Buy a 2024 Gladiator Max Tow with zero maintenance history?

[KIWelder]

Hey all,

So, I'm looking at a 2024 Gladiator with the Max Tow Package - 17,000 miles, dealer's asking $33,500 (MSRP was $56,000 - the depreciation on these things is nuts!). Not certified. Looks clean, no obvious signs of abuse, and drives fine, but zero maintenance history - not on the Carfax or from Jeep/Chrysler, nada. What do you think? Stay away? Or try for a lowball offer that pays for an extended warranty? Anything else I could check? I'm sure a lot of buyers don't bother looking at the Carfax and the dealerships know that and will probably pass on a lowball offer to account for lack of maintenance history.

I purchased my 2024 Gladiator Sport S in May of 2025. The Sticker was $52K and I paid $37K. If you look hard enough, you can find good deals on a new one. I had to drive 3 1/2 hours to go pick it up, but it was well worth it.

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[BH1973]

Here's the requirements for the CDJR CPO program:
1. <75k miles
2. <5 model years
3. Clean title (pass a Carfax-type check)
4. No damage to frame
5. Minor aftermarket mods allowed that do not compromise safety or emissions

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A Comprehensive Review of Stellantis’s Certified Pre-Owned Program


So does the dealer have a Carfax for it? I'd double-check the VIN and make sure.

Or maybe the dealership doesn't want to have CPOs on anything with a 3.6L?

The dealership (a Hendrick dealer in NC) offers a CarFax - a service it pays for - but Hendrick service departments evidently don't send their own performed services to CarFax. I find that peculiar, because dealerships pay to provide CarFax reports to customers, but sending the services they perform to CarFax is a free service.

https://www.carfaxserviceshops.com/

I asked if they completed a full service on the vehicle when they took it in - they said they did. That would usually be reflected on the CarFax, but they choose not to send the service report over. But they pay to let me see a CarFax. Makes no sense to me.

 

[MPMB]

The dealership offers a CarFax - a service it pays for - but its service departments evidently don't send their own performed services to CarFax. I find that peculiar, because dealerships pay to provide CarFax reports to customers, but sending the services they perform to CarFax is a free service.

https://www.carfaxserviceshops.com/

I asked if they completed a full service on the vehicle when they took it in - they said they did. That would usually be reflected on the CarFax, but they choose not to send the service report over. But they pay to let me see a CarFax. Makes no sense to me.

I'm saying you should take a look at the actual Carfax and make sure the VINs match so there's no switcheroos going on.

I don't really care if service records from the dealership are updated to Carfax or not. 17k miles isn't enough to worry about service records. I've had vehicles that have gone 13k between oil changes.

If the JT isn't a CPO, why isn't it? If the dealership can't say why exactly, it's questionable. If the Carfax matches the JT, that's a little bit easier to stomach.

If the Carfax doesn't match the truck - or there isn't a Carfax - then there's an issue.

The worse case thing you're trying to get down to is if it was in a bad wreck and someone fixed it off the clock or shadetree mechanic'd it outside the system. Dealer may or may not know about it.

 

[Zachanadandy]

How many miles are you going between oil changes?


4.10 gears, wider axles, stiffer suspension are nice to have over the 3.73.

7500 as recommended.

 

[BH1973]

The dealership (a Hendrick dealer in NC) offers a CarFax - a service it pays for - but Hendrick service departments evidently don't send their own performed services to CarFax. I find that peculiar, because dealerships pay to provide CarFax reports to customers, but sending the services they perform to CarFax is a free service.

https://www.carfaxserviceshops.com/

I asked if they completed a full service on the vehicle when they took it in - they said they did. That would usually be reflected on the CarFax, but they choose not to send the service report over. But they pay to let me see a CarFax. Makes no sense to me.

CarFax matches the VIN on vehicle and window sticker - just shows zero maintenance. Salesman told me it's too new / under warranty to be CPO, which is BS - plenty of newer ones with fewer miles out there that are CPO. Could be reflected in the price, which is about $2k lower than I've seen on similar vehicles (did a nationwide search on Cars.com and CarGurus).

Anyway, I'll ask if they'll CPO it. Dealership is closed today due to a winter storm coming through.

I've owned three Stellantis products since 2018, including a Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and can't seem to learn my lesson. But I just want a Gladiator, this one is close, and has almost the exact spec I want. Just wish I knew it had an oil change, especially if it had been towing a lot. It'd be a weekend / vacation vehicle (towing a 4000 lbs trailer + gear), but I do want the safety suite because my 17-year old daughter would occasionally drive it. For better or worse, she learned to drive on vehicles with blind spot monitors, emergency braking, auto high beams, etc. I'd like to think she doesn't rely on them, but yeah, anything to prevent a fender bender given the already high cost of having a teenager on your policy!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this!

 

[NC_Overland]

The dealership (a Hendrick dealer in NC) offers a CarFax - a service it pays for - but Hendrick service departments evidently don't send their own performed services to CarFax. I find that peculiar, because dealerships pay to provide CarFax reports to customers, but sending the services they perform to CarFax is a free service.

https://www.carfaxserviceshops.com/

I asked if they completed a full service on the vehicle when they took it in - they said they did. That would usually be reflected on the CarFax, but they choose not to send the service report over. But they pay to let me see a CarFax. Makes no sense to me.

Leith doesn’t either. Or at least didn’t when I worked for them. Privacy concerns/fear of litigation.

 

[NC_Overland]

Sorry for all the replies. This falls into my wheelhouse oddly well. lol.

 

[BH1973]

Leith doesn’t either. Or at least didn’t when I worked for them. Privacy concerns/fear of litigation.

I know CarFax has been sued by consumers for publishing bad data that hurts their car's resale values. But a dealership reporting that it completed an oil change and rotated the tires? Can't imagine that would ever result in a lawsuit - and plenty of dealers do report that. I can see how an owner could make a privacy claim, but that is only if they release the VIN to a potential buyer, which is their choice. They could, I suppose, not provide a potential buyer with the VIN - which would all but end any chance of a sale.

I was once almost hit by a vehicle that then crashed. I stayed at the scene, gave the police a statement, and when I went to trade the vehicle a few years later learned that the CarFax indicated my vehicle was involved in an accident (but no reported damage). Took me a month to get that taken off - had to submit the police incident report, was really annoying. Still, I appreciate what CarFax does and like to provide buyers of my vehicles with one showing meticulous service records. I appreciate seeing those records and think buyers, especially for private sales, do as well.

 

[BH1973]

Sorry for all the replies. This falls into my wheelhouse oddly well. lol.

I really appreciate them - from a fellow North Carolinian too.

 

[Hootbro]

Thanks for this - very good point. It is being sold at a Jeep dealership - not sure why it's not CPO, although there's plenty of low mileage Jeeps being sold at Jeep dealerships that aren't CPO. I'll ask them about that and see if they could throw it into the bargain. I was told they did a 260 point inspection, but that's an easy thing to say.

There is a cost to the dealership for it to be a CPO but they usually pass that on in the sale price.

 

[NC_Overland]

I really appreciate them - from a fellow North Carolinian too.

No worries! I had to move back to my hometown to help out with some family stuff, but I miss the triangle. I miss the snow too. We barely got a dusting in the Atlanta suburbs. I was there for over 10 yrs till a few years ago.

 

[Mr Miami]

When you mention, "the dealer," are you referring to a Jeep dealer or some other? If it is a Jeep dealer, and it's not certified with that few miles and a recent year, still under factory warranty, that would throw a huge flag, at least to me. My first question, and I would ask both the saleshole and sales manager if needed, is why not? Why isn't it certified? What do you (the dealer) know that I don't know?

If it is not a Jeep dealer, I wouldn't be overly concerned. Did you check the oil life thing? It should likely show 0% with that number of miles. If it shows 100%, that would throw another flag (IMO) that they are trying to cover something up.

I would personally feel more comfortable if it was a Ram, Ford or Chevy/GMC dealer since the person may have found that towing 6-7.5k lbs. may be within the stated capacity of the Max Tow but driving it for longer trips it much better served with a full-sized pickup.

 

[Mr Miami]

As has been stated earlier, the Jeep certified program (CPO) does cost the dealer more and likely requires some level of reimbursement to Stellantis. That will of course be passed along to the buyer. But you are getting a 125 point or whatever inspection thing and an extension of the powertrain warranty from 5/60 to 7/100. And that's a factory warranty.

So you definitely have to factor in the cost and benefit of the factory warranty extension if you go that route. In any case, good luck.

 

[BH1973]

When you mention, "the dealer," are you referring to a Jeep dealer or some other? If it is a Jeep dealer, and it's not certified with that few miles and a recent year, still under factory warranty, that would throw a huge flag, at least to me. My first question, and I would ask both the saleshole and sales manager if needed, is why not? Why isn't it certified? What do you (the dealer) know that I don't know?

If it is not a Jeep dealer, I wouldn't be overly concerned. Did you check the oil life thing? It should likely show 0% with that number of miles. If it shows 100%, that would throw another flag (IMO) that they are trying to cover something up.

I would personally feel more comfortable if it was a Ram, Ford or Chevy/GMC dealer since the person may have found that towing 6-7.5k lbs. may be within the stated capacity of the Max Tow but driving it for longer trips it much better served with a full-sized pickup.

It's a Jeep dealership owned by Hendrick. They don't seem to CPO many of their vehicles. When I asked why the salesman said it was still under warranty and too new, which made little sense.

Reason for the Jeep vs full size is I like having a convertible. I recently sold my 135i and then a 2022 Wrangler 4xe (before it almost certainly would have started breaking down - still getting notices every couple of months from Jeep telling me to unplug it and keep it outside because it might spontaneously catch fire). I don't plan on getting close to the max towing capacity - just figured the max tow would be better for towing a c.3500-4000 lbs trailer including gear than the standard towing package. But sure, let's face it - I'm not buying it for reliability and expect problems. Wouldn't even have started a thread like this if it were a Tacoma or F-150. But it's a Jeep.

 

[NC_Overland]

It's a Jeep dealership owned by Hendrick. They don't seem to CPO many of their vehicles. When I asked why the salesman said it was still under warranty and too new, which made little sense.

I’ve been out of the game for a few years now, but If I had to guess, the logic is that when some people shop price they’re losing out in some search filters because some people aren’t seeing it, or don’t see the value in CPO when it’s under warranty. However, your sales person needs some training. What he should be saying is that it’s non CPO to be price competitive because it’s under warranty, BUT we can make it CPO for [whatever it costs now]. The first thing I was taught in sales years ago was to say “I don’t know, but I can find out” rather than just make up dumb shit like “it can’t be CPO because the mileage is too low.” Sorry, I taught sales training so stuff like this is super annoying to me.

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