2021 Jeep Gladiator: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 28, 2026 · Transmission · 26,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that two years ago the vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V116000 (Power Train); to prevent the clutch from overheating. However, the failure started after the vehicle was repaired under the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to perform the inspection or confirm the failure due to the age and mileage on the vehicle. The contact stated that the software update included a transmission kill switch to be activated whenever the clutch overheated, but the kill switch failed to operate as intended. The message that the clutch was overheating was displayed on the instrument panel during the failure. There was a burning odor and smoke during the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Brakes · MD

Front brake caliper(s) was seizing up causing smoking and a burning smell. Vehicle was also pulling to the right when braking. Brake fluid or something like it coated the front drivers side wheel. Took vehicle back to dealership where vehicle was purchased new. Vehicle is still under warranty/extended warranties. The dealer did inspect and found front calipers to be seizing up causing excessive wear on brake pads and rotors. They did replace both front calipers but not the brake hoses. They also replaced and charged me for new brake pads and rotors. Not even a week later, I called the dealer to report the same problem, the brakes were again seizing up and there was a smoking/burning smell. The dealer ordered the new brake hoses, found that the brake hoses they attempted to re-use had collapsed causing all the above mentioned problems. The dealer had them installed and so far so good.

Filed Jun 16, 2026 · Electrical · CO · fire

I purchased this vehicle on May 25th. On june 4th it was parked out side my front porch and my house along with the jeep burned completely down. the fire was first witnessed on the front porch right where the jeep was parked. I was out of town working and had a friend there dog sitting for me. She and the dogs got out safely althoug she was sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation and was released later that evening. The arson investigation is still on going. as of monday June 8th, Both the arson investigator and home insurnace investigator could not determine the origin of the fire. When the recall went public on june 11th i informed them of the recall and have not gotten much back from either of them. The scene has yet to be re-visted. I drove the truck maybe a total of 150 miles. The steering felt strange at times but i only had the vehicle for 5 days before i left for work. There is no solution from jeep. I would really like for a specialest to inspect the vehicle to determine if it did in fact set my house on fire.

Filed Feb 5, 2026 · Steering · CA · fire

My name is [XXX] , and I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding the loss of my vehicle due to engine fire. The vehicle was a 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, VIN [XXX] , with approximately 26,666 miles at the time of loss. I purchased the vehicle on May 13, 2021. The fire occurred on July 10, 2025. I was driving on the freeway, and my vehicle lost power and dashboard warning lights illuminated. When I pulled over, the engine was on fire. The fire department came and doused the flames but my entire engine was destroyed. After the fire, I retained legal counsel and initiated an independent investigation through Fire Cause Analysis in Berkeley, California. Their findings identified the origin of the fire as being linked to the power steering pump electrical connector. I later discovered that the federal safety agency has an open investigation identified as PE24024 concerning Jeep Gladiator engine fires which notes that the fires reported to the federal safety agency for this vehicle originated at the power steering pump electrical connector - coinciding with the finding of Fire Cause Analysis. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 31, 2025 · Engine · 20,000 miles · CA · fire · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, there was an alarming amount of white smoke emanating from the engine compartment and permeating the interior of the vehicle, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway and evacuate the vehicle. Moments later, the entire front of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. Local Emergency Services arrived on the scene and were able to extinguish the fire. During the failure several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and deemed a total loss by the Insurance provider. A fire report was filed and preliminary findings on the potential cause of the fire were provided but the contact was unaware of the cause. A Police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact's father suffered minor burns to both hands but had not sought medical attention. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the vehicle was retrieved for inspection. The manufacturer provided a determination of the inspection, and the vehicle was returned to the contact without providing the contact with the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Filed Nov 5, 2022 · Transmission · CO

As I was driving my vehicle was losing power intermittently to the drive train. It was like the clutch was being engaged partially although I was not shifting gears. As I made a left turn I was nearly in a collision as power was not transferred to the drive train as it normally would have been. another 10 miles later my vehicle lost all power to the drive train although the engine was still running. I coasted to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. I could smell something burning although no flames were evident. I waited a few minutes and restarted the vehicle. I tried shifting gears but the transmission would not engage. I left the vehicle at the side of the road and called the dealership where I purchased the vehicle as well as notifying Jeep Cares (I don’t think so). The vehicle was in the shop for 4 weeks as the clutch had to be replaced as well as some transmission cables which I understand were damaged from the heat generated by the clutch and pressure plate failure. I now understand there was a recall related to a faulty clutch pressure plate system and I am told the fix, a software modification that reduces power to the drive train when excessive heat is detected, was done prior to my purchasing the vehicle new in April 2021. The repairs done to my vehicle were done as a good will gesture according to the dealer but I have no confidence that the same thing will not happen again. Losing power in an intersection or on a major highway is a safety concern that I now have. In addition I have read of these Jeep vehicles with manual transmissions and faulty clutch / pressure plate systems actually catching fire. In my conversations with representatives from Jeep and AutoNation where I purchased the vehicle no one is willing to admit there is an ongoing problem and safety issue. This is why I am notifying the federal safety agency.