularities at 50+ mph—appears on dozens of vehicles with minimal mileage (10,000–25,000 miles) and bone-stock condition. Owners describe needing to brake hard and drop speed below 30 mph to regain control; the phenomenon can recur multiple times per drive. Dealers typically replace the steering damper, track bar, and/or drag-link socket; parts often languish on backorder, and replacements frequently fail to cure the problem. A 2022 settlement lawsuit covers 2020 Gladiators and certain Wranglers but not the 2021 model.
Power steering loss occurs unpredictably—sometimes at 3,000 miles, sometimes at 70,000—and strips assist entirely, forcing manual steering at highway speed until the vehicle slows to 20–30 mph. No diagnostic codes appear. A faulty ECU flash from the 19A clutch recall caused engine shutdown during shifts, also disabling power steering. Electrical cascades—random dashboard warnings, loss of shifter function, instrument cluster flashing, complete electrical shutdown—have also been linked to power steering failure. One vehicle experienced engine fire at the power steering pump connector, an issue covered by open NHTSA investigation PE24024. Loose steering, chronic lane drift, and steering lock-up round out the complaints. Dealer responses range from claiming "it's a Jeep thing" to blame-shifting and repeated part swaps without resolution.
Same Jeep Gladiator steering reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble - Violent Front-End Oscillation
Uncontrollable high-frequency shaking and vibration of the front end and steering wheel triggered by hitting bumps, bridge seams, or road irregularities at speeds above 50 mph. The phenomenon is violent enough to cause loss of steering control and requires hard braking or slowing to 25–35 mph to stop. Occurs on factory-unmodified vehicles with minimal mileage. Happens without warning and can recur multiple times per drive.
When: Begins at 10,000–25,000 miles; becomes progressively worse; triggered by road surfaces, bridge transitions, or specific road angles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent front-end shuddering and steering wheel vibration; Loss of steering control/ability to maintain lane; Shaking intensifies and sustains until speed drops below 25–35 mph; No warning lights or messages before onset; Can occur multiple times in short driving periods
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replace steering damper (68251580AF), track bar, drag-link socket, and lower ball joints; parts frequently on back-order; replacements often do not resolve issue; multiple re-repairs required on same vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin 02-004-21 (re-torque lower ball joints); Mopar case number for steering damper replacement; 2022 class-action settlement for 2020 Gladiator and 2018–2020 Wranglers (not covering 2021); no factory recall issued despite widespread complaints
Power Steering Loss at Highway Speed
Complete loss of power steering assist while driving at highway speeds (60–75 mph), requiring manual steering with extreme force. Steering returns to normal function when vehicle speed drops to 20–30 mph. No DTCs detected on scan. Occurs intermittently, sometimes triggered by cold ambient temperatures, acceleration, or no identifiable trigger.
When: Occurs unpredictably between 2,900 and 70,000+ miles; no consistent mileage pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel becomes extremely stiff and difficult to turn; No warning lights or messages during failure; Power steering restores when speed drops to 20–30 mph; Occurs on cold-weather driving and/or during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Steering pump replacement recommended by dealers; ECU flash (faulty 19A clutch-recall firmware) caused engine shutdown during shifts, also affecting power steering; revised ECU flash available 7/12/24, installed 7/15/24
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; dealer repairs (pump replacement); faulty ECU flash from clutch recall 19A created separate power-steering failure mode
Steering Locked or Extremely Stiff at High Speed
Steering wheel becomes stuck or locked in center position and resists turning with extreme force at highway speeds. Occurs during normal driving or cornering maneuvers. Condition corrects itself when vehicle slows to 30 mph or below.
When: Occurs at 60+ mph during passing maneuvers or highway curves
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locked in forward position or resists turning; Requires both hands and maximum force to steer; No warning lights or messages; Condition self-corrects when speed drops to ~30 mph
Loose, Wandering Steering Feel
Chronic looseness in steering; steering wheel has excessive play (up to 2 inches movement with no wheel response). Vehicle wanders and drifts in lane, requiring constant steering correction. Problem present from first drive on new vehicles, worse on windy days or highways. Dealers claim it is normal Jeep behavior.
When: Present from purchase on some vehicles; increases with mileage; exacerbated at speeds above 40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering feels vague and loose; Vehicle drifts/pulls to one side without driver input; Requires continuous steering correction to maintain lane; Excessive play in steering wheel (2+ inches); Pulls predominantly to the left on highway or windy conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer re-torque of lower ball joints per Service Bulletin 02-004-21; drag-link assembly replacement; no consistent resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers state issue is 'normal Jeep behavior' or normal play; Service Bulletin 02-004-21 provides re-torque procedure but does not address root cause
Power Steering Pump Electrical Connector Fire
Engine fire originating at the power steering pump electrical connector. Fire occurred on highway during operation; vehicle lost power and warning lights illuminated before fire ignited. Independent fire cause analysis confirmed connector as origin; open NHTSA investigation PE24024 links to same failure mode across Gladiators.
When: Occurred at 26,666 miles during freeway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of electrical power; Dashboard warning lights illuminated; Engine fire at power steering pump connector
Repairs/costs cited: Total engine loss; vehicle destroyed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Open NHTSA investigation PE24024 on Gladiator engine fires at power steering pump connector
Electrical System Cascading Failures and Power Steering Loss
Intermittent major electrical system failures causing multiple symptoms including loss of power steering, instrument cluster flashing random warnings, loss of shifter function, and complete electrical shutdown. Failures progressively lengthen in duration. Multiple DTC codes (up to 73 reported by dealer technicians) indicate communication loss between modules. No reliable diagnosis achieved despite multiple dealer visits.
