10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,127 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Jeep Patriot drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Jeep Patriot Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #41

Mar 162019

Patriot

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving down the street stopped and proceeded to go up the hill when I pressed on the gas pedal it would not accelerate so I put it in neutral it would rev up but when I put it drive it would not accelerate. So I have taken it to the mechanic to have it evaluated and he said the transmission needs to be replaced it is only 7 years old I think that is crazy. From online forums there have been quite a few Patriots that have needed new transmissions with no avail from the manufacturers. I am hoping for a recall on this transmission since I am still paying on this vehicle and cannot afford to buy another and pay out $4200 for a new transmission.

- Harriman, TN, USA

problem #40

Sep 282018

Patriot

  • 64,892 miles
When the vehicle slowed down and waited at intersection or middle lane, the engine shuts off by itself. When it is restarted, the power is back either immediately or after a few minutes. I read online and many many customers reported this problem, ranging from very new Jeep Patriot (less than 10,000 miles) to driving at high speed. The links are shown below: Https://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/5-Jeep-Patriot-general-discussion/92388-help-engine-shut-down.html when I took it to the dealer, they can not figure out the causes. The last time, they said it is the transmission control module issue. Since so many customers reported this issue, this vehicle needs a recall. The unexpected shutoff is very dangerous.

- Pullman, WA, USA

problem #39

Sep 292018

Patriot

  • 119,000 miles
Transmission overheated going 60 miles per hour on the interstate. I pulled over and let the light go off per the user manual and didn't drive it anymore. Put it in the shop on Monday and it needs a brand new transmission with only 119K miles on it!

- Kingsport, TN, USA

problem #38

Sep 022018

Patriot

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission temperature gauge has come on when traveling at normal highway speeds, causing an immediate loss of power and requiring me to pull over and let the engine cool down. 2 Jeep dealerships have assessed the vehicle in the days after the incidents, neither of which could offer any remedy. Both dealerships' service managers mentioned that these vehicles' transmissions are often problematic and do not handle high temperatures well, but with no active recall, neither could offer any recourse or even a remedy. This is clearly a case of a poorly engineered product (the jatco cvt) that the manufacturer is avoiding dealing with, at the expense and safety of its consumers. In fact, Jeep no longer uses this transmission - they replaced it in 2014 - clearly they knew there was a problem. This issue is a blatant safety hazard and needs to be investigated more thoroughly and the manufacturer held to account for the unsafe conditions they know their consumers are in. Unacceptable!!!

- Pittsford, NY, USA

problem #37

Jun 022017

Patriot

  • 80,000 miles
My Jeep is by far one of the biggest safety hazards if not for me but for everyone else on the road. The transmission overheat light comes on constantly. If I go over 60 on a day that is over 70 degrees for longer than 10 minutes the transmission will over heat. It isn't just an annoyance it is a safety issue that Jeep has known about. A recall needs to be iniciated. The

- Hampton, VA, USA

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problem #36

Jul 272018

Patriot

  • 60,000 miles
Interstate 44 St. Roberts Missouri speed limit 70 miles an hour amber transmission warning light indicates overheating karzan reduce the speed to 40 miles an hour on the interstate. Jeep is aware of this due to a defect and the design of the cvt transmission. Will not be repair tell recall ordered by government

- Rolla, MO, USA

problem #35

Jul 012018

Patriot

  • 79,888 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was stopped at a stoplight turning right the light turned green I went to go and my Jeep Patriot started hesitating in the middle of the intersection and it took a few minutes to get up to speed I have had the problem multiple times but the dealership couldn't recreate the problem so they couldn't tell me a salutation brought it in 3 times now when I go to speed up to flow of traffic coming off the on ramp my transmission makes a howling noise and it is slow to get up to speed

- Eldon, MO, USA

problem #34

May 102018

Patriot

  • 96,986 miles
The vehicle was in motion, rear driver side tire would not roll correctly and was making a noise under the hood. It was towed to a repair shop and after running diagnostic testing found that the cvt transmission, drive shaft joint and transmission cooler had to be replaced. Per the repair shop "the transmission had catastrophic failure" at 96,986K miles and without any advanced warning I had no choice but to agree to have a rebuilt transmission, drive shaft and cooler be installed because mine could not be repaired. The only thing they could salvage was the transfer case which was thought to have been the issue but the diagnostic testing found that was ok. Three weeks it is finally fixed and appears to be working fine.

