Things the Dealership Won't Tell You Before You Buy the Jeep Gladiator

[@Worldexplorer2390]

10:25 "put a little more umph into it" that's like your signature quote lol makes me laugh every time. Which other video of yours has it lol

[@1972mercurycougar]

Shift on the fly!!!! Don't be stopped.

[@debbiecarpenter4536]

I'm glad I've came across your channels about the jeep Gladiator. Because i have experience about the screen being black but everything was working and ive also experience the break being really hard i just tried it again it worked. I always turn that push start on off😊

[@billredding2000]

1. Yes, that difficult secondary battery access (which WILL have to be accessed at SOME point, even if a few years when it need replacement as no battery lasts forever) is a terrible design point. What were Jeep designers thinking? 2. No "black screen" or "check engine" light issue yet, but I'm just short of 2500 miles on my Gladiator (and only have owned it since mid-April 2021). 3. As for putting it in/out-of 4WD, I practice occasionally...but have not needed to USE it yet. Definitely, the linkage is "stiff" to say the least. And I agree, the process SHOULD be easier, and no need to do a "2-3 MPH rolling shift" to get it into 4L, either. 4. I had the "hard brake pedal issue" ALWAYS with my previous 2016 Honda Pilot, especially during "cold" weather (what "cold" would be in West Texas, ELP). It was a COMMON Honda Pilot problem that many owners posted about on forums, and I'm sure Honda KNEW about. Regardless, I never got it addressed at the Honda dealer (or even asked them about it) as it was just something I lived with. NOW, with my new Daily-Driver Jeep Gladiator, however, there's no hard-pedal issue, even here in Colorado WAY colder weather than in West TX. >> But what I KNOW the Jeep dealer "didn't tell me about" was my original back window/glass was (apparently!) busted-out and the dealer had put a new one in. I wouldn't have known about this at all (salesman didn't say, either, IF he knew!) except for finding some broken glass in nooks & crannies while I was accessing places under the rear seat as whoever cleaned-up most of the broken glass missed some. Online research showed that legally, dealers aren't REQUIRED to tell me ANY damage had taken place/remedied if it's not above a certain $$ limit) but WOULD have been required to tell me if I had ASKED -- didn't think to ask if my BRAND NEW Gladiator had anything damaged and dealer-fixed/replaced. So NEXT time, now that I KNOW about this "fine point" -- even when buying a new vehicle and you wouldn't suspect anything "amiss" (if you will) -- I'll specifically ASK them about any "transport/lot damage" that happened as they sure won't VOLUNTEER such info. ;-) They'll THEN have to tell me (well, by law anyway). -- BR

[@jeeprubicon6650]

Great information as always! I just got my Gladiator. New to me but I love it. Having owned a Jeep before I expect some challenges but they are nice vehicles.

[@JT_life2022]

26,000 miles and no issue with the 7” screen other than it’s small. As for shifting to 4H or 4L, it’s just like every true 4wd truck I have owned. In fact my 10yr old daughter has no issue pulling the lever into 4H either. 4L could possibly be trickier for someone who has not read the manual and has no experiance with 4wd systems. I must admit that I have never heard anyone else in the Jeep community complain about this either. Well, unless all they have ever owned is a push button or twist knob 4wd system. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@robmotiveplus]

I have had many comments from others who have experienced the same. 🤔

[@okpanhandlr]

He wouldn't like shifting an old Bronco into 4wd. Lol

[@JT_life2022]

@@robmotiveplus they are probably used to fancy push buttons and not manually shifting a direct linkage lever. It’s not a design flaw. It eliminates an electronic fail point. For 4L put the Transmission in Neutral while slowly rolling under 5mph and pull down/to the right/and down again. Gives you satisfaction just like a stick shift because you can feel the mechanical meshing of gears as opposed to a computer doing it for you at the push or twist of a plastic button on the dash.

