2021 Jeep Gladiator lights problems

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Lights · NY

The 3rd brake light in the tailgate malfunctioned This is required to pass New York State safety inspection A Jeep dealer replaced the part No warning on the dashboard of this light failing

Filed Feb 11, 2026 · Lights · IN

The center high mounted tail light (CHMTL) has failed. It makes it a little harder to see the vehicle is braking. The fuses are fine. It is a very common failure on Jeep Gladiators. Many times people don't know it has failed. There are no warning lamps or indicators to tell you it has failed.

Filed Oct 20, 2025 · Lights · CT

The third brake light, located on the tailgate of the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, has ceased to function due to a failure within the printed circuit board (PCB) inside the light housing. This issue has been confirmed by a third-party repair shop, which has noted that the PCB appears to be broken or damaged, rendering the brake light inoperable. Notably, the vehicle's instrument panel does not provide any notification or alert regarding the malfunction of the third brake light, which could lead to a significant safety risk. This failure impacts the vehicle's ability to properly signal braking and deceleration to other motorists, particularly from the rear. Given that the third brake light is a critical component for road safety, this issue poses a significant risk of rear-end collisions, especially under conditions where visibility is compromised. When the third brake light fails to illuminate this reduces the overall visibility of the vehicle’s braking signals, particularly in situations where the tailgate is obscured or when the vehicle is loaded. The lack of a functional third brake light increases the likelihood of a rear-end collision, putting both the driver and other road users at risk. The failure of the third brake light due to a malfunctioning PCB appears to be a common issue among 2021 Jeep Gladiators. The problem has been reported by multiple owners, and the root cause appears to be related to the design or manufacturing of the printed circuit board within the light assembly. The third brake light has been inspected by a third-party repair shop, which confirmed the malfunction of the PCB. However, despite the issue being identified, there has been no alert or warning displayed on the vehicle's instrument panel. There is no indication within the vehicle's diagnostic system that the third brake light is inoperative. Given the potential safety hazards and the recurring nature of this issue I respectfully request that the federal safety agency conduct an investigation.

Filed Mar 18, 2025 · Electrical, Lights · UT

The center brake light went out on my Jeep around 30000 miles. I don’t know when it went out, but it’s an obvious safety concern and common problem with Jeep Gladiator’s. My vehicle is outside warranty of warranty, but a search of a Jeep forum reveals the dealers covered some folks under warranty but not others. My dealer wants $330 to fix what is obviously a defective part of a key safety feature (LED lights are typically rated for 50,000 hours or 6 years of constant illumination).

Filed Feb 13, 2025 · Lights · CA

While driving at night during snow storm snow builds in the headlights blocking ability to see. LED HEADLIGHTS do not melt the snow and the headlights are recessed and snow builds up. Drove approximately 15 miles after cleaning lenses off

Filed Jan 22, 2025 · Lights · 42,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the contact became aware that the passenger’s side headlamp was not illuminating. After a visual inspection of the headlamp assembly, the contact observed that the wires leading into the headlamp assembly were melted. The contact stated that two weeks later the failure occurred with the driver’s side headlamp. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the headlamp assembly. The contact was informed that the headlamp assemblies need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 42,000.

Filed Jan 3, 2025 · Lights · AR

The third brake light on the Gladiator is a known issue. When it goes out, there is no warning on the dash or error code. The entire light has to be replaced (LED) vs just a bulb. This is a hazard as the third brake light can go out and no one will know until the vehicle is in an accident. Wasn't the third brake light mandatory equipment since 1985?

Filed Oct 4, 2024 · Lights · AZ

Vehicle only has 18000 mile, and is garaged. The third brake light has failed. In reviewing this on line, it appears to be a common problem. No reason for just a simple device to fail prematurely due a lack of durability testing that is available. This is a safety issue in a world of bad drivers out there.

Filed May 18, 2024 · Lights · MD

The LED center high-mounted stop lamp, more commonly called the 3rd brake light, failed. A silent code was available to be read by only the dealership service; there were no visible warnings on the vehicle nor any owner online dashboards. In fact, the owner online dashboard had green across the board and clearly stated no issues were detected. The real issue here, and the reason for this submission, is that this LED should not have failed at less than three years and reviewing online many people have been having the same exact issue. Without any visible warnings to the driver, I have no idea how long it has been out. An investigation into a potential recall should be initiated as this is starting to sound like a manufacture defect that is affecting a legally required center high-mounted stop lamp. Minimally, there should be a software update to inform the driver of this error code and not have it be silent such that only a dealership service center is able to read it.

Filed May 16, 2024 · Lights, Visibility · AL

The windshields chips very easily and then shatters The third break light quits working and the rear turn signal randomly quit working