Stellantis issued a recall covering early Gladiators (2020–2022) for an intermediate steering shaft that could fracture under stress, resulting in loss of steering control. This is a safety recall — verify your VIN and confirm the repair has been completed before driving the truck.
The intermediate steering shaft connects the steering column to the steering gear. On affected vehicles, the shaft assembly could fracture at the coupler under load conditions — particularly aggressive steering inputs, off-road use, or high steering loads. A fractured intermediate shaft means partial or complete loss of steering control.
Stellantis issued Recall 21V-368 (and a related service bulletin) covering 2020–2021 Gladiators manufactured within a specific production window. The fix is dealer-performed replacement of the intermediate steering shaft with an updated part.
Not all Gladiators in this model year range are affected — the recall covers a specific production date range. The only way to know if your truck is in scope is to check the NHTSA recall database by VIN.
Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your 17-character VIN. The site will return any open recalls associated with your specific vehicle. If the steering shaft recall appears and shows "remedy not yet received," contact a Stellantis dealer and schedule the recall repair. This is covered under the recall at no cost.
If the recall shows "remedy completed," the dealer has already performed the shaft replacement on your vehicle. The work should be documented in your service history.
If you own an early JT and haven't verified recall status, here's what an affected or marginal intermediate shaft may feel like:
None of these symptoms is confirmation that the shaft is about to fail — other steering components (track bar, ball joints, tie rod ends) create similar symptoms. But if your truck is in the recall range and hasn't had the recall completed, these symptoms make the verification more urgent.
A dealer-replaced intermediate shaft on a 2021–2022 JT is the updated production part. The replacement part is not the same component that was recalled — it's the corrected design.
If you've had the recall completed and still experience steering symptoms, those are coming from elsewhere: track bar, ball joints, tie rod ends, or alignment. The shaft replacement addresses the specific fracture failure mode, not all steering feel issues.
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.