[@JRWJ2K]

Good points. I hope Jeep is watching you. The other thing Jeep dealerships won't tell you is if you buy the Diesel version, the DEF tank (urea) comes filled with only 2 gallons out of the 5.1 capacity which means will last between 3K to 5K miles depending your driving habits. Ask me how I know. I almost get stranded in my barely new Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel somewhere between Texline, TX and Dalhart, TX when the DEF indicator popped up saying I can only drive 300 more miles before the computer will shutdown the engine unless I refill the DEF tank!

[@robmotiveplus]

Oh great!!! A reason I’m not a diesel fan😬

[@FredSankuer]

Thanks for the helpful info. I was wondering why it was so difficult to shift into 4 wd.

[@johnwarren5559]

I had the same issue with the hard brake, I brought it to the dealer and they could not get it to do it again as it does not happen often, but they said I was the first to bring this to their attention, hard to believe but that is what they said. I have not had the issue in the last few months.

[@robmotiveplus]

Hopefully its gone😬

[@elidlc6405]

Well Rob my 2020 jeep gladiator has been in the shop for going on 4 months !! It all started with the drivers rod going out , drove 3 hours and the passenger rod went out !!! So I took it back to the jeep shop , they told me that after I left 4 other jeeps came in with the same problem after they started pulling everything apart I get a call saying that my head cylinder was bad too ! And that's where we are at . With only 43 thousand miles

[@robmotiveplus]

Wow! Now that’s a bummer😡

[@elidlc6405]

@@robmotiveplus Replaced cylinder head. Having to replace cam phasers now too. I wish jeep would let us just put a new motor in it but they want us to repair . Text I got yesterday from the dealership tech . Smh

[@padrdh1]

I’ve noticed the same thing on my Gladiator. It just does it every once and awhile. Doesn’t seem to have rhyme or reason.

[@robmotiveplus]

Quirky stuff for sure🤔

[@MikeSmith-ey7ku]

Yeah, I’ve had no backup camera twice and had the radio go back to the startup screen once…. In 6k miles. Don’t think black screen is updating as I can see a message on screen when it’s updating while driving with the radio on

[@robmotiveplus]

Very strange🤔

[@maryhaywood4785]

I just got a 2022 Mojave Gladiator for Mother's Day and im hoping that I won't have these problems. Thank you for your information sir

[@robmotiveplus]

Great birthday present 👍👍

[@edwinsantini1042]

Ri Rob, never had any issues with my White Sport S JT with Max Tow. Also, mines is very easy to put in 4x4 High mode - even while I'm driving. Used it quite a bit here in Chicago this past winter with all the snow storms. 4 low is a little more involved though - it seems to work best in neutral for me - rarely need low gear here though. Thanks for the great vids!! God bless you Brother

[@robmotiveplus]

Good to know👍👍

[@IndyDog-ns8ws]

Been thinking of getting a Gladiator. I have a 2019 Colorado Z71 with 23K miles. It's never been back to the dealer except for oil changes/tire rotations. Only complaints are weak non-LED headlamps and that chin air dam. No start-stop on vehicle and has old-school key start. I paid 38K out-the-door and has every option except Nav. Maybe, next spring.

[@renedelavina5869]

Excellent video. Very informative

[@tughoward]

I had the issue with the truck not starting due to the braking pressure, when I first got it. I don’t have the black-screen issue on my monitor but I do occasionally get a blue screen. My backup monitor will occasionally lockup and I have to wait a few minutes for it to reset.

[@robmotiveplus]

Wow! That’s no good! Quirky little things drive me nuts😡

[@imthinkinps3]

the dealer I tested one said go at least 3 miles per hr it helps make easier to shift in to 4 wheel high. If u don't told me yes very hard pull!

[@gtemplesrt8]

My 21 Wrangler Unlimited Willys Sport is hard to shift into 4wd as well. Well not 4 high but 4 low is hard to do. I still haven't gotten it to move. I've had it for a few months now and took it to the D.A.R.E Jeep event and kept it in 4 high and it was fine.

