Used car safety, rank #45 of 181
Jeep Gladiator 4WD Safety Rating (2020)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator 4WD, a small pickup, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 15 per million registered vehicle years against a small pickups average of 28.0, which is 46% below the class average. That places it #45 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 71.8/100.
What the Jeep Gladiator death rate means
At 15 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Jeep Gladiator 4WD beats the small pickups average of 28.0 by 46%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 37, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 93 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Jeep Gladiator. It is higher than the Jeep Gladiator's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used pickups
The safest small pickups in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Jeep Gladiator 4WD highlighted. It ranks 4 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4WD | 2017-20 | 5 (0 to 14) | 84.6 | 4.0/5 | $22,000 to $35,000 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab long bed 4WD | 2018-20 | 6 (0 to 18) | 82.7 | 3.5/5 | $26,000 to $38,000 |
| Ford Ranger Crew Cab 4WD | 2019-20 | 14 (0 to 31) | 72.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Gladiator 4WD (this page) | 2020 | 15 (0 to 37) | 71.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 4WD | 2017-20 | 21 (10 to 32) | 67.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab short bed 4WD | 2018-20 | 24 (13 to 35) | 62.8 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab short bed 2WD | 2018-20 | 27 (8 to 46) | 58.9 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab 2WD | 2017-20 | 34 (8 to 59) | 50.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab 2WD | 2017-20 | 36 (10 to 62) | 48.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small pickups: 28.0 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Jeep Gladiator
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Jeep Gladiator we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jeep Gladiator | No award | 78.3 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 71.8 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Jeep Gladiator 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
7 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering electrical system, power train, seat belts, back over prevention.
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Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: An instrument panel that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge.
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Power train: clutch assembly
Risk: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clutch assembly and update the software, free of charge.
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Power train: clutch assembly
Risk: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will add software to reduce engine torque capability when clutch assembly temperatures rise to a level that may damage the inner pressure plate, free of charge." FCA has ordered a stop sale for the affected vehicles as of February 25, 2021.
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Seat belts
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat belt retractors, free of charge. The recall began November 12, 2020.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020.
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Power train: clutch assembly
Risk: The overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reroute a wire harness and inspect the clutch system, and replace components as needed. The recall began April 30, 2020.
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Power train: driveline, driveshaft
Risk: A joint without grease may overheat and seize, possibly causing the driveshaft to fracture, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power. If the driveshaft completely separates from the vehicle it may become a road hazard. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began October 10, 2019.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Jeep Gladiator 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Jeep Gladiator 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 15 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator 4WD, 46% below the class average (28.0 for small pickups). That earns a used-car safety score of 71.8 out of 100 and rank #45 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Jeep Gladiator 4WD driver death rate?
15 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 37. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Jeep Gladiator died at a rate of 93 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020 models.
How does the Jeep Gladiator 4WD compare with other small pickups?
The small pickups class averages 28.0 driver deaths per million; the Jeep Gladiator 4WD sits at 15. Among the 9 small pickups compared above it ranks 4 by safety score; the top of that group is the GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4WD with a death rate of 5.