Jeep Gladiator Safety Rating: Does It Have Your Back?

Sandy B
Dec 19, 2020

When buying a Jeep, you may be thinking about things like off-road fun and fuel economy. That makes sense, but the Jeep Gladiators safety rating is a big part of the process for others. You should be able to know that yourself – and your loved ones – are safe.

How safe is the Jeep Gladiator?

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator received mixed safety ratings from the NHTSA and an overall “Good” score from IIHS. At Vehicle History, owners gave this vehicle a 4.54 in star ratings, with a few notable safety concerns mentioned.

Gray 2020 Jeep Gladiator In Nature

When it comes to safety, the Jeep Gladiator has a few areas of concern. At the same time, this is the type of vehicle that drives rough. What should you know? Here is a look at the crash ratings and specs that may help make this a good buy.

2020 Jeep Gladiator Crash Test Rating

Crash test ratings provide us with information about what happens to the car if it collides with other objects. These tests, conducted by third-party organizations, can be an important part of determining the overall safety of the Gladiator. Here’s how it did.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Test Results

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator received the highest score of “Good” in many crashworthiness areas, including side, roof, and head protection. It did not do well in small overlap front driver side testing. In this test, it received a “Marginal” rating from the IIHS.

In the crash avoidance and mitigation testing, IIHS gave the headlights a “Poor” rating across the board. It gave it a “Superior” rating in front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle accidents and a “Good” rating in the ease of use of the LATCH child seat anchor system.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Test Results

NHTSA did not provide an overall safety rating for the 2020 Gladiator as of November of 2020. However, it did some testing with this vehicle. In Overall Front crash testing, the vehicle received only 4 out of 5 stars. This was due to less-than-desirable results on the front driver side testing.

NHTSA did not perform side testing for this vehicle at this time. That includes no side barrier or pole testing. It did provide rollover testing. It gave this vehicle only 3 stars in Rollover Star Ratings. That’s noted by the very high 26.7% risk of a rollover in this vehicle.

2020 Jeep Gladiator Available Safety Tech

Many companies are adding safety features and, more importantly, technology to help mitigate risks. These components work using cameras, radar, and sensors to help minimize the risk of an accident occurring.

For Jeep, there are a variety of features available – as many as 80 standard and available options. This includes both active and passive safety features that could minimize risk. Here are some of them on the 2020 Jeep Gladiator and other models.

Blind Spot Monitoring

Car Bling Spot Monitoring System Warning Light

This is an available feature on many trim models. It uses radar-based sensors to determine if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot and then alerts you of this. That way, you do not switch lanes with a vehicle in that dangerous, hard-to-see area.

Adaptive Cruise Control with Full Stop

If you use cruise control, you’ll appreciate this feature as it adds a lot to the Jeep Gladiators safety rating. It automatically adjusts your driving speed in an effort to maintain a specific predetermined distance between you and the car in front of you. If necessary, this feature can stop the car without any driver input if there’s a risk.

Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking

Car Detecting Pedestrians While Driving

This key feature alerts you when there it senses a significant risk for a frontal impact. It uses sound and flashing to do this. If you don’t respond to the risk, the vehicle can automatically engage the brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop in the hopes of avoiding the collision.

Rear Cross Path Detection

Another available feature monitors for objects or other cars moving behind your vehicle at a perpendicular angle. It activates when you put the car into reverse. It will chime and display an icon when there’s someone passing behind you, limiting the risk of a collision.

ParkSense Rear Park Assist

Who likes to parallel park? The risk of an accident in these types of scenarios is high. That’s why this feature can prove to be very effective. It helps by providing you with audio and visual alerts to help you back up with ease and reduce the risk of an accident.

Trailer Sway Control System

For those using their Gladiator to pull a trailer, this feature can be very handy. It helps to detect swaying of the trailer and applies brake pressure when it occurs. It can do this to just individual wheels, minimizing the risk of the vehicle tipping over while you’re driving it.

Here’s What Other People Also Ask

Here are some answers to common questions asked about the Jeep Gladiator. Before you buy, make sure all of your questions are answered.

Is the Jeep Gladiator worth the cost?

It can be for those who are looking for an off-road truck to handle both adventure and hard work. It has 7650 pounds of towing capacity behind it and a strong engine. It also has a longer wheelbase. It’s most certainly able to handle the rough terrain.

Does the Jeep Gladiator have a lot of problems?

Overall, no. Look at the specific model year and trim to determine what types of recalls are present. Most often, steering problems are reported with the Gladiator. Some people have noted concerns with the vehicle needing more frequent maintenance as well.

How long will a Jeep Gladiator last?

Taken care of properly, the Jeep Gladiator is likely to last 100,000 miles or more. Some owners report maintaining their Gladiators without any significant problems for over 150,000 miles.

avatar Sandy B
Sandy B. has written for The New York Times, Cleveland Magazine, and many online publications. She long-ago ditched the minivan life for the off-roading Ford Explorer (and hoping to restore a Shelby Mustang!)
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