2012 Jeep PATRIOT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Jeep PATRIOT has 550 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: 5/21 1st, 5/22 2nd, loss of complete power while driving on highway. while driving a wedding gift of a new 2012 jeep patriot on their honeymoon cross country to their new home in ca, the new wedding gift car died at 65 mph on ohio highway. fixed in ohio (newleyweds left from ri), they proceeded j. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 13 crash reports 9 injuries

550

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

119 complaints

22%

• 5/21 1ST, 5/22 2ND, LOSS OF COMPLETE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WHILE DRIVING A WEDDING GIFT OF A NEW 2012 JEEP PATRIOT ON THEIR HONEYMOON CROSS COUNTRY TO THEIR NEW HOME IN CA, THE NEW WEDDING GIFT CAR DIED AT 65 MPH ON OHIO HIGHWAY. FIXED IN OHIO (NEWLEYWEDS LEFT FROM RI), THEY PROCEEDED J
• I-15 OUTSIDE ST. GEORGE, UTAH. OUTSIDE TEMP 110. 4:30 P.M. DRIVING SINCE 11 A.M. DRIVEN 275 MILES ON A FULL TANK OF MID GRADE GAS WITH OVER 1/4 TANK LEFT. ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TRIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT TWO HOURS. ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT FIRE. TOWED INTO STEPHEN WA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE ENGINE STARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE IDENTICAL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“5/21 1ST, 5/22 2ND, LOSS OF COMPLETE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WHILE DRIVING A WEDDING GIFT OF A NEW 2012 JEEP PATRIOT ON THEIR HONEYMOON CROSS COUNTRY TO THEIR NEW HOME IN CA, THE NEW WEDDING GIFT CAR DIED AT 65 MPH ON OHIO HIGHWAY. FIXED IN OHIO (NEWLEYWEDS LEFT FROM RI), THEY PROCEEDED J”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

102 complaints

19%

• DRIVING FROM LAS VEGAS TO PHOENIX, FILLED UP RIGHT BEFORE GETTING ON THE ROAD. WENT APPROXIMATELY 210 MILES AND RAN OUT OF GAS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWING 1/4 FULL. I WAS ON A TWO LANE ROAD GOING APPROXIMATELY 65-70MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND IT JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING AN OFF RAMP AND TAPPED THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL HOWEVER, IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE STALLED. T
• I WAS GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 68 WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WHEN I TAPPED THE BRAKES TO KICK THE CRUISE OFF IT SLOWLY DIED AND WOULDN'T RESTART,SO HAD IT TOWED AND WHEN IT CAME OFF THE TRUCK IT RESTARTED(ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER). MY DEALER CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID TO CHANGE THE FUEL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“DRIVING FROM LAS VEGAS TO PHOENIX, FILLED UP RIGHT BEFORE GETTING ON THE ROAD. WENT APPROXIMATELY 210 MILES AND RAN OUT OF GAS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWING 1/4 FULL. I WAS ON A TWO LANE ROAD GOING APPROXIMATELY 65-70MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND IT JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

62 complaints

11%

• CAR ISN'T GETTING ANY FUEL. WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS GOING TO FLOOD IT OUT. IT WOULD ONLY GO 5-10MPH. VERY BAD HESITATION AND SHAKING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
• THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS VERY SIMILAR. THIS TIME I WAS COMING BACK FROM ARIZONA INTO CALIFORNIA AND I WAS ON THE 15 SOUTH BETWEEN BARSTOW AND VICTORVILLE. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS PRE
• STOPPED AT RED LIGHT ON INCLINE, WENT TO GO CAR WOULD ONLY ROLL BACKWARDS WITH NO ENGINE RUNNING. TURNED OFF KEY, RESTARTED VEHICLE. STOPPED AT SAME LIGHT INCIDENT WAS REPEATED 2 MORE TIMES. ENTERING HIGHWAY AT STOP LIGHT CAR APPROXIMATELY GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. TURNED KEY OF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“CAR ISN'T GETTING ANY FUEL. WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS GOING TO FLOOD IT OUT. IT WOULD ONLY GO 5-10MPH. VERY BAD HESITATION AND SHAKING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

56 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 13V120000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 13V233000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , SEAT BELTS) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AN
• 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
• MY 2012 JEEP PATRIOT WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY A VAN. THE STATE PATROL OFFICER ESTIMATED THE SPEED ON IMPACT WAS AROUND 25 MPH FROM THE VEHICLE THAT HIT MINE BUT MAY HAVE BEEN UNDERESTIMATED BECAUSE THE CRUSH DAMAGE AND DISTANCE THE JEEP WAS PUSHED SEEMS TO INDICATE A HIGHER IMPACT/SPEED. I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 13V120000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 13V233000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , SEAT BELTS) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

44 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT A TECHNICIAN TO
• THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS VERY SIMILAR. THIS TIME I WAS COMING BACK FROM ARIZONA INTO CALIFORNIA AND I WAS ON THE 15 SOUTH BETWEEN BARSTOW AND VICTORVILLE. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS PRE
• THIS IS THE FIRST OF 2 INCIDENTS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I WAS COMING BACK INTO CALIFORNIA FROM ARIZONA ON THE 40 WEST WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 75 MPH. WITHOUT INDICATION, THE THROTTLE REVVED TO 4500 RPM AND THE CAR LOST SPEED. THE ENGINE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I CANCELLED CRUISE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT A TECHNICIAN TO ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 550 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 5/21 1ST, 5/22 2ND, LOSS OF COMPLETE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WHILE DRIVING A WEDDING GIFT OF A NEW 2012 JEEP PATRIOT ON THEIR HONEYMOON CROSS COUNTRY TO THEIR NEW HOME IN CA, THE NEW WEDDING GIFT CAR DIED AT 65 MPH ON OHIO HIGHWAY. FIXED IN OHIO (NEWLEYWEDS LEFT FROM RI), THEY PROCEEDED J
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: DRIVING FROM LAS VEGAS TO PHOENIX, FILLED UP RIGHT BEFORE GETTING ON THE ROAD. WENT APPROXIMATELY 210 MILES AND RAN OUT OF GAS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWING 1/4 FULL. I WAS ON A TWO LANE ROAD GOING APPROXIMATELY 65-70MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND IT JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: CAR ISN'T GETTING ANY FUEL. WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS GOING TO FLOOD IT OUT. IT WOULD ONLY GO 5-10MPH. VERY BAD HESITATION AND SHAKING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 13V120000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 13V233000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , SEAT BELTS) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)