[@robmotiveplus]

Definitely takes some strong effort 😬

[@jeffjohnson2184]

I have a 2021 Jeep wrangler and I have had the same problem with the auto start stop, I took it back to the dealership and they told me the problem was with a power transfer relay, which they replaced .I have not had another problem with the auto start stop since.

[@robmotiveplus]

Good to hear! Hopefully that is a permanent fix👍

[@pernell4351]

I here people with the manual transmission jeep don’t have problem with auto stop and battery issues.

[@robmotiveplus]

I’ve heard that too👍

[@lucianlupinski126]

I have a manual. Stop start hasn't worked for a couple of years, no other issue. It claims battery is charging. Since I dislike stop/start and out of warranty have let it go.@@robmotiveplus

[@markdvorak3661]

Getting it into 4wheel can be challenging. Those other issues may be real and I have sensed having a few quirks with my Glad. However, with most of the quirks it turns out, me being retired, I have to get much time on my hands to think something is going wrong. Recently I heard a guy say these new Jeeps will last 250k. Don’t worry just drive it.

[@darksideemt]

My wife has a new JLU (7k miles on it already in only a couple of months....jeesh) she has had 2 issues. 1. Backup camera issues that someone else has mentioned and was told it an issue across all Chrysler products and an update is coming to fix it. 2. She just had something happen the other day. She was driving at highway speeds, hit a set of railroad tracks (on a TX road with high speed limit not an interstate) and due to the roughness she all of a sudden had several warning lights come on. Service ABS, service 4wd and something else. After a quick google search, apparently the fuses are not put in properly in production and over half of her fuses were very lose in the fuse box. So everyone needs to check the fuses and make sure they are seated fully. This cleared all the warnings after it was turned off for about 20 min.

[@robmotiveplus]

These days it’s always a good idea to check fuses on a new vehicle. A couple of mine seemed a bit loose😬

[@317jmdam]

I’ve seen a ton of the auxiliary batteries go bad on a bunch of models. With fairly low mileage too.

[@robmotiveplus]

Seems to be a big problem 😬

[@TopHatGent]

Gotta love Jeep engineering, good points, haven't used my auto on/off since i put the eliminator in. Yes the radio does that and no it's not updating lol, it's happened twice with mine since the software update at the dealer for the unfixable base radio, which still sucks. My 4x4 engages pretty easy now. Once it wears in you just pull back the lever easily, i mean i use it OFTEN in the winter with snow storms. For the breaks maybe you pushed the brake after it was off? if i push the break when the truck is off and i go to start it again you do have to push a little harder to start.

[@robmotiveplus]

Good info👍

[@markr6754]

I experienced the hard brake pedal, no start issue within days of getting my Gladiator. After the 3rd or 4th event I started to associate it with the high hard brake pedal, and took my concern to the web forum. In my particular case the issue turns up when I haven’t driven her for a couple of days, such as first start after the weekend. The forum suggested a loss of brake vacuum, and with that I tried pressing the brake a bit harder whenever the pedal was high and hard. Haven’t had a recurrence…perhaps I’ll have the dealer check into it on my first oil change.

[@robmotiveplus]

Thanks for the info 👍

[@rprestage]

Never had any of these problems

[@fallout4live918]

When you go into 4WD are you driving in a straight line before, roughly a quarter mile, or are you turning into the launch point and then shifting to 4WD? There may be driveline binding if your approach is in a curve then causing the lever to be more firm.

[@onebridge7231]

I bought my 2020 JT Rubicon in November 2019. The only down side is the 4 Low is stiff, but 4 High is not bad. Also, mine vibrates at idle and stopped at lights. The water bottles show the water vibrating in the truck and you can feel it in the seat and on the armrest. Bad transmission mounts or unbalanced drive shaft, but dealership keeps saying it is normal and nothings wrong. Annoying as hell.