- Middletown, DE, USA

problem #33

Feb 202018

Patriot

  • 57,000 miles
When accelerating on the highway the transmission seems to "lock" up, preventing the gears from shifting and causing the engine to over-rev. Since the gears don't shift, the vehicle is unable to accelerate. This is the second Jeep Patriot I have owned and the second one that has had this problem. The issue in the first would cause the transmission to over heat and eventually the vehicle would slow to a crawl. This happened several times while highway driving, with an infant. We were forced to pull over on the side of a busy highway to wait for it to cool down. This happened only 2 months after purchasing the 2013 Jeep Patriot and the dealer agreed to trade the vehicle back and I was stuck with the same make and model which now is exhibiting similar problems. I am concerned that they may reach a similar point and I now need my vehicle for highway travel on a regular basis. I obtained the 2012 Jeep Patriot in August of 2016 and did not notice any issues until February 2018 and now it happens on a daily basis on my commute to and from work.

- Gloucester, MA, USA

problem #32

Jan 012018

Patriot

  • 54,500 miles
This vehicle is a manuel transmission 2012 Jeep Patriot 4X4 purchased in February 2017 from carmax with a little less than 37,000 miles on it. In late December 2017 / early January 2018 I began to hear/feel a 'whirring' sound when the transmission was engaged, the sound ceased when the clutch was depressed. I took in for repair with the clutch being replaced. The issue was not corrected, the clutch not being the issue. With a new clutch the problem was then determined as a internal transmission problem. A diagnostic was performed by local dealer fred frederick Chrysler. The conclusion was a failure/issue occurring in the front transmission bearing area. I have driven this Jeep less than 18,000 miles; it has less than 55,000 miles on it! transmissions should not be failing at this point. This is a known issue with 2012 Jeep Patriot's. as of January 2018 there are 196 complaints with more than half, 104, dealing with engine or power train problems, on just the NHTSA website alone. Failures have occurred with as little as 20,000, 26,000, or 30,000 miles. Many also occurring in the mileage area of my vehicle (54,500) with failures at 47,000, 50,000. There have been no recalls or investigations into this problem. I filed a complaint with Jeep / Chrysler. I was told by my case manager, 'there is nothing we can do (or will do) to help you'. he went on to say; 'it's a business decision (by Jeep / Chrysler)' this issue needs to be addressed by Jeep / Chrysler, corrected, and Jeep owners compensated.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #31

Sep 112017

Patriot

  • 73,650 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission starts making whinning noise, transmission starts to slip, then the transmission overheats while driving down the interstate at 75 mph, it has also happened in town. The dealership can see that the fault is displayed, yet they cannot seem to find anything wrong.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #30

Jun 302016

Patriot

  • 97,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that the temperature warning indicator kept randomly illuminating and the engine overheated. The failure caused the contact to have to wait a brief moment and place the vehicle in neutral in order for it to cool down to be able to drive the vehicle. The dealer (bill Dodge, 118 pleasant St, brunswick, me 04011, (207) 721-8300) from where the vehicle was purchased provided no owner's manual and replaced the cvt transmission; however, the warning indicator kept flashing. The dealer stated that the part needed to be replaced again. In addition, the dealer refused to provide an owner's manual; therefore, the contact had to research a solution and obtain information on his own. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, opened a case, and then closed the case with no solution other than replacing the same part. The vehicle was unsafe to drive because the temperature warning indicator could illuminate at any time. In addition, the vehicle failed to shift properly and was slow to pick up speed. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

- Lisbon Falls, ME, USA

problem #29

Apr 222015

Patriot

  • miles
The cvt transmission for this vehicle was not designed to drive such a heavy car. As a result the transmission began slipping at 35,000 miles. This is a major safety issue in that pulling into or crossing traffic is dangerous when power can't be transferred predictably to the wheels. I'm not sure of the amount of complaints about this issue, however, doing cursory search will find many instances of these transmissions slipping, overheating and failing well within the service life of the oil (100,000 miles). There are probably many other Chrysler products that have this small car transmission placed in an SUV and not suitable for weight and vehicle load. Although no accident has happen as a result there have been many close calls, and I'm sure that there are others that have experienced the same. Thanks for your consideration of this issue

- Dickson, ND, USA

problem #28

Aug 072017

Patriot

  • 500 miles
Cvt transmission overheats and acceleration computer needs adjusted because its sporatic. It overheats on highway and accelerates funny in town.

