My Gladiator problems

[Damangron]

Six weeks ago I bought my very first Jeep, a 2020 Gladiator Rubicon. It was on the showroom floor, and I noticed small black dots all over the plastics in the front...the bumper, grill, and headlights. The salesman assured me that if we made a deal on the truck it would be no big deal to clean the spots off the plastic. So I pulled the trigger and bought it. While we started doing paperwork they took the car to be cleaned. After all the paperwork was done I walk out to my brand new shiny truck to see that none of the spots were removed. I go back in the dealership and ask about it, and was told they can't be cleaned...they will have to be replaced. Well...if I knew that before I signed for my loan and transfered my insurance I would of walked away....but oh well, they said they'll call me when the parts come in.

Three weeks go by, no phone call. I finally decided to give them a call and sure enough the parts were there...but no one called me They installed a new bumper, grill, and headlights. I also told them the rear defrost wasn't working...they repaired the wiring, it had a bad ground.

Two weeks later I get this VERY loud grinding noise along with a pretty bad Vibration from the right front tire area. Back to the dealer I go...when I'm there telling the service tech about my issue I mention that from day one the steering has been pretty bad, the jeep drifts to the right and left and he said there's a known issue with the steering box and he'll order one for me but it'll take a few weeks to get it. I had 2 more minor items for him to address as well, the first is the center console...squeaks like crazy when driving with my arm on it and the second thing, the dealer installed locking wheel lug nuts but never gave me the socket...just take them off and put regular lugs on please.

Got a text from the dealer...The technician said your vehicle needs the front axle locker actuator, an axle, and a new center console The parts should be in by the end of the week. (I dropped the truck off at 8am on Tues)

So that's where I'm at right now...I've owned this jeep for six weeks, 4k on the odometer and in the shop waiting for parts. Now I'm worried about what's gonna break next? Also, what else might of been compromised or weakened from the bad axel and the locker trying to engage at high speeds....is the transmission next? The front Differential? I really shouldn't have to be worrying about stuff like this on a brand new 60k Jeep...pretty frustrating.

@JeepCares

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[AeroMountain]

When did you have time to put 4,000 miles on this thing? Between all of the down time at the dealership it seems like you’d only have a few hundred miles. Check your states lemon laws and be very familiar.

 

[Damangron]

When did you have time to put 4,000 miles on this thing? Between all of the down time at the dealership it seems like you’d only have a few hundred miles. Check your states lemon laws and be very familiar.

I drive 500 miles a week commute to work. I also took a road trip...I like to drive!

 

[Kindafearless]

I’m sorry, this all sounds terrible. What was the mileage on it when you received it? None of what you are saying adds up with a new Jeep.

 

[Damangron]

I’m sorry, this all sounds terrible. What was the mileage on it when you received it? None of what you are saying adds up with a new Jeep.

It had 23 miles on it when I bought it. I do 500 miles a week commuting to work, and I also did a 1400 mile road trip to Canada.

500x5 weeks = 2500+1400= 3900. Add up the small drives around town and what have you and that'll put me over 4k

 

[Kindafearless]

In theory, everything you are describing can be tacked up to sloppy assembly. Things not tightened down ( center console and ground), FAD not aligned/installed correctly (guess based in what you said), overspray or something from delivery for the black spots.

Lemon Law is definitely an option, but it is a PITA. I like playing with my car, so if it were me I’d go over inch of it and make sure everything is torqued down and installed correctly. You could also take it to a well rated mechanic (not Jeep) and describe what you have experienced. See if they can find anything else not setup right. Then that would help with any future proceedings, or give peace of mind.

My truck ran fine from the dealer and I went over it as I described above anyway, because I’m just that kinda person :P Found some funny things, but nothing that would cause problems. My favorite was the extra frame bolt that was clearly dropped/lost in the frame and left there.

Kinda your call on what makes you feel most comfortable. The fact that you’ve driven it as much as you have sounds like it can’t be too beat up.

 

[PyrPatriot]

if it were me I’d go over inch of it and make sure everything is torqued down and installed correctly.

There are a LOT of bolts that have different torque specs. Every section of the vehicle comes with about 2 pages of bolts with torque specs. Could you elaborate which bolts should be checked? I get the wheels should be on right, my dealership didn't even know that the correct spec was 130ftlbs and had their system as a 100ftlb default for JLs/JTs

 

[D10S86]

Keep us updated, sounds like bad luck. Sorry to hear

 

[MoparToYou]

Consumer reports gave the 2020 Gladiator a perfect score (100 out of a possible 100 points) for reliability. The 2021 Gladiator earned 99 out of 100. The only issue I would be worried about is that front axle problem, but it sounds like it is being fixed. Do you have an extended warranty? I would consider that, vs just seeing how it goes over the next six months, and if problems persist, switch to a different vehicle.

