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When it comes to trucks like the Jeep Gladiator, people talk about the good things and the bad things. Also, some aspects might get exaggerated by emotional drivers. But we won’t forget to find the most important aspect, the truth! Allegedly, the 2023 Jeep Gladiator has three frustrating things drivers won’t tell you about. 

2023 Jeep Gladiator: What’s new? 

A black 2023 Jeep Gladiator driving down the highway
2023 Jeep Gladiator | Jeep

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator is primarily a carryover model, but it could receive a midcycle update for 2024. It’s part of the first generation that debuted in 2019, and each trim now has more standard features. 

Plus, the High Altitude model gained a winch-capable steel front bumper, steel rock sliders, and a forward-facing off-roading camera view. The Freedom Edition has a military-themed exterior to honor our troops with steel bumpers and rock sliders. 

Buyers are interested in the Gladiator for its unmatched off-roading capabilities, removable top/doors, and stout towing capacity. But no truck is perfect, and here’s what owners may be reluctant to share. 

1. The Gladiator has a small truck bed 

A Jeep Gladiator truck bed with a dirt bike
2023 Jeep Gladiator | Jeep

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator is perfect for work and play, but the truck bed might be a little small. It’s 60.3 inches long, so it’s just over five feet long. Adventure crafts like dirt bikes, motorcycles, and mountain bikes may have to be loaded with the tailgate down. 

Also, if you’re sleeping in the back, you’ll need to put the tailgate down in order to stretch out. But it’s also 56.8 inches wide with 35.5 cubic feet of cargo space. 

The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier have a six-foot bed available, but the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado max out at around five feet. Also, the Gladiator has the best-in-class payload capacity of 1,710 lbs. 

2. The Jeep Gladiator may have quality issues 

4Wheel Parts reports the 2023 Jeep Gladiator faces quality issues. There may be reports of leaking hardtops, cracking windshields, breaking fender flare clips, and ripping upholstery. So, we decided to take a deeper look. 

We only found two complaints about cracking windshields for the 2020 model and seven reports of body issues. Only two of the complaints are related to leaking. One is related to a soft top, and the other mentions the rear window, not the hardtop. 

Also, the 2020 model has the most complaints, meaning these potential problems may have been solved.

3. The 2023 Gladiator isn’t the most comfortable truck in the world 

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator crawling over rocks
2023 Jeep Gladiator | Jeep

Well, duh, people aren’t exactly buying the 2023 Jeep Gladiator because it’s comfortable. They’re buying it to crawl over rocks and tow their camping gear through the mud. They want the Jeep Wrangler with the practicality of a truck. 

The Jeep Wrangler, or any Jeep truck, has a reputation for having a bumpy ride and a loud interior. That’s because the heavy suspension components are built for tackling the wild, and it’s not very aerodynamic. Plus, larger chunky tires add to road noise. 

But the Gladiator has a longer wheelbase than the Wrangler, making it smoother. Also, the AC might be a little weak, but Jeep is addressing this problem. The 2024 Wrangler moved the location of the air vents to be more effective. 

The Gladiator will probably receive the same update. Overall, these don’t seem like massive issues for truck buyers to have on their minds. But stay tuned because the refreshed truck could be more comfortable and upscale.