Jeep Gladiator Owner Claims Dealer Voided Warranty After He Drove Through Mud

The Drive ^ | James Gilboy

[dragnet2]

Jeeps are supposed to take it. And this was a new vehicle? A little plastic shrouding in the alternator area would likly be a quick fix for this. Lightweight, cheap. Now they’ll have to do it to a zillion jeeps.☺

[libertylover]

They should honor the warranty.

The commercials show cars going through all kinds of stuff like mud, snow, muck, climb mountains, etc. And then turn around and say the warranty is void because he did some of the things the commercials show. The no-eve!

Plus, the bad publicity will cost them a lot more than what ever the repair costs would be or even a new vehicle.

[dragnet2]

As it can be seen below, they hit puddles hard enough to send mud higher than the Gladiator's roof, and surely into places mud was never meant to go.

I can stomp on a mud puddle with my boot and send it as high as a vehicles roof.

[Drago]

The Cummins is fine....the rest of the truck not so much. ;-)

[nickcarraway]

Is there any documentation that says drying through mud voids the warranty?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

They call THIS mud? You get more mud than that driving down any dirt road in a thunderstorm.

This is MUD...

[Responsibility2nd]

Right. Mud? I don’t think so. I kept looking at the article. I kept reading about how the electrical system started crapping out after three months. You know what that tells me? Flood damage. This gladiator has been driven in high water. Maybe muddy water. But enough water to fry electrical components.

The owner needs to file an insurance claim. And hope that his insurance company pays off. In any event, this Jeep is totaled.

[jz638]

And I suspect that we’re talking about more than just “some mud”. Vehicle designers are very careful about protecting the electricals on offroad vehicles, and the first mechanic’s diagnosis of needing radiator work makes me think that the owner took the Jeep mud bogging, swamped the vehicle completely in a very deep hole, and is now hoping that the dealership will be unable to repair her truck and will give her a new one.

I’m with the dealership on this one. Jeeps can handle some mud and water, but the owners manual specifies the max fording depth, and beyond that you’re on your own.

If you don't want people mudbogging in their fancy jeeps, you shouldn't name the option package after a river. Jeep has gone downhill and stayed that way ever since they started with the whole "trail rated" scam.

[Striperman]

Jeeps spend more time in the shop than the garage.

[ThunderSleeps]

Back in the day I did far worse to a 76 CJ-5 “Golden Eagle” jeep. Repeatedly, for years, with no ill effects other than some quality time spent with a folding shovel and Warn winch. Driving through mud that sprayes up that lightly should not adversely affect the alternator, battery, nor axles.

[ETCM]

I’m a very serious off road rider of motorcycles and also own a CanAm Maverick X3 Turbo UTV. When you buy an off road vehicle, it’s good enough to drive on a gravel road, pick up the mail.

Just because most Jeep owners use them as grocery getters doesn't mean they can't go off-road. I've been over many of the more difficult trails in CA, including most of "the hammers", the rubicon, duecy ershim, all around Big Bear, Corral Canyon, etc. I see Wranglers and Rubicons in pretty much stock form every time. It's more about the ability of the driver, knowing your limitations, and willingness to accept damage. Rubicons in particular have a 4:1 transfer case, lockers, skid plates etc. They aren't ideal for extreme trails, but a good driver can get them through most.

[Data Miner]

Just yesterday I received the first issue of the Consumer Reports subscription my in-laws gave me for Christmas and it claimed the Jeep Gladiator was the most reliable vehicle. CR got it wrong? Say it ain’t so!
/sarc

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

Fiat = Fix It Again, Tony

[Lean-Right]

I’ve got a ‘79 CJ7 that I’ve owned
since brand new. When the engine
went at 160,000, a brand new 360
went back in the 304’s place. At
180,000 the turbo 400 died, hence
a rebuild. Wish I knew how to post
pics because she still looks brand
new. AMC took a lot of hard knocks,
but they built a great vehicle
with the Jeep line.
Purposely trashing your stuff wiil
lead to unwanted consequence.
It’s probably written in their new
vehicle warranty, what the
limitations are.
I also have a 2014 Mustang GT.
Ford has an option on this car
called a trac pac. Specifically
for racing on a track. But the
warranty is void if it can be
proven that any failure was due
to racing. It’s just a risk you
take. But it’s a boatload of
exhilaration when you take the
risk. Same with a Jeep.

[alexander_busek]

I think that if the owner is a man, then Gladiatrix is the wrong handle.

Aren't vehicles traditionally assigned the pronoun "she?"

Regards,

[familyop]

I stopped buying Jeeps, after the mob started manufacturing them.

[Drew68]

‘No no, we said you get the IMAGE of a car that can go through mud, not the reality. What do you think you get for 60 grand? “

Exactly. Nothing but an appearance package. Reminds me of the video of the guy who destroyed his band-new Ford F150 Raptor with some aggressive off-road racing. These vehicles are just meant to look cool. If you want to go off road, buy a Tacoma.

There's a reason the Taliban drives Toyotas and not Jeep Gladiators.

[bubalooie]

These vehicles are advertised and glorified as being off road worthy. LOL, hell no.

I’m a very serious off road rider of motorcycles and also own a CanAm Maverick X3 Turbo UTV.

When you buy an off road vehicle, it’s good enough to drive on a gravel road, pick up the mail.

If you actually intend on doing serious off road, you are putting thousands, or tens of thousands into the vehicle to improve the;

Armor
Weak parts
Weak performance
Upgrading radiators
Desmog
Wheels/tires
Suspension
on and on and on...

I have a 2018 Wrangler Rubicon. I currently have 55000 miles on it. The only thing not stock on the vehicle is the tires. approximately 25,000 miles are off road mile in extreme rough conditions with no problems.
Maybe you should comment on things you know something about.
A dealer does not have the ability to void a factory warranty. Something stinks about this story.

[trebb]

I’d say the owner trashed his own vehicle - no vehicle is designed for problem-free “exuberant playing in the mud” - it’s why serious mudders make a lot of mods to their vehicles.

The vehicles are designed to help you get through tough spots - not smash through them, again and again and again.

[strider44]

I’ll never know. My wife is a Toyota engineer. We only buy Toyotas. Just sold my 20-year-old Tacoma for a 2017 Tacoma. I’ll probably drive this one 20 years too.

We’ve never purchased an “American” car or truck. Sad, but true. Toyotas are just better. Never have any issues. This belief is always reinforced when we travel and rent cars. The rentals are almost always American cars. I remember renting a Jeep for a week, full-size, Grand Cherokee. It was a POS.