When: Multiple incidents within 40-day period; unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent loss of power steering (multiple episodes); Dashboard warning lights flashing randomly: check engine, ABS, airbag, ESC, anti-lock brakes, shifter, TPMS, 4WD, no bus error; Instrument cluster flickering and displaying contradictory messages; Loss of shifter function; Complete electrical shutdown requiring vehicle restart; Engine dies while driving
Codes mentioned: No Bus error, Multiple (up to 73) unspecified DTCs
Repairs/costs cited: Blamed on power-step installation, loose ground wire, and unknown causes after three visits; vehicle remained at dealer; no successful resolution documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer investigation ongoing; multiple visits without diagnosis
Auto Start/Stop System Malfunction - Unexpected Engine Shutdown
Engine shuts off unexpectedly during normal driving when steering wheel is turned, contrary to owner's manual specification. Vehicle stalls in traffic, creating distraction and rear-end collision risk. Issue reproduced by multiple service personnel and independent mechanics who expressed safety concerns.
When: Occurs when steering wheel is turned; no specific mileage trigger noted
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stops when steering angle exceeds threshold; Occurs despite instrument cluster not showing 'STOP/START READY' message (required precondition per manual); Unexpected stall in traffic; No warning lights or messages before stall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA Technical Advisor claimed vehicle is 'operating as designed' despite owner's manual contradiction and multiple independent technician safety concerns
Loose or Missing Front Suspension Fastener
Front CV bar (cross bar) bolt on passenger side came loose and dropped completely, resulting in loss of control of passenger-side front tire. Occurred on Mopar 1.5-inch lift kit installed by dealer. Vehicle nearly rolled and required emergency stop in ditch. Root cause: bolt not torqued correctly or missing lock washer.
When: 4,000 miles after lift-kit installation (installed 8/17/2021, incident Jan 2022)
Symptoms owners cite: Violent loss of steering control; Front-end wobble too severe to hold steering wheel; Vehicle drift into adjacent lane and off roadway; Prior loose steering feel noticed before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Bolt was replaced; original bolt and nut not found; vehicle subsequently drove normally after bolt replacement and alignment
Instrument Cluster and Electrical Malfunction - Multiple Random Errors
Dashboard displays cascading random warnings and error messages (check engine, ABS, airbag, steering, traction control, shifter, fuel level, speed fluctuation, windshield wipers) along with loss of power steering during the event. Flashing lights and alarms continue through multiple cycles. Vehicle may lose shift capability and engine cycling on/off.
When: Low mileage (9,700 miles); one incident reported at 35 mph; occurs without warning
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard lights and warnings flashing simultaneously; Check engine, ABS, airbag, ECM, steering, traction control lights; Fuel gauge fluctuating (zero to full); Speed and RPM showing erratic values; Windshield wipers activating on command; Loss of power steering (AUTO PARK DISABLED message); Vehicle unable to shift correctly; Engine switching on/off with transmission gear indicator flashing
Steering Wheel Lock-Up with ESC Disabled
Steering wheel becomes locked (able to move only fractional amounts) while making a turn, electronic stability control disabled, vehicle unable to turn. Turn signal gets stuck on. Condition resolves when steering is returned to center.
When: During normal turning maneuver
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks and only moves a fraction of an inch left or right; ESC disabled during event; Turn signal stuck on with loud clicking; Engine running, vehicle powered throughout
Service Shifter Warning with Multiple Electrical Symptoms
Instrument cluster displays 'Service Shifter' warning accompanied by check engine light, random speed and RPM fluctuations, un-commanded windshield wiper activation, and intermittent loss of power steering. Issue occurred twice within 9 months at different mileages and locations. First occurrence cleared by reseating fuses; second occurrence unresolved after 12+ days in shop with issue escalated to FCA.
When: First incident: May 2021 at 9,000 miles; second incident: October 2021 at 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: 'Service Shifter' warning message; Check engine light; Speed gauge showing random readings; RPM fluctuations; Un-commanded windshield wiper activation; Intermittent loss of power steering
Repairs/costs cited: First incident resolved by reseating fuses; second incident requires extensive dealer investigation with case escalated to FCA
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case escalated to FCA; no resolution provided in narratives
Synthesized from 93 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
My 2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport is very unsafe to drive specially at Highway speeds or speeds above 45 mph and multiple dealerships service departments are refusing to fix or even acknowledge the issue after not being able to fix the problem already due to no major recalls being offered by Jeep only a bulletin. Steering is very loose, and I cant drive my Jeep Gladiator Sport straight specially on a…
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel started to shake abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front outer drag-link socket needed to be replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…
I purchased my Gladiator in May of 2021 and the "Death Wobble" started in December of the same year. I took it to the dealership that I purchased my Jeep from and they told me that "it was due to the overly aggressive tires that were on the jeep". I told them that I purchased the jeep from them with those tires on it! Since then I have had out of pocket repairs totaling in excess of $3000.00.…
This vehicle has around 8000 miles on it. While driving at highways speeds, several times the steering would start to wobble violently. Normally after hitting a small bump in the road. After researching this was called a death wobble. The vehicle is stock and has not been modified. Has jeep issued a remedy?
From when I picked up the new vehicle from the dealership there's been excessive "play" in the steering wheel. The vehicle drifts in its lane, requiring constant corrections. Issue is more pronounced on a highway versus city driving.
At highway speed and encountering a small bump the front-end will jump violently side to side. This can only be stopped by braking to below 50 MPH. Nearly got rear-ended numerous times.
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
It's a meaningful issue. 93 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 93 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 15,784 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.