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2011 Jeep Patriot: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
49%
134 of 273 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

49% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Jeep Patriot are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 63% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 53 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 41%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
134
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
326
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
20 crashes · 12 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE66 · 20%
SUSPENSION55 · 17%
POWER TRAIN53 · 16%
STRUCTURE51 · 16%
AIR BAGS43 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER35 · 11%

The years either side

2010
49%
77 of 188
2011
49%
134 of 326
2012
77%
226 of 354
2013
60%
50 of 120
2014
61%
235 of 548
2015
54%
155 of 314
2016
69%
289 of 458
2017
51%
23 of 59
2018
no data
2019
no data
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Other compact SUVs with no elevated signal

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE07/31/2012CRASH2 INJURED
I WAS DRIVING ON NB I-5 IN A 2005 SUBARU. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS THIS 2011 JEEP PATRIOT THAT I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT. WE WERE DRIVING APPROX. 65MPH. I WAS NOT TAILGATTING! THE JEEP PATRIOT'S POWER DIED. THE DRIVER THOUGHT SHE WAS NOT GETTING GAS AND KEPT HITTING THE GAS PEDAL. SHE NEVER HIT THE BRAKE. I DID NOT …
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE06/27/20171 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP PATRIOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED BOILING HOT WATER COMING FROM A CLOGGED AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN TUBE, WHICH OVERFLOWED BETWEEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE FIREWALL. IN ADDITION, WATER DRIPPED DOWN ONTO THE LEG OF THE DRIVER AND CAUSED A BURN. MEDICA…
ENGINE07/13/2025
So I bought this used from a previous owner check engine light has come on quite a few times and I’ve gone to two separate places and it’s the catalytic converter efficiency coming up. My mechanic did a recall research and found that this specific vehicle not the VIN number had been recalled for issues with this, I wou…

Three of 134 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (4)

EQUIPMENT
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of…
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge…
STEERING:COLUMN
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011DODGE JOURNEY, JEEP WRANGLER, CHRYSLER 200, CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE, DODGE AVENGER, DODGE NITRO, JEEP LIBERTY, DODGE CALIBER…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2011 Jeep Patriot

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.