Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator Windshields ‘Extremely Prone’ to Cracking Due to Defect, Class Action Claims

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A proposed class action alleges the front windshields of 2016-present model year Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles are “extremely prone” to cracking, fracturing or chipping due to a defect. 

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The 68-page case says more specifically that the vehicles’ windshields can crack, fracture or chip “for no reason” and under circumstances that would not cause a non-defective windshield to become impaired and fail, such as when the defroster is in use or if the windshield comes into contact with a small pebble from the road. 

The Jeep windshield defect poses an unreasonable safety hazard given that it can compromise a driver’s visibility and the structural integrity of a Wrangler or Gladiator vehicle, the filing emphasizes, noting that defendant FCA US, LLC advertises the cars as reliable, safe and rugged. 

“The Windshield Defect exposes drivers and occupants of the Class Vehicles, as well as others who share the road with them, to an increased risk of accident, injury, or death,” the suit says. 

Many Gladiator and Wrangler owners and lessees have complained about the alleged windshield defect in online forums and to Jeep dealers, as well as on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, the filing relays. The case argues that the “extensive” number of complaints about the issue, among other indicators, is evidence enough of FCA’s awareness of it. 

The lawsuit goes on to state that FCA’s decision to begin offering parts supplier Mopar’s Corning Gorilla Glass windshields for Wranglers in 2007 (and Gladiators later on) is further evidence of the automaker’s knowledge that the windshields are prone to break. Nevertheless, even vehicles with Gorilla Glass windshields have also exhibited the alleged defect, the case states. 

“The existence of the Windshield Defect is a fact that would be considered material to a reasonable consumer deciding whether to purchase or lease an expensive Jeep vehicle,” the suit contests. “Particularly since FCA touts its vehicles as safe and reliable for many years of use with proper maintenance.” 

According to the case, the automaker “knew or should have known” before it first sold affected Wranglers and Gladiators that the vehicles were equipped with defective windshields yet “concealed and failed to disclose” the problem to the public. 

The lawsuit looks to cover all persons or entities residing in the United States who own, lease or have owned or leased a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator containing the alleged windshield defect. 

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