FaultScore

FaultScore report

2009 Jeep Patriot FWD problems

Owners have filed 36 complaints about the 2009 Jeep Patriot FWD with NHTSA between 2009 and 2019. The largest single group is the suspension. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 4 worst.

A

FaultScore 25/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Jeep Patriot FWD.

How this is worked out

The numbers

36

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

51,131 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

32%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 27 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 55 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 27
Against the median year of the Jeep Patriot FWD. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 55
32% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2009 compares with every other Jeep Patriot FWD

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2009 Jeep Patriot FWD

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Suspension 6 16.7%

Median failure at 51,726 miles

Electrical System 5 13.9%

Median failure at 2,282 miles

Engine & Cooling 5 13.9%

Median failure at 64,000 miles

Body & Structure 4 11.1%

Median failure at 47,639 miles

Other & Unspecified 3 8.3%

Median failure at 65,005 miles

Stability & Traction Control 2 5.6%

Median failure at 3 miles

Tires 2 5.6%

Median failure at 25,893 miles

Lights 2 5.6%

Median failure at 102,000 miles

Brakes 2 5.6%

Median failure at 58,082 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 5.6%

Median failure at 79,000 miles

Wheels 1 2.8%

Median failure at 190,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.8%

Median failure at 46,141 miles

Steering 1 2.8%

Median failure at 36,164 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 5 16.1%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 3 9.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 7 22.6%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 4 12.9%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 6.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 8 25.8%
150,000+ miles 2 6.5%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Aug 2009 peak 3 Jul 2019

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 102,488 miles Tulsa, OK

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP PATRIOT FWD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE VEHICLE TOOK SO LONG TO START. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,488. *BF

NHTSA complaint #11233783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 190,000 miles Block Island, RI

WHEELS

TIRE SENSOR LIGHT WENT ON. PULLED OVER TO AIR STATION. STOPPED CAR. REMOVED TIRE STEM COVER TO PUT AIR IN TIRE. STEM BROKE AND TIRE DEFLATED. THIS HAPPENED 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO 3 SEPARATE TIRES. MY MECHANIC SAID THE TIRE STEMS ARE FAULTY. THEY COST $180 EACH TO REPLACE AND BREAK OFF MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE

NHTSA complaint #11202688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Canastota, NY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE K FRAME (FRONT CROSS MEMBER) RUSTED AND FAILED RESULTING IN BOTH A FRAMES AND BALL JOINTS TO ALSO FAIL. THE RACK AND PINION STERRING CONTROLS ARE SHIFTING ON THE K FRAME AS WELL. JEEP OFFERS NO RECALLS OR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL PRESENTS A HAZZARD DUE TO SUBSTANDARD METAL PREMATURE FAILURE. FIRST NOTE OF FAILURE WAS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHILE TURNING RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #11131582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bennettsville, SC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF AND SUNROOF LEAK

NHTSA complaint #11088366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bennettsville, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF AND SUNROOF LEAK

NHTSA complaint #11088366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bennettsville, SC

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF AND SUNROOF LEAK

NHTSA complaint #11088366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3 miles Greenwood, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ENGINE LOSSES POWER FEELS LIKE ITS GONNA BREAK DOWN WENT THRU 2 ALTERNATORS AND 3 BATTERY'S IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS DRAWLING THE ELECTRICAL POWER AWAY WHEN ACCELERATING OR USING HEADLIGHTS OR TURN SIGNALS

NHTSA complaint #11020699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3 miles Greenwood, IN

ENGINE

THE ENGINE LOSSES POWER FEELS LIKE ITS GONNA BREAK DOWN WENT THRU 2 ALTERNATORS AND 3 BATTERY'S IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS DRAWLING THE ELECTRICAL POWER AWAY WHEN ACCELERATING OR USING HEADLIGHTS OR TURN SIGNALS

NHTSA complaint #11020699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3 miles Greenwood, IN

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE ENGINE LOSSES POWER FEELS LIKE ITS GONNA BREAK DOWN WENT THRU 2 ALTERNATORS AND 3 BATