Last updated: 2026-10-10

Jeep Gladiator vs Tesla Cybertruck: Reliability Compared

Reliability slightly favors the Tesla Cybertruck over the Jeep Gladiator, and both sit in mixed territory. The Gladiator carries 27 recalls across seven model years and heavy steering complaints, while the Cybertruck has had only three model years to collect problems.

How Do the Jeep Gladiator and Tesla Cybertruck Generations Compare?

A single design covers every Cybertruck you can buy. The first generation began with initial production in 2024, so model years 2024 through 2026 all share it. No redesign separates a good year from a bad one, and differences between years come from production changes. One panel complaint involves a truck built in August 2025, so later builds were not free of that issue. The short history also means complaint totals have had little time to grow, so a quiet record is not proof of durability.

Verdict

The Tesla Cybertruck is more reliable than the Jeep Gladiator, scoring 59/100 vs 55/100.

The slight edge goes to the Tesla Cybertruck, and it is only slight. Both trucks land in mixed territory. The Gladiator has more recalls, far more owner complaints, and steering and drivetrain faults that repeat across dealer visits. The Cybertruck has fewer reports, but it has only three model years on the road, so its record is still thin. Its problems are also serious, including a battery pack warranty denial and an Autopilot swerve.

Key Differences

  1. 1Tesla Cybertruck has 14 fewer total recalls
  2. 2Tesla Cybertruck scores 4 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Jeep Gladiator
—
2Tesla Cybertruck
Reliability ScoreTotal Recalls

Jeep Gladiator vs Tesla Cybertruck: Which Is More Reliable?

Jeep Gladiator vs Tesla Cybertruck at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricJeep GladiatorTesla Cybertruck
Reliability Score55/10059/100
Years Tracked73
Total Recalls2713
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume890118
Year Wins21

What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Gladiator and Tesla Cybertruck?

Steering and drivetrain trouble define the Jeep's profile. Owners report wandering steering, death wobble at highway speed, black instrument clusters, manual transmission and clutch failures, and engine misfires or failure. The Cybertruck's reports are more scattered: loose exterior panels, an air suspension stuck low, a driver door that closes on its own, a failing single wiper, and headlights packed with snow. Crash-linked reports appear in steering and electrical for both trucks. The Gladiator also has them in power train and suspension, while the Cybertruck has one in structure.

Jeep Gladiator vs Tesla Cybertruck common problem areas comparison
ComponentJeep GladiatorTesla Cybertruck
STEERING30812
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20712
POWER TRAIN121—
ENGINE41—
SUSPENSION37—
STRUCTURE730
VISIBILITY/WIPER1812
EXTERIOR LIGHTING198
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1113
SERVICE BRAKES15—
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM13—
FUEL SYSTEM12—
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL93
AIR BAGS5—
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE—5
LANE DEPARTURE—2
TIRES—2
BACK OVER PREVENTION—2

Raw complaint counts aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports. Counts vary with sales volume.

How Does Jeep Gladiator vs Tesla Cybertruck Reliability Compare by Year?

Jeep Gladiator vs Tesla Cybertruck year-by-year reliability scores
YearJeep GladiatorTesla CybertruckEdge
202664/1000R / 0C59/1001R / 1CJeep Gladiator
202564/1000R / 7C65/1002R / 13CTesla Cybertruck
202459/1001R / 11C52/10010R / 104CJeep Gladiator

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Jeep Gladiator scored 59/100 and the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck scored 52/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Jeep Gladiator vs the Tesla Cybertruck?

Pick the Gladiator if you want a midsize truck and can accept its known weak spots. The strongest years are 2025 and 2026, but they are recent and have had less time to collect complaints. Avoid 2021 and 2022, the weakest. Skip the manual transmission unless you have a clean service history, since clutch failures show up at roughly 16,000 to 35,000 miles. Test drive at highway speed and ask whether the steering wanders or the front end shakes after bumps. Pick the Cybertruck if you want a full-size electric truck and can live with a short track record. The 2025 model year is the safer target. The 2026 year shows up on both the strongest and weakest lists, so inspect it closely, and treat 2024 as a weak year. Check panels, trim, and wipers, and test the air suspension through its full range. Confirm the battery pack's warranty status in writing, because one owner was denied coverage and quoted $37k.

Jeep Gladiator vs Tesla Cybertruck: Common Questions

Is the Jeep Gladiator more reliable than the Tesla Cybertruck?
No, the Cybertruck has a slight edge, though both are rated mixed. The Gladiator has 890 owner complaints and 27 recalls over seven model years. The Cybertruck has 118 complaints and 13 recalls over three years. Its shorter time on the road limits how much weight that gap deserves.
Which has more recalls, the Gladiator or the Cybertruck?
The Gladiator has more, with 27 recalls across seven model years in federal recall records. The Cybertruck has 13 across three model years. Spread per model year, the two are close, so the Cybertruck is not recall-free. Check any specific truck's VIN for open recalls.
What is death wobble on the Jeep Gladiator?
Death wobble is a violent front-end shake. Owners say a bump or rough pavement at about 65 to 70 mph sets it off. Dealers often cannot find a cause, and one replaced stabilizer only delayed its return. Reports span roughly 24,000 to 80,000 miles, and some are crash-linked.
What goes wrong with the Tesla Cybertruck most often?
Structure leads, with 30 complaints about exterior panels coming loose. One owner reported the stainless-steel cant rail trim falling off while driving. Wipers, headlights packing with snow, an air suspension stuck low, and a self-closing driver door also appear in owner complaints.
Which Gladiator model years should I avoid?
Avoid 2021 and 2022, the weakest years in the data. The strongest are 2025 and 2026, but those are recent and have had less time to collect complaints. Across all years, check for steering play, instrument cluster blackouts, and clutch wear on manual trucks.

Decided between Jeep Gladiator and Tesla Cybertruck? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Jeep Gladiator and Tesla Cybertruck

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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