2021 Gladiator makes a good list: 10 Reliable Jeeps That Are Known For Their Low Running Costs

[Jefe1018]

I had your Grail - 6 speed manual with the factory locker. It was one of two in the country for sale used at the time and it was 10 minutes away. I drove over there within 20 minutes of it being posted for sale, by the time I arrived he had three other calls on it.

My first car had a 3.5 VQ motor, so I loved the 4.0 - super bullet proof and didn’t burn oil unlike my 3.5. The only downside to those rigs is that you’re paying 3-4 times more for mods. My run of the mill rugged ridge front bumper was like $400 with a coupon whereas my custom plate bumper on the X was around $1,400 shipped - albeit it was super sturdy.

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[Sweetums]

My first car had a 3.5 VQ motor, so I loved the 4.0 - super bullet proof and didn’t burn oil unlike my 3.5. The only downside to those rigs is that you’re paying 3-4 times more for mods. My run of the mill rugged ridge front bumper was like $400 with a coupon whereas my custom plate bumper on the X was around $1,400 shipped - albeit it was super sturdy.

Yeah, Nissan is the red headed step child of the off road community. I'm overwhelmed by the Jeep aftermarket; lift kits? Here's 27 different manufacturers. Nissan lift kits: you can have this one, or that one.

 

[Jefe1018]

Yeah, Nissan is the red headed step child of the off road community. I'm overwhelmed by the Jeep aftermarket; lift kits? Here's 27 different manufacturers. Nissan lift kits: you can have this one, or that one.

And this guy will take your money and never send you anything... the other will eventually send it out, but it's a 6 month wait.

 

[Sweetums]

The first one has to be Greg at PRG.

Long story involving some parts I paid for and finally publicly threatening to call the cops before he would even pick up the phone.

 

[starrskream]

10 Reliable Jeeps That Are Known For Their Low Running Costs (msn.com)

2021 Jeep Gladiator – $617 In Annual Maintenance Costs

If you're seeking an off-road pick-up that'll take you on those outdoor adventures with minimal fuss, the Jeep Gladiator is right up your alley. Much more versatile than the Wrangler, the 2021 Jeep Gladiator packs a punch with a unique 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine that generates a whopping 260 horses alongside 442 lb-ft of torque. With a maximum towing capacity of 7,650 pounds, towing trailers featuring those heavy kayak boats and tents on that weekend getaway is 100% achievable.

With all these stellar add-ons, it's only normal that the 2021 Jeep Gladiator earns a great reliability score from JD Power (85%). These reliability levels are also evident in the car's day-to-day operations. According to CarEdge, you'll spend approximately $3,088 on maintenance in the first five years of ownership. This value translates into a budget-friendly $617 in annual maintenance costs on the 2021 Jeep Gladiator.

that's good to hear! however the analytical mind i have ...makes me wonder how much of that is hidden by the factory warranty. you don't pay for anything really in the first 3 years/ 36,000 miles lol. so 617$ could be a set of brakes, or an exhaust part or other things not covered by a warranty.

 

[starrskream]

True, but I’m still always skeptical about one vehicle being more “reliable” than another unless you have owned them and even then, there may be a bias.

For example, every Xterra and Frontier from 2005-2010 were susceptible to a radiator failure that would cause antifreeze to mix with ATF, causing the famous SMOD (strawberry milkshake of death). This would make people want to sway away from these by all means. Guess what? I owned an Xterra for 6 years and 89,000 miles. I had 0 issues, ever. All I did was replace the radiator with one that wouldn’t fail. According to these magazines and articles, my Xterra was a turd with transmission issues that never end.

Now other vehicles in the lower spectrum of the Jeep? I wouldn’t touch with a 5 foot pole.

I had a 2015, the ONLY reason i dumped it was the 9mpg i got in town and the 12 i got highway lol. going to a cherokee trailhawk that got 24 highway was like a dream lol.

 

[DanW]

that's good to hear! however the analytical mind i have ...makes me wonder how much of that is hidden by the factory warranty. you don't pay for anything really in the first 3 years/ 36,000 miles lol. so 617$ could be a set of brakes, or an exhaust part or other things not covered by a warranty.

True, but every truck considered is hidden by the same warranty. So that levels the playing field.

That said, I'd like to see the criteria. Maybe they don't count the warranty, maybe they do? But I also know this. The 2021 Gladiator was #1 in initial quality for midsize trucks in 2021. That is a HUGE achievement.

There is more to that achievement than meets the eye. It is the only truck with removable soff/hard top options. Those tops, with squeeks, leaks, etc, tie one of the JT's arms behind its back. To score #1 with a removable top is a monumental achievement and it tells me that the quality of the rest of the truck is significantly ahead of the competition. I know about 8 guys with Gladiators and the only problem reported among them was my brother's....it had a check engine light that was fixed by the dealer. It was a faulty sensor. And 6 of the 8 guys off-road their JT's regularly and hard.

