Jeep Patriot: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Jeep Patriot problems by model year, from 2,368 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2012 (77%, 226 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (69%, 289 drivetrain complaints) and 2014 (61%, 235 drivetrain complaints). 8 of the 8 Jeep Patriot years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 3 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Jeep Patriot year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2010 (49%).
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (289 of 1,189 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Jeep Patriot year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Patriot | high | 49% | 77 | 188 | 8/8 | 2 |
| 2011 Patriot | high | 49% | 134 | 326 | 7/8 | 4 |
| 2012 Patriot | very high | 77% | 226 | 354 | 1/8 | 4 |
| 2013 Patriot | high | 60% | 50 | 120 | 4/8 | 1 |
| 2014 Patriot | very high | 61% | 235 | 548 | 3/8 | 2 |
| 2015 Patriot | high | 54% | 155 | 315 | 5/8 | 1 |
| 2016 Patriot | very high | 69% | 289 | 458 | 2/8 | 1 |
| 2017 Patriot | high | 51% | 23 | 59 | 6/8 | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Jeep Patriot years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Jeep Patriot engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Jeep Patriot involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2012 | 12V142000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V120000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2012 |
| Nov 2013 | 13V552000 | engine | 2014 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V907000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2016 |
5 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2011 | 11V315000 | steering: column | 2011 |
| Jun 2013 | 13V233000 | air bags: side/window | 2010–2012 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V878000 | steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections | 2015 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V668000 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2010–2014 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V824000 | equipment | 2011 |
What the free pages leave out on the Jeep Patriot
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Jeep Patriot
What are the worst years for the Jeep Patriot?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Jeep Patriot years are the 2012 (77% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2016 (69% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2014 (61% of relevant complaints, very high). 8 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Jeep Patriot?
No Jeep Patriot year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2010 (49%).
Does the Jeep Patriot have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 1,189 of 1,944 relevant NHTSA complaints (61%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Is the Jeep Patriot reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 8 of 8 Jeep Patriot years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 61% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Jeep Patriot?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Jeep Patriot years we track, out of 9 in total: 13V120000 (Apr 2013, 2012), 13V552000 (Nov 2013, 2014), 16V907000 (Dec 2016, 2016), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.