2021 Jeep Gladiator power train problems

“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 NHTSA 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.”

“Component Affected: Power Train / Automatic Transmission (850RE 8-Speed)Description of Safety Hazard:While driving my 2022 Jeep Gladiator (53,940 miles), the transmission experienced a severe internal component failure, specifically throwing error code P0733-00 (Gear 3 Shift Incorrect Ratio). This causes the transmission to violently slip, shift harshly, or completely fail to engage 3rd gear while accelerating.This creates an immediate and severe safety hazard on public roads. When the transmission fails to engage the gear, the vehicle experiences a sudden, uncommanded loss of motive power while in traffic. This leaves the vehicle coasting without acceleration, exposing myself and my passengers to an extremely high risk of being rear-ended by oncoming traffic.This issue is a known manufacturing defect involving the internal transmission "D" Clutch assembly, as documented in manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin TSB 21-009-25. The dealership refused to properly pull the historical codes or address the issue, leaving a dangerous, defect-plagued vehicle on the road. Stellantis / Jeep needs to issue a mandatory safety recall for this 850RE transmission D-clutch…”

“2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport S equipped with 6 speed manual transmission purchased from Landers Jeep in Little Rock Ar. Vehicle required the A-19 clutch recall. Recall was completed and I took ownership 6/17/2025. I returned the vehicle within the first week of ownership due to the "service transmission" light periodically coming on. Dealership reset the clutch counter and attempted to give me advice on how to drive a vehicle I was more than capable driving before purchasing. After 13 months and 13k miles I have now gotten a "clutch hot fully release clutch pedal and reduce clutch use" warning twice while traveling down the interstate at 65mph. When this light comes on the vehicle enters "limp mode" and dramatically loses power, not to mention the original recall warnings of fire and fragments. Now clutch is slipping and vehicle power is reduced. Today at a scheduled service appointment to readdress this issue, I was informed by the service manager at Landers that they only fix recalls once and will not readdress the issue.”

“Engine oil light came on. Inspected at Tom Obrien Jeep for low oil pressure. Technician found that one of the oil sprayers was not bolted onto block, screw was there and tight, sprayer was in oil pan. It was incorrectly assembled. Jeep would not warranty due to lack of oil change receipts which is irrelevant.”

“Engine light came on, vehicle went into limp mode. Transmission would not shift any higher than 3rd gear and kept slipping while on interstate! Was almost hit by several 18 wheelers! Jeep dealership said our vin is not part of the service bulletin but they did get the P0733 code! Make it make sense! I guess we’re supposed to get run over by 18 wheelers before they’ll fix it!”

“There was a recall for the clutch. I took it to the dealer (Autonation Jeep in Santa Clarita, CA). Ever since then, there is an intermittent, non-reproducible grinding and clicking (sound and feeling through the pedal) in the clutch (like a loose piece/nut is bouncing around and clanking and grinding against the clutch). The clutch pedal is also more spongy, catching only about halfway down, and sometimes feeling like at full depression it is not entirely engaged. I have taken it back to the dealer twice, and both times they will not work on it because they cannot hear or reproduce the feel/sound. The sponginess of the clutch is subjective, they say, and their opinion is that it feels fine.”