2020 Jeep Gladiator: loss of power steering

Filed Apr 5, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · GA

This complaint is a follow-up to the federal safety agency complaint number 11729095. Since submitting the original complaint, the issue has continued and is now occurring while the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle is experiencing intermittent electrical and communication failures affecting multiple systems. The issue began approximately three weeks ago after completing a normal drive and has persisted since that time, occurring randomly and without warning. Both the main battery and auxiliary battery have been replaced; however, the condition remains unresolved. Current symptoms include: •Multiple warning messages and warning lights activating simultaneously while driving (including “Service Antilock Brake System” and “Service Shifter”) •Loss of communication between multiple control modules •Fault codes that temporarily clear but return •Instrument cluster instability and erratic system behavior Power steering assist becomes intermittent during these events, making steering significantly more difficult, particularly when navigating curves or operating in heavy traffic. This creates a serious safety hazard due to reduced vehicle control. Diagnostic trouble codes associated with this condition include multiple communication-related faults (U-codes), indicating loss of communication between critical control modules. The condition may temporarily improve when the auxiliary battery system is bypassed and the battery sensor is disconnected, but the failures consistently return. The issue is ongoing, intermittent, and reproducible. No accidents have occurred to date; however, the condition presents a clear and increasing safety risk. Photographic evidence of warning indicators and system faults occurring during vehicle operation is available. Root cause remains UNKNOWN but is suspected to involve the auxiliary battery system, battery management system, wiring, or vehicle communication network.

Filed Sep 16, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 55,000 miles · MT

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power, lost braking power, and lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving at high speeds, which caused the contact to be frightened. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure had not been determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Jul 31, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · OR

During normal driving, dash would display multiple warning lights. There would be traction control, ABS inactive, and transmission errors displayed on the screen. Twice, there was a loss of power steering while driving. All signs pointed to a CAN buss issue, but dealer could not/ would not find it. Doing research, I found that the CAN buss connector located behind the glove compartment was known in the Jeep community to fail and cause these symptoms. The only replacement is offered by Mopar/Stellantis. Multiple models and makes under Stellantis company use this same connector that has bad solder connections inside. It causes increased resistance inside the connector, and causes CAN buss communication errors, and setting any one of hundreds of possible DTC. In every occasion, there was a loss of stability control, ABS, and multiple occasions of vehicle being locked in Park. In two occasions, the electric assist power steering was disabled.

Filed Jul 1, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TX

almost had an accident do you to the Jeep 2020 gladiator going haywire steering wheel got hard like you had no power steering luckily I was going 45 miles an hour wipers went crazy the shifter went into parking luckily my wife my son and myself we're OK no accident had towed to my house replaced both batteries auxiliary and main battery still nothing replaced can bus it says it does not have connection with ECM

Filed May 18, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · TN

While driving in rush hour traffic, stop and go driving, a service shifter message started to intermittently appear, then the forward collision warning message started to frequently chime in and off, then I lost power steering, check engine light illuminated, other messages auto start stop service, service sway bar disconnect, transmission was stuck in 3rd gear then after a stop it would not shift out of 1st even switching to manual shift mode, was able to pull over to side of road. Turned off the vehicle, used my code reader to clear the codes, started the vehicle back on and everything was clear and vehicle drove as normal. Sure glad it didn’t happen at speed! I have read of other people having the same issue so I wanted it to add my concern as well.

Filed Feb 4, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · FL

Vehicle shut off spontaneously. All dash lights lit up. No steering, Could not turn .was able to drift to side of highway and avoid being hit from traffic. Would not start for 10 min. After manny attempts finally started but could not shift into gear. Errors on the dash. Had to turn off and on a few times to get going again.

Filed Apr 26, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · WA

2020 Jeep Gladiator purchased new experienced violent shaking of the steering wheel and partial loss of control at highway speed on March 10, 2024 with the odometer at 27,500 miles. The shaking is commonly referred to as a "death wobble" incident. While driving at approximately 60mph on the interstate the vehicle became unstable on uneven pavement and began to shake so violently it nearly resulted in an accident and we had to immediately pull off the highway into the median. After a quick inspection no damage was found, the death wobble incident happened again the same day to a lesser degree and vehicle seems to be more unstable each use. Vehicle is available for inspection. The death wobble is so severe enough to cause an accident due to loss of steering control and suspension instability as well as injure the drivers hands and arms due to violent movement of the steering wheel. Dealer service is being scheduled, no further inspection has taken place by police or manufacturer. There were no indicators or warning lights prior to the incident.

