With its boxy body design and available diesel engine, the mid-size Jeep Gladiator is an instant classic truck. Jeep first offered the Gladiator “JT” generation in 2019, so there’s not a ton of data on how reliable it will be when it hits high mileage. But some early memories and extensive data on the components the Gladiator and Wrangler share give us a good preview of the high mileage Jeep trucks can handle.
Let’s talk about the Jeep Gladiator engine
At the heart of the base model Jeep Gladiator is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Chrysler Corporation launched this engine family in 2010, and it’s the entry-level engine for vehicles ranging from the Dodge Challenger to the Ram 1500. In the Jeep Gladiator, this popular engine makes 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of even
According to 1A Auto, some Pentastar V6 engines are prone to leaking oil through the valve cover gaskets, namely 2007 to 2018 Wranglers. Because the engine’s valve train oil is not high pressurized, a leaking valve cover gasket often manifests itself as a small amount of oil coming out of the top of the engine. But since this oil can build up in the engine or exhaust and eventually catch fire, it’s a good idea to replace the valve cover gasket as soon as possible.
A second common Pentastar V6 problem is a malfunctioning throttle position sensor that causes the engine to run poorly or not at all. The Repair Pal website has received complaints of this problem on 1990-2007 Wranglers as well as 2012, 2013 and 2015 models. It is most common after 100,000 miles. There are no reports of the problem yet on current-generation Wranglers. We’ll have to wait and see if it affects high-mileage Gladiators as well. Fortunately, the throttle position sensor is a relatively simple part to swap out after removing the throttle body.
Jeep Gladiators already have an automatic transmission recall
My colleague Thom Taylor reported that Jeep has recalled the 2022 Gladiator for transmission problems. In the affected Jeeps, the leaking transmission fluid is catching fire, filling the cabin with smoke. As if that wasn’t serious enough, Jeep is working to determine if this issue is related to a sudden loss of pressure or even the transmission’s drive shaft falling out. The recall procedure includes replacing the entire 8HP75 transmission.
This recall is strange because Chrysler Corporation has used this eight-speed transmission for years. It was designed by ZF in Germany, but is built under license here in the US. But there may be an upside. Once Jeep recalls a specific Gladiator and swaps out its transmission, the result can be a truck with a very reliable transmission that lasts well in high-mileage territory.
Will Jeep Gladiators have other high mileage issues?
Since the Jeep Gladiator is relatively new to the game, there’s no telling if it might present any other surprising, high-mileage issues. But it shares many components with the Wrangler. While the Wrangler has some drawbacks (poor mpg because it has the aerodynamic properties of a brick, for example), it tends to stand the test of time. In fact, certain Wranglers have better resale value than the Tacoma. So the value of a high mileage Gladiator is promising.
There’s one other thing we know: The Gladiator is a midsize truck. It’s a rugged mid-size truck with an improved cooling system that gives it a maximum towing capacity of 7,000 pounds. But it’s still a midsize truck. This means that relatively few used Gladiators will have endured heavy towing and hauling or ever been fitted with a snowplow. Those familiar with high-mileage trucks know that this is one of the biggest pitfalls when buying a full-size truck.
Then find out if a 5th Gen Ram 1500 truck can last 200,000 miles or learn more about the Gladiator’s reliability in the video below:
