2021 Jeep Wrangler Clutch Assembly Recall (21V028)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · 42,887 vehicles · Reported January 28, 2021
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling 42,887 2021 Jeep Gladiator; 2021 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture. Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V028 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V028000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Y01 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | January 28, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Vehicles | 2021 Jeep Gladiator; 2021 Jeep Wrangler |
| Units affected | 42,887 |
| Component | Power Train > Clutch Assembly |
| Safety risk | Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Jeep Wrangler in recall 21V028?
The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Jeep Wrangler and 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. The clutch pressure plate may overheat and fracture.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Wrangler with recall 21V028?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Overheated clutch components may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, damage to other nearby components can result in debris falling onto the road or a loss of drive, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Wrangler shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the clutch assembly, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V028?
Recall 21V028 covers 42,887 vehicles: 2021 Jeep Gladiator; 2021 Jeep Wrangler.
NHTSA lists 42,887 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Jeep | Gladiator |
| 2021 | Jeep | Wrangler |
What is the fix for the Wrangler clutch assembly recall?
Yes. FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will add software to reduce engine torque capability when clutch assembly temperatures rise to a level that may damage the inner pressure plate, free of charge." FCA has ordered a stop sale for the affected vehicles as of February 25, 2021.
FCA US LLC will notify owners, and dealers will add software to reduce engine torque capability when clutch assembly temperatures rise to a level that may damage the inner pressure plate, free of charge." FCA has ordered a stop sale for the affected vehicles as of February 25, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2021.
Manufacturer recall number: Y01.
When was recall 21V028 announced?
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V028 to NHTSA on January 28, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 28, 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V028000. |
| March 4, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 69 months ago. If your Wrangler was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Wrangler is part of recall 21V028?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V028 is open on your Wrangler, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Wrangler vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Wrangler owners do about recall 21V028?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V028000 applies to your Wrangler.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Jeep dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the clutch assembly happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Wrangler owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,231 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 208 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 21V028 was reported on January 28, 2021, owners have filed 207 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 29 of them (14%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after January 28, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,231 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 208 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Jeep Wrangler: 940 complaints in total, 141 about the transmission
- 2021 Jeep Gladiator: 291 complaints in total, 67 about the transmission
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Brought vehicle in for new tires. Upon inspection it was found that the rear axle seal was leaking. Contacted Jeep customer service and was told vehicle had no recalls. I state that there was a Customer Service Notification for this issue and was told there was not.
2021 Jeep Gladiator owner, LA, NHTSA complaint 11651461, filed March 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission shifted abnormally roughly. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle was jerking abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated.
2021 Jeep Gladiator owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11667247, filed June 16, 2025
Gladiator on 3rd transmission and likely to need a 4th now at 26,000 miles. Each one failed the same way. The second gear in the manual transmission starts occasionally popping out of gear while driving and progresses in frequency over time to the point that it is impossible to keep in second gear at all.
2021 Jeep Gladiator owner, MA, NHTSA complaint 11682645, filed August 24, 2025
Can recall 21V028 make my Wrangler a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 21V028000 does not automatically make your Wrangler a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Wrangler been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Jeep Wrangler recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V028
Did the recall 21V028 fix work?
Since recall 21V028 was reported on January 28, 2021, owners have filed 207 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 29 of them (14%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V028000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Wrangler is part of recall 21V028000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V028000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Jeep. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.