Filed Aug 27, 2023 · Brakes, Steering · MA

While driving several warnings lights illuminate: traction control, ABS, air bad, service 4 wd, and brake. When this happens power steering is lost making it extremely hard to steer the car. The brakes are automatically engaged and occasionally the windshield wiper turns on. This causes a risk not only to myself and passengers but anyone driving near me as I can no longer steer with ease and the brakes lock up. My Gladiator has been at the Jeep dealer for 10 weeks while they try to solve the problem. They replaced the ABS module but that didn't solve the issue. I'm told that its electrical and whatever it is will harm several systems. My wife's 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL has the exact same issues. She has a very hard time controlling it due to no power steering.

Filed May 23, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · DE

Lost Power Steering, 5/22/2023. 4 Orange Check lights came on. 1)Tried to start the car remotely, with secondary key. No start. 2)Tried again standing next to it. No start. 3)Got in and pushed brake and started car. All the same check lights came on that did 4/19. Engine, ABS and 4WD. Maybe another Shifter warning. 4)Pulled out of driveway with ½ the error lights on. Lost power steering 100 yards in the neighborhood. 5)U Turn with no PS, back to house, let it sit all day till 3PM while waiting for towing. Did not scan, Did not disconnect battery. 3PM, Came home from work, started the car with remote. Only 1 check engine light and now power steering is back. Delivered to Jeep Dealer, Hetrick Jeep Dodge, Elton, MD. by tow truck.

Filed May 23, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · DE

4/21. Check Engine Light Shifter locked in place. Lost Power Steering. Started out as CHECK ENGINE Light then added ABS light. I Cleared it. Week later, Friday, 4/21. Check Engine Light 4/22 - Saturday AM, Drive to Goodwill and landfill While in 18 truck line at landfill, I put in PARK, Trans locked itself in PARK. Radio and Speedo Blipped. Then Orange Check Engine light, Orange ABS light, two Orange Traction Control lights. Orange Service 4WD light. Service Shifter Message, RED Brake light n dash. There was another ABS Message, but I failed to get it. Turned off engine, I restarted and was able to get in gear, NO POWEER STEERING. Got through line. Drove home with all check lights and no power steering. Engine and Trans Temps were good, oil pressure was good, Battery showing 14.1 while driving. At home, scanned for codes. In this order U0121 U1110 U1120 U11BC U12AB P057C (Brake Pedal Sensor Circuit Low) U11BF U0001 High Speed Can Communication Bus P0000

Filed Feb 10, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · CO

While I was driving on the freeway, suddenly all of my warning lights came on and my windshield wipers and the power steering went out. It was very difficult to pull over with the power steering out and stop. This is the second time this has occurred in 6 months. The first time this happened I had it towed to the dealer, they found nothing wrong but when I went to pick it up it happened again before I left the dealer. The service manager kept it and they ran more codes and thought they resolved the problem, but the same thing happened again when I went to pick it up. Finally, they gave me a loaner vehicle and after a month the Gladiator was finally fixed. The dealer said it was a defective wiring harness. Now the same problem is back. This is a serious safety issue due to the power steering going put and locking up the steering wheel. I have read many, many complaints from other Jeep Gladiator owners of the same issue.

Filed Dec 14, 2022 · OK

On 12/2/22 while driving at 70 mph, I suddenly lost power steering. Every system warning light came on and windshield wipers began running when this happened. I managed to get it to the side of the road, but it has zero gauges, no acceleration, cannot shift, and cannot be shut off. After 30 minutes, the warnings began to clear themselves and I was able to safely drive it to a dealer. The battery was assumed to be the issue and it was replaced. Picked the vehicle back up on 12/7/22 and the exact same scenario occurred on 12/13/22; highway speeds, complete loss of power steering, multiple system warnings, wind shield wipers began running. Once again, couldn’t shift it and couldn’t shut it off. I timed the process the second time. At exactly 30 minutes, it began resetting itself and I was able to drive it home before delivering it to the dealership this morning.