NHTSA Complaint #11662191 — 2020 JEEP GLADIATOR

On May 17th 2025, I brought my vehicle to the Jeep Chrysler Dodge of Paramus (315 Rte 4 West, Paramus, NJ 07652) for the recall repair. Today, on May 20, 2025, I received my vehicle back after refusing an additional $580 charge for a hydraulic clutch master cylinder replacement, which the dealership claimed was unrelated to the recall. I declined this service due to the financial burden and my belief that the repair should be covered under the recall, but this leaves my vehicle in a potentially unsafe condition. As a Material Planning Specialist in Paramus, NJ, I rely on my Gladiator for daily commuting, and operating it with a damaged component poses significant risks. The repair delay, while only three days and not yet qualifying for New Jersey’s Lemon Law, has resulted in my vehicle being returned without addressing a critical safety issue. During the repair, the dealership informed me that the hydraulic clutch master cylinder is damaged and requires replacement at an additional cost of $580, claiming it is unrelated to the recall. However, when I spoke with the service manager on May 20th, they admitted they have no evidence that the master cylinder damage is not due to the recalled clutch pressure plate. Given the recall’s documented risk of the pressure plate fracturing and causing collateral damage to nearby components (e.g., transmission case), I believe the master cylinder failure is likely a direct result of the defective clutch system. The recall repair should cover such related damages, yet the dealership refuses to include this repair under the recall’s scope without providing a clear explanation or diagnostic evidence.