2020 Jeep Gladiator Power Train

REAR LOCKER ENGAGED WHILE TOWING A WINNEBAGO HIKE 170S TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE INTERSTATE IN 2H AT 70 MPH. THE REAR LOCKER SHOULD NOT ENGAGE UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS IN 4LOW. THE REAR LOCKER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE RESULTING IN A ROAD-SIDE ASSISTANCE CALL AND TOW TO DEALERSHIP.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND NOTICED MY REAR LOCKER LIGHT ON MY DASH AND SWITCH. THIS SHOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE, I DO NOT HAVE A TAZER AND "FAT FINGERING" THE SWITCH IN 2H WOULD ONLY CAUSE A MESSAGE SAYING YOU MUST BE IN 4L. ANYWAY, I INSTINCTIVELY HIT THE ALL OFF BUTTON AND THE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. I HEADED FOR THE NEAREST OFF RAMP. WHEN I SLOWED DOWN, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE LOCKER, AND RECEIVED A MESSAGE ABOUT NEEDING TO BE IN 4L SEEMS LIKE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE IF ONE OR BOTH OF THE LOCKERS ENGAGE ON THEIR OWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

AROUND LATE FEBRUARY THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AREA. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN DENISON IOWA 3/4/20 AND THEY TOLD US THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED FRO 4-6 WEEKS. THEY TOLD US IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT AFTER THEY TOOK IT APART IT STARTED DOING IT MORE FREQUENTLY AND WHEN IT MADE THE NOISE IT PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND SEEMED UNSAFE. WE CONTACTED FCA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR PARTS TEAM LOCATE THE REQUIRED PARTS. IT HAS NOW BEEN 41 DAYS AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, AND THEY ARE TELLING US THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE THE PARTS. THEY APPROVED RENTAL CAR BUT DUE TO THE EXPENSE WE RETURNED IT AFTER 1 MONTH. WE CAN ONLY GET THE MONEY WE HAVE PAID FOR THE RENTAL CAR AFTER OUR VEHICLE IS REPAIRED WHICH NOW SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER MONTH. WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY OUR MONTHLY CAR PAYMENT PLUS THE RENTAL CHARGES. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2020 GLADIATOR NOT EVEN A MONTH OLD, 6 SPEED MANUAL. VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING PROFUSELY AND WAS EXPECTING A FIRE, LUCKILY ONLY BURNT CLUTCH SMELL. CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT AND ITS BRAND NEW. THE TRUCK CAN EITHER START ON FIRE OR EXPLODE! THIS IS BASICALLY A ROLLING TICKING TIME BOMB. IT'S IN AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW WITH STILL NO REMEDY. FCA SHOULD BUY THIS BACK FROM ME. W12 RECALL PRESSURE PLATE IS ONLY A GUESS AND FRANKLY ITS [XXX]. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A MORE ROBUST AND RUGGED SOLUTION THAT MATCHES JEEPS BRAND. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

LOSE DRIVE POWER

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 WITH APPROX SPEED OF 65. CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES AND LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER JEEP. SMOKE ENTERED CAB. WHAT I THINK IS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEFT TRAIL ON INTERSTATE. I HAVE PHOTO.*DT*JB*DT *JS