2024 Jeep Gladiator Verdict: Sell It Now Before the Fire Risk Finds You

The setup

You bought a 2024 Jeep Gladiator because you wanted capability, open-air fun, and the kind of ruggedness that laughs at trail obstacles. Two years in, you're facing a different kind of obstacle: NHTSA is telling you to park your truck outside because the power steering pump might catch fire, and according to owner reports filed with the agency, some dealers and Jeep itself are refusing to fix it because no repair exists yet. The question isn't whether you love the truck. It's whether you're willing to keep something in your driveway that federal safety regulators say belongs in the street, away from structures, until further notice.

This is a sell or keep decision that writes itself.

What NHTSA data actually shows

As of August 22, 2026, NHTSA lists 23 owner complaints on file for the 2024 Gladiator and 2 open safety recalls. Of those 23 complaints, 3 involved fire and 0 resulted in reported injuries so far. The most-complained-about system is the electrical system with 8 complaints, followed by steering with 7 complaints, then service brakes and engine with 3 each.

One of those two open recalls is campaign 26V363000, covering the steering hydraulic power assist pump. The consequence, in NHTSA's words: "A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury." The remedy: "Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures, until their vehicle is repaired. Dealers will inspect and replace the wiring and electric hydraulic power steering pump, as necessary, free of charge." NHTSA adds in bold that owners should park this vehicle outside until repaired.

That's the official line. Here's what owners are saying actually happens. One report filed with NHTSA states: "Electrical Fire Recall / NOT FIXED / Dealers and Jeep refuse to repair as there is no repair for it. Afraid to park this at home/work. Currently no signs other than steering feeling heavier over time." Another describes the affected component this way: "The power steering pump electrical wiring harness/connector. The vehicle is subject to active Mopar safety Recall 21D (NHTSA Campaign 26v-363) for an un remedied vehicle fire risk caused by high electrical resistance. Yes, the vehicle and affected componen..." A third complaint describes a complete electrical failure: "I was driving my 2024 Jeep Gladiator Willys Texas Edition on the FM 3180 and I 10 when the vehicle experienced a complete electrical failure without warning. The instrument panel began flashing, the vehicle lost power and became completely inoperative while..."

The second open recall, 24V652000, covers the instrument cluster. It can fail to display critical safety information like your speedometer or warning lights, increasing crash risk. Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster free of charge, and at least that one has parts available.

The Gladiator also earned a rollover rating of 3 stars with a rollover probability of 26.7 percent, which is what you'd expect from a high-center-of-gravity pickup on a short wheelbase. That number alone wouldn't be disqualifying, but it's context when you're deciding whether to keep driving something with unresolved fire and electrical gremlins.

If you're experiencing intermittent electrical problems and want to rule out a simple battery fault before chasing wiring demons, a car battery load tester can confirm whether the battery or the charging system is actually at fault. If you've got a known parasitic draw and need to keep the truck alive while you line up a sale, a car battery maintainer keeps voltage stable. Neither solves a recall-level wiring fire risk.

The math

You're two years into ownership. If you financed at 6.5 percent over 72 months on a $55,000 purchase price with $5,000 down, you borrowed $50,000. Your payment is around $831 per month, and after 24 payments you've paid roughly $19,944 total, of which about $6,556 went to interest and $13,388 to principal. You still owe approximately $36,612.

Mid-size trucks typically depreciate 20 to 25 percent in the first year and another 10 to 15 percent in the second year. Assume your Gladiator has depreciated 35 percent over two years. That puts its private-party value around $35,750. You're slightly underwater, owing about $862 more than the truck is worth in a normal market.

But this isn't a normal market situation. You're selling a truck with an open park-outside-due-to-fire-risk recall and owner reports claiming dealers won't fix it. Every day you advertise it is another day a savvy buyer pulls the VIN, sees the recall status, and lowballs you or walks away. Every month you wait is another payment into an asset that could burn in your driveway.

If you can cover the $862 shortfall and sell now, you stop the bleeding. If you keep it and the repair actually becomes available in six months, you've made six more payments ($4,986) and the truck has depreciated another $1,500 to $2,000. You'll be $6,500 to $7,000 deeper in the hole, and you'll have spent half a year parking in the street.

Refinancing (see our refinance verdict) might lower your payment slightly, but it doesn't fix the fire risk or the fact that you're driving something federal regulators say is unsafe to park near your house.

What we recommend

Sell it now. Immediately. This week if possible.

This isn't about recall stigma or resale anxiety. This is about NHTSA explicitly telling you to park outside and owner reports stating that dealers and the manufacturer are refusing or unable to perform the repair. You own a two-year-old truck that you can't safely park in your garage, that may lose all electrical power while you're driving, and that has a documented fire risk the company hasn't solved yet.

You're $862 underwater in our worked example. Pay it. Write the check, pull from savings, put it on a 0 percent credit card if you must. The alternative is making payments on something that could torch your garage or leave you dead in traffic when the electrical system fails. Even if the repair becomes available next month and works perfectly, you've already lost buyer confidence. The recall history follows this VIN forever.

List it honestly, disclose the open recalls, price it to move, and let someone else deal with Stellantis. Take the small loss now rather than the large loss later. If you're trying to decide between selling and keeping any vehicle, our sell or keep guide walks through the framework, but this Gladiator is the rare case where the data shouts one answer.

What would change our mind

Three things would need to happen simultaneously. First, Stellantis would need to issue a stop-drive order, provide loaners to every affected owner, and complete the repair within 30 days. Second, NHTSA would need to verify the repair actually works and close the recall campaign. Third, Stellantis would need to offer a residual value guarantee or buyback at pre-recall market value to compensate owners for the loss in resale.

None of those things are happening. The recall is open, the remedy according to owners is unavailable, and you're told to park outside indefinitely. Until all three conditions are met, the verdict doesn't change.

Bottom line

The 2024 Jeep Gladiator has 23 complaints on file, 2 open recalls, 3 fire complaints, and a park-outside warning from NHTSA due to power steering pump fire risk. Owner reports filed with the agency say dealers are refusing or unable to repair it. You're driving a truck the government says is too dangerous to park near your house, and the manufacturer hasn't fixed it.

Sell it now. Eat the small loss, move on, and buy something that doesn't require you to sleep with one eye open wondering if your driveway is going to light up. This isn't a tough call. It's the easiest verdict we've written.

Safety figures on this page come from the NHTSA public complaint and recall database for the 2024 Jeep Gladiator, retrieved 2026-08-22. Complaint counts reflect reports filed by owners and are not verified defect findings.