If you hear unusual noises coming from the rear axle, don’t drive your Gladiator.
We reported a few weeks back that the Jeep Gladiator lease prices were very low. The offer has been extended to, and you may not be able order a new Gladiator. A recall of the truck’s driveshaft has been issued until a fix can be found.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reported the issue to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), last week. They informed the agency that 3,427 Gladiators would be recalled due to a fractured rear axle driveshaft. These vehicles were manufactured between December 15, 2018, and June 25, 2019. The fix will affect approximately five percent of the affected vehicles, according to FCA.
“Certain 2020 MY Jeep Gladiator cars built between December 15, 2018 and June 25, 2019 may have a rear driveshaft which was assembled without grease in its monoblock joint portion. To determine the suspect population, we reviewed the production records of the supplier from the beginning production of this driveshaft in order to identify driveshafts that may have been assembled without grease,” says the recall document.
According to the document owners may experience noise or vibration that precedes the actual fracturing. FCA discovered the issue in June after receiving four defective driveshafts as warranty repairs. They were sent to suppliers for analysis. The company will replace all defective driveshafts without charge during the recall. On October 18, the company will notify Gladiators owners.