[@robmotiveplus]

I had a Honda CR-V like that. You could see the passenger seat vibrating! Very annoying 😡

[@stuartwilliams2189]

Great videos like always. I also have the black screen on my back up camera. I was told a update for the fix is coming in a couple months. Have you heard anything from anyone that has the gorilla glass on there gladiator? My wife just had it installed on her 2021 Wrangler. Here in AZ we have a huge windshield crack issue.

[@robmotiveplus]

That glass is supposed to be more resilient, but I’ve also heard just as easy to crack 🤔

[@UltimatePowa]

Another thing they dont tell you is that you're not supposed to go up inclines with something tow in automatic mode.

[@sacredshogun6325]

Yup, that auxiliary battery is messing up on line. Dealership reset the module and problem persist, they have to replace the battery.

[@robmotiveplus]

Yup! It’s a horrible system 😡

[@URZUHOME]

Brake thing happen to as well.

[@kathy0698]

Jeep...shady? Do tell! Very good info for anyone with a Jeep, or buying one. Why in the world would they make that 2nd battery so inaccessible? SMH! Great video Rob!

[@robmotiveplus]

That battery is in a horrible location! Very difficult to change😬

[@johnkrasnavage366]

let go after 2 months of ownership. Shop said they’ve had several issues concerning the hose clamps.

[@TheGoodkilo]

I had a Mercedes-Benz r500 the battery was under the passenger seat. Pretty sure that battery was like $700 too I can't remember

[@garyjohnson9914]

Hey Rob,yeah I have a 2021 Mohave and at about 2000miles had a issue with the backup camera screen going black or blank a few times over a 2 day period and the radio once also. The dealership service department stated it all was a computer update? We'll at 5000 miles now has yet to happen again,so maybe Those systems have to update...how often I don't know? As for the issue with depressing the brake and pushing the start ,it happened to me also when I first got it and found out after talking to the dealership, while depressing the break you have to always give a firm push on the start button , I guess I was just barely pushing it sometimes and the break Would stiffen up,anyway hasn't happened since. On the auto stop ,there are 2 plugs under the hood blue and black color I think ,near the washer reservoir and was talking with a jeep parts mechanic and he said you can just unplug the right one facing you looking in the hood and it disengages the auto stop if thats what you want? But does cause the autostop warning light to come on,he said it won't hurt anything,so far no problems, just have to ignore that little auto stop light on your dashboard.

[@robmotiveplus]

I’ve tried the unplugging…the light drove me nuts 😬

[@Redrosen39]

I had that hard brake not starting thing just happened 4 days ago. It had been raining very heavy the night before. I bought it used and I've had it only 1 month so not sure if it will be a regular thing.

[@robmotiveplus]

Strange…mine occurred after a night of rain🤔

[@AngelTorres-ot4mr]

I got a question any jeep rims fit any jeep please and thanks

[@robmotiveplus]

The YJ and TJ Wrangler are cross-compatible in terms of wheels, and so are the JK and JL Wrangler.

[@AngelTorres-ot4mr]

Thank you so much for your help

[@fabricelion4648]

You pressed that Break by pumping that's why it didn't move the is pressure you put into

[@LarryRichelli]

I have a new 2021 JL with a manual trans. I have the button for start/stop but no matter if I have it pressed or not, start stop is not working at all. I come to a stop light , push the clutch in and the rpm's stay at about 600 rpm. I am wondering if the manual does not have the start/stop system even though it has a button for it.

[@robmotiveplus]

There are a few variables affecting activation of the system. If you have a functional button, you have the feature.

[@maxsparks5183]

What is the “stop/start” feature?

[@robmotiveplus]

Auto stop: automatically stops and starts the vehicle's engine under certain conditions.

[@ryannewazada2102]

Gr8t information Rob.

[@robmotiveplus]

Thanks and thanks for watching 👍

[@judystovall1325]

Appreciate your videos Rob. Very informative.

[@robmotiveplus]

Thanks Judy and thanks for watching 👍

[@carolynharmon7074]

All great information. I've had that brake quirkie thing happen to me before probably at least 3 times over the course of 3 years. Do you know if it's ok to give a jump start or get a jump start these days since all the cars have complicated computers in them?