So I believe that these things bode well for this truck to have low ownership cost, even beyond 3 years. So other than being on the expensive side for gas and tires, it is pretty good. For example, it may never need alignment. And if it does, you can do it in your garage with basic tools and a tape measure. Try that with an independent suspension. And oil changes use one 5 quart jug and a $6 filter. Easy peasy.

My 2018 JLUR has been an exceptionally reliable vehicle in its 6 years and 90k miles. I expect my 2021 JT to be about the same, if not better. I've had a few recalls on the JLUR. I'm hoping for none on the JT.

 

[DanW]

https://www.jdpower.com/Cars/Ratings/quality/2021/midsize-pickup

It was #3 in 2022 and #2 in 2023. Consistently good. Ahead of the Tacoma each time, which is tough to do.

And again, I think to achieve this with a removable top is incredible. Take that factor out and I'd bet it easily scores #1 every time.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

that's good to hear! however the analytical mind i have ...makes me wonder how much of that is hidden by the factory warranty. you don't pay for anything really in the first 3 years/ 36,000 miles lol. so 617$ could be a set of brakes, or an exhaust part or other things not covered by a warranty.

I have to wonder that as well.
Even if I factored in warranty work, which has been very minimal, I'd likely not hit that number.
I'd have to include 2 pairs of wiper blades, oil and filters for 2 oil changes, an air filter, a cabin filter, air in the tires, hmmm, I've run out of things to include.
the money i've spent on mine that was NECESSARY, not my choices, doesn't come up to $600 a year.
Now what I've chosen to spend - we won't go there.
I look back at the Grand Cherokees over the years we had those - maybe a set of tires over several years, but that comes up to only a couple hundred a year when spread out over time.
Even routine maintenance, I don't spend any 600/year. If I did a transmission service, I'd have to spread that cost out over 2 or 3 years so even that won't add up fast.

https://www.jdpower.com/Cars/Ratings/quality/2021/midsize-pickup

It was #3 in 2022 and #2 in 2023. Consistently good. Ahead of the Tacoma each time, which is tough to do.

And again, I think to achieve this with a removable top is incredible. Take that factor out and I'd bet it easily scores #1 every time.

"Initial quality" has been tough to nail down in the past and they've had to figure out how to word things extremely carefully.
Some people were griping about initial quality because they didn't like the size of a cup holder or where a button was placed or a color of something.
That's NOT initial quality - that's personal preferences.
Quality is fit and finish and lack of rattles and leaks and so on.
But when someone says "I can't push the seat belt button easily" or "the window switches are inconvenient" - some pollsters were finding that sort of stuff was skewing results.
I may not like where something is placed, maybe wish the cup holders were 1" farther forward or the window buttons operated differently - but that's not quality and one should know that stuff going in. it's a preference, not a quality thing.
Reading about how the various companies have had to struggle with how people respond, not understanding a question to mean do the tires stay on it vs. I don't like how the tires look.

Even here you find people commenting quite often on preferences vs. true quality. I know - I'm one of them and it's easy to see something in others that you know about yourself.

 

[seven30]

Id sure like to see JDPowers break out the 6spd manual from that report.
Until I lost the cam (and confidence in the 3.6) at 71k miles I had ZERO ISSUES with my 2021 Manual 6spd Mojave. No clutch problems, no battery problems nothing. I was expecting to keep this thing past 200k like most of my other machines, but I just don't believe this 3.6 is up to the 6spd task.
But, behind an auto Ill wager the 3.6 is pretty solid and can easily see 200k with just basic maintenance.

 

[Stan H]

My 2020 3.6 automatic hasn't been so bulletproof.
My Jeep is back in the shop for throwing the multi misfire codes. I think it's on the passenger side bank. Driving over 6k in fourth gear does that.
Last week it had front crankshaft seal repriced as it had lost two and a half quarts of oil. The Jeep is also had oil pan gasket replaced and rear main seal replaced. Without any aftermarket extended warranty, and 77,000 miles, these repairs would be expensive.

You have had more trouble than anyone I know. I have 88800 on mine and it has not had one issue

 

[Gvsukids]

You have had more trouble than anyone I know. I have 88800 on mine and it has not had one issue

Thanks. I think it was a bad motor. We'll find out next week when they tear into it.

 

[RunTheRace]

If you've happened to read my other posts, then you can ignore my repetition. This '21 JT is my first Jeep purchase. I bought it because: 1. I needed another truck; 2. I like that it's a convertible; and, 3. IMHO, it looks/drives handsome/awesomely.

My only complaints thus far are: 1. the TSB for the A-pillar water drip only applying to the 2020 JT and not all year models (& the fact that Jeep didn't engineer a fix yet); and, 2. the Fox ? shocks need rebuilding or replacing too soon (mine are getting replaced with less than 36K mi). Additionally, one or more of those shocks have been on "back order" since early January 2024 - due to arrive in late March. So, thank God they (the little foxes) let me know they were failing (noisy) prior to my 3/36 warranty expiration. Contemplating the expense (if they had failed after warranty expiration), I preemptively purchased an extended warranty (direct from Chrysler) just to give me a warm fuzzy on the other parts/pieces, because I'm thus far really enjoying this JT Mojave, and I plan on keeping it long term.

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