10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,273 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2012 Jeep Patriot Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 132019

Patriot

  • miles

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

Front and rear subframe of the Jeep has bad corrosin, Jeep only has 80,000 miles on it. It is pass the warranty coverage, why is this not a recall?

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #10

Jan 092019

Patriot

  • 95,000 miles
The vehicle shuts off while driving. The battery is fine however I lose all power. It is as if there is no fuel even though I have a ful tank. The traction light comes on along with the check engine light. I roll to a stop and let the Jeep sit then turn the key and it starts right up. There is no warning or indication when it will ovcur. The check engine light will disappear after driving for a time and so I am told there is no code to be pulled. Im stuck driving a machine that may or may not try to end me. Tons of people have had a similar issue however my VIN does not seem to be included in the recall.

- Farmington, WV, USA

problem #9

Dec 022018

Patriot

  • 72,000 miles
Front control arms and/or bushings have gone bad, before 72K miles. Causes steering instability and excessive tire wear. Dozens of other reports of this same problem for this same make/model are easily found online. This is obviously a manufacturing defect, and it merits a recall.

- Whitehall, MI, USA

problem #8

Dec 242016

Patriot

  • 57,000 miles

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

Vehicle frequently hesitates and/or occasionally stalls at both low & high speeds. Most often occurs on inclines. Took in for repair more than twice and still occurs. The technician witnessed it but could not produce a vehicle analysis conformation an accident occurred last christmas eve when vehicle stalled after accelerating from an idle at a stop light. The vehicle halted in traffic and was hit from behind. Also, stalled on the up-slope of a high bridge traffic on the gs parkway (NJ) at hwy speeds. After numerous failed start attempts it finally restarted a couple of hours later. The car has also decelerated or hesitated on several occasions while driving at different speeds without an incline. Also, vehicle makes grinding noice when turning during acceleration; mostly on right. Multiple lights (headlights, brake, signal and parking lights) have been a problem.

- Red Bank, NJ, USA

problem #7

Aug 032017

Patriot

  • 49,750 miles
After pumping gas, less than a mile into my trip home, my Jeep's started stalling, the power steering went off (I couldn't easily turn the steering wheel) and it died in the middle of the road. I turned the key in the ignition to the off position, then back on and I was able to started it. I only moved about 500 feet and then it happened again. I turned it off, back on again and the same thing happened a third time, as I was getting home. I sat on my parking spot and the Jeep was stalling but it didn't die again. I looked up Jeep forums and it seem to be a common problem and people resolve it by not filling the tank all the way. Needless to say it was a very scary experience and it could've easily caused an accident.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #6

Apr 102017

Patriot

  • 71,000 miles
While driving, the engine stalls out. This happened once 2 weeks ago and the engine light came on. However, the light was off the following morning. Today, it happened twice, and the engine light is back on. I was driving less than 55mph both times on city streets and not turning. When the engine stalls, all power is lost to the steering and breaking system.

- Kettering, OH, USA

problem #5

Jun 052015

Patriot

  • 25,500 miles

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

While turning into a parking spot the bolt in the ball joint broke causing damage to the axle, ball joint, and A-arm. After having the Jeep loaded on a flat bed and taken to a dealer for repair the mechanics told me I was lucky it happened in a parking lot rather than on the bypass I had just driven at which the speed limit is 70. If it had happened there it most likely would have been a very serious accident being the Jeep would have been uncontrollable. Has there been any talks of a recall for this problem ? I am hearing this is a problem that happens a lot with the factory installed parts but the after market parts seem to be ok so far. I am sure you are thinking it must be my driving and off roading but I only drive paved roads and have never had a ticket in the 34 years I have been driving.

- New Sharon, IA, USA

problem #4

Jul 152014

Patriot 4-cyl

  • 42,700 miles
I was driving my vehicle on an interstate in houston, Texas at 71 mph and suddenly my engine stalled and I could not control my vehicle. Several vehicles behind me had to swerve around me and nearly hit my vehicle. My vehicle eventually came to a stop and I was able to re-start the engine. The vehicle I was driving is a 2012 Jeep Patriot with 42,700 miles on it. I have had 2 previous warranty recalls fixed on this vehicle - one related to a fuel transfer tube and the other for a vehicle occupant restraint.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

problem #3

Oct 212013

Patriot

  • 14,670 miles
I was driving down the road when all of a sudden my car felt like it pulled back then just shut off in the middle of the road thankfully there wasn't a car behind me or there would have been a serious accident. After a few tries the car started, so I drove it home then the next morning I took it to the dealer. They stated after getting it back to me 2 days later that there wasn't a code, so they'd cleared the check engine light and gave it back to me. The following week I'm driving down the main road on my way home from work and the car does the same thing. This time it was really scary, because it was rush hour and I almost got hit by a car. I attempted to start it several times then sat for a bit with the four ways then tried it again. It started up and I drove it right to the dealer. I was so shaken it took a few minutes before I finally let them know what happened again. I left the car with them then the next day they called me to come get it. I went in where they told me that it had been the crankshaft sensor that had caused the problem. I'm truly afraid to drive my vehicle I keep wondering if it will happen again. I never had problems with my used cars, but I got a new car thinking I wouldn't have to worry about anything and now I have to worry about this car turning off in the middle of the highway.

- Vineland, NJ, USA

problem #2

Jun 152013

Patriot 4-cyl

  • 24,014 miles
While driving my vehicle on the highway, we experienced a total loss of engine power. The Jeep was at speed 75-80mph when the vehicle began to decelerate, power steering was lost, and the engine died completely. Fortunately we were in a sparsely populated highway and were able to pull over safely, but it could have been far worse had there been anyone around us. I have no idea what happened exactly, but we were unable to start the engine again and had to have it towed 30 minutes to the nearest dealer. Upon this happening, I spoke with the jim click Chrysler / Jeep dealership in tucson where it was going to, and this is where it all went further downhill. Not only did they not really care that this had happened, but hey, it's Saturday man, and we're out of here soon, so good luck and sorry about that. We can help you on Monday, but can't answer any questions, hope you can find a ride home, oh and just leave your car outside the Nissan shop (really!?). not only was this a highly unsafe failure at speed, on the highway, but the followup was so poor that I am furious about the customer-service level from the folks at the local place. I guess it's a good thing nobody was seriously injured.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #1

Feb 272013

Patriot

  • 2,365 miles
While driving to work, I was slowing down to stop behind a bus but then had the opportunity to pass the bus. As I tried to switch lanes, my car stalled and I was stuck in between two lanes. I had to slowly drift my car to the side of the road and could hardly steer it. Once pulled over to the side of the road I tried to restart but the car would not restart. After sitting for five minutes, the vehicle restarted and I was able to drive without a problem. The first dealership said that it could have stalled because it was wet outside, which is completely unreasonable. At the second dealership, I didn't receive a much better explanation. They said that it could have been static electricity which caused it to turn off. As of right now, it has not happened again but it has not been a week since the incident.

- Towson, MD, USA

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