- Safety Harbor, FL, USA

problem #27

Jul 272017

Patriot

  • 69,800 miles
While driving down I-70 at 77 mph the temperature light come on, coasted to the shoulder as I couldn't accelerate. Once pulled over I turned off my Jeep and waited about 10 minutes, started it back up, no light, performed as it should. On the way back from my trip the issue happened again, this time I took it to the dealership. They performed a download and said 'no faults are stored in the system'. I get all the required maintenance done.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #26

Sep 012013

Patriot

  • 26,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that the transmission failed while driving 70 mph. The vehicle decelerated and caused the limp mode to activate. The contact was able to coast onto the road shoulder. After waiting a few minutes, the contact was able to restart the engine. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was taken to skyland Chrysler Jeep Dodge (255 smokey high park land, ashville nc 28806 phone (828-667-5213)) for diagnostic testing, but a failure code could not be located. The dealer stated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The failure mileage was 26,000.

- Winter Springs, FL, USA

problem #25

Jul 232015

Patriot

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. While driving 70 mph, the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel and the engine stalled. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted the vehicle after a few minutes. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that the dealer was not supposed to replace the transmission fluid. The failure recurred several other times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not included.

- Boonton, NJ, USA

problem #24

Mar 212017

Patriot

  • 78,000 miles
On 3/21/2017 and on 3/22/2017 the vehicle stalled while in motion at different speeds 4 times. The battery was replaced due to this and the alternator was tested as to having no issue. It happens at various speeds from 25-70 mph and causes me to have to pull over to the side of the road when it stalls out which is very dangerous for anyone operating the vehicle and other vehicle operators that may be around me when this happens. Usually the car will start back up and run for another period of time before it happens again. Chrysler has had multiple complaints filed about this on multiple websites and with this Agency however the recalls implemented for this problem have only pertained to certain models none of which were related to my model of the Jeep Patriot. Again this has happened on city streets and highways and have yet to have a dealer or mechanic be able to diagnose the problem. Thanks

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #23

Jul 172012

Patriot

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. While driving approximately 70 mph, a loud whining noise sounded and the accelerator pedal was depressed. There was a significant reduction in the transmission power and the transmission warning indicator illuminated. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred multiple times during warm temperatures of 80 degrees or higher. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on six separate occasions for diagnostic testing, but the cause of the failure was unable to be determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.

- Saginaw, MI, USA

problem #22

Jun 222016

Patriot

  • 73,500 miles
I have had numerous problems with my 2012 Jeep Patriot. From the beginning my transmission would constantly over heat and I brought it into the dealer at about 30,000 miles and they said, "there is nothing wrong." The problem persisted and finally they issued me a new transmission at about 50,000 miles. A few months later, the engine just stopped continuously on the highway & street. Then they discovered that it was the crankshaft sensor that was bad, which they replaced. I had to pay $100 because of a deductible. The car seemed to be working okay until June 22nd, 2015 when I was on a road trip and all of a sudden the car completely died with a huge semi truck behind me. I was traveling at about 75 mph and the car just completely shut down, power steering, everything went off except for the lights and other items run by the battery. We immediately tried our best to signal and finally made it safely off the highway at speeds of under 15 mph. The car gave us no check lights and no indication as to what was wrong with the vehicle except for that it would not turn over when we tried to start it. We had to have the vehicle towed while on a road trip. We live in California and had to have the vehicle towed in Idaho falls, Idaho which was extremely inconvenient. We rented a car and left the 2012 Jeep Patriot at the dealer hoping they could fix it upon our return to that area. They were unable to give us any answers and said the car started fine. Obviously, you can see how this is an issue. I have no problem fixing the car but with no answers to what is wrong and having the constant worry of wondering if my life and my family's life is in danger, is not something I am willing to tolerate. It seems that many people are having the same issue as well. I will be forwarding this for them to make a complaint as well. I will also follow up hoping that this issue can be resolved.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

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