[@robmotiveplus]

Personally, I never give jump starts. But, if you’re in a bind, I’d do it👍

[@johnkrasnavage366]

That Jeep uses super cheap clamps on the hoses but they refuse to recall them.

[@robmotiveplus]

Have you had trouble?

[@dawnpennington6556]

Rob, if that battery is removed will it permanently disable the stop/start? Or not worth it?

[@robmotiveplus]

Not sure🤔. It may be involved with other systems. Additionally, you’d have a light permanently displayed in the gauge cluster.

[@reviewguide6601]

Where did you get the cellphone holder on the dash. Do you have a link?

[@robmotiveplus]

Have a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHPMZoN_rNp3mqM

[@toddwilkerson5997]

My brakes seem squishy and I don't know if they are working properly so I have to stop early. I hate that.

[@robmotiveplus]

I’d get it checked🤔

[@asaffarfar1529]

See I would consider jeep if it had a V6 Toyota engine and transmission and drive lines. That’s just me.

[@sandilemajiya7831]

I see you love Jeep cars a lot. Are there any plans for you to buy a Jeep wrangler 4xe? If there are no plans to buy one, is it possible for you to review it for us?

[@robmotiveplus]

No plans to buy one myself. Haven’t seen one here yet 🤔

[@alexitoquinones4432]

The black screen happens to the new Mitsubishi outlander until u get the recall corrected.

[@robmotiveplus]

Bummer😡

[@cradb1248]

Rob, When trading in your white gladiator for the new Gheko green color ??

[@robmotiveplus]

Nope, I will not be trading mine in.

[@randallupton3622]

Me either but that Geco Green is distinctive

[@chrisanderson4044]

That stupid auto stop system put me dead by the side of the road the other day. Had to tow it.

[@robmotiveplus]

Oh man!! What a drag.....😬

[@MrCora1212]

Have these issues been fixed for the 2022 models

[@robmotiveplus]

Good question 🤔

[@camronbay1]

Why would they put a start to stop in a Jeep makes no sense.

[@robmotiveplus]

I agree👍👍

[@MarkLeitch-ls5gv]

The brake pedal thing happened to me also. We went on a short trip and it sat for 5 days without moving. The pedal was very stiff and I had to put some force into it to get it started.

[@robmotiveplus]

Is it ok now?

[@gemfaceter]

Welcome to the computer age , same problem with all cars.

[@stevew6910]

yea company's will kick the can down the road for sure

[@asaffarfar1529]

Your expecting way to much honesty from car sales department.

[@asaffarfar1529]

Your correct.

[@didyouknow4245]

Whats the Red Car?

[@robmotiveplus]

I think it’s an Altima🤔

[@brunopaynebarbosa]

Real jeepers knows how to put in 4WD and don't use auto-stop system

[@sellickusa]

Hard to shift into 4wd???? Maybe time to hit the gym or you need to get on those 12oz curls

[@robmotiveplus]

Lol! A little of both i suspect!!😁

[@sellickusa]

@@robmotiveplus Glad you have a good sense of humor! Keep it up

[@Chaos_Prerogative]

It sounds like you need to lift weights

[@robmotiveplus]

Lol! That’s for sure!! It’s been a minute💪

[@kenwagner6366]

Best thing for you to do is sell the jt and stop whining.

[@robmotiveplus]

$50k and it’s yours. Cash only if course🙃

[@werahikoclay5586]

Steer clear of this piece of junk

[@robmotiveplus]

Based on??

[@hangdogdaddy38]

The 2020 and 2021 Jeep Gladiators all models are developing leaking axle seals on primarily the rear drivers side. Jeep knows this and are replacing the axles under warrenty. There is a good chance that a recall is coming soon.

[@robmotiveplus]

No problems here…yet🤔

[@UltimatePowa]

​@@robmotiveplusi got a 2021 Jeep so if that happens Im alright with it as Ill just get a new Jeep