Best thing I have done to improve "reliability" of my Gladiator is to stay away from the dealership. At my first engine service I told them I had a tire that needed rebalanced. After servicing my Jeep they told me I had a bent wheel that needed replaced, and asked me how often I took my Jeep off road. They also told me the gear oil in the rear diff was burned and had turned dark, and asked me again how often I took my Jeep off road. I had them show me the gear oil right then and there, and it looked like new gear oil with 3000 mile on it to me. I took my Jeep to a tire store and had the tires balanced, and now they are perfect. I did not have a bent wheel. I had another mechanic change the rear diff fluid, and I watched him do it. He drained out perfectly good gear oil, and put new gear oil back in.

 

[Kindafearless]

There are a LOT of bolts that have different torque specs. Every section of the vehicle comes with about 2 pages of bolts with torque specs. Could you elaborate which bolts should be checked? I get the wheels should be on right, my dealership didn't even know that the correct spec was 130ftlbs and had their system as a 100ftlb default for JLs/JTs

I guess that depends on how crazy you want to go Sounds like I need to add a disclaimer here....

My advise is my opinion only. You have to make your own decisions about what makes you feel comfortable about your car and your investment. If anything I say makes you feel uncomfortable, then don't listen to what I'm saying.

I started with the things that “move” and would cause a real problem is they are loose.

- suspension
- engine mounts
- body mounts

Then inspected:

- fuses (fully seated)
- grounds (tight and aligned correctly)
- electrical cords and battery connections (nothing loose, wires seated in logs nicely)

Also, a general visual inspection of everything. Anything that isn’t clean (because it’s new), fluids that shouldn’t be leaking, wires zip-tied down.

For me this was therapeutic. I de-stress by working on my car. If this isn't for you, then ignore me.

 

[Binfordtools]

It just seems that some vehicles are prone to issues. Luck of the draw I suppose. These are all mass-produced vehicles made on 3 different shifts but with many different workers. Many assembly processes are fully automated now which does help with quality, but some (like attaching your ground) still rely on someone to do their job correctly. It’s unfortunate but happens to every mass-produced product. Having spent a great deal of time on manufacturing floors from the Ford Focus to Peterbilt trucks and every vehicle in-between, I can assure you that every plant gets hit for quality concerns like this and all take them very seriously. I’ve seen people literally lose their job on the spot for not following manufacturing protocols. It’s little comfort when your brand new, $55k vehicle keeps failing, I know, but it is paid attention to at the dealerships, at the OEM’s and at the suppliers. Corrective actions are usually immediate and effective.

Hopefully, your Jeep will behave him (or her)self now and provide you with years and years of trouble-free fun.

 

[AmishMike]

Ron,
Sorry to hear about all of your troubles!
Unfortunately faulty parts happen all the time. I know people that will only buy a vehicle after it has 10K on it, hoping that the faults have been worked out of them. I do not know what your state's Lemon Law guidelines are but it does not sound like you are anywhere near that yet. Lemon Law standards are very specific, ex. so many days without use of the vehicle in 12 months, X number of repair attempts for the SAME problem etc..
If it is a good dealership they should be bending over backwards for you. They should be as upset about delivering a new vehicle like that as you are. If they are less cooperative, well.....bad surveys and bad publicity are what they will listen to. A call to the General Manager might be the ticket. If you do go that route, don't expect much out of them later in life.
After 20 years in the shop, I still fell bad for a customer when we can't get it right.

 

[staying_tuned]

It sounds almost like they up-fitted it and when it couldn't sell it for 70k, rushed it back to stock, hence the scope of issues and missing lost lug nut lock. The black dots sound like artillery fungus which usually comes from sitting around (or driving through) moist mulch. If left unchecked, only an orbital polisher can remove their residual black spots. Maybe it was setup to be a pricey mall crawler and sat out front.

I'd take a look to see if any of the common nuts & bolts touched from a lift have marks from wrenching.

 

[syreeves]

Dude I am sorry to hear about this. I took delivery on 2021 in mid January and I'm working from home 3 days a week. I'm already at 3200 miles so to the people out there that don't put enough miles on - get going!

To the OP: I haven't had any of the problems you've identified. So far my only issue is getting Android Auto to recognize my phone when I plug it in, and I think my factory bed liner has a small crack. other than that my JTR has been rock solid. I've read a lot of threads about someone who just has a ton of problems on one vehicle. Many many more have no problems or minor superficial issues like mine.

Not sure what the black spots are that you mentioned but honestly it sounds like paint spray - wonder if yours was taken apart and put back together before being sold as new to you? The 2020 steering was a known issue - and fixed by recall if I am remembering right...

The axles are supposed to be pretty robust - not sure what could cause that to go bad... center console squeak is odd - why would they have to replace?

I agree with you that something is not right... but if they get those bolt on parts fixed then you should be rock solid. IMHO the JT's are pretty reliable.

 

[lrtexasman]

Sounds like they got the known issues squared away for you. Enjoy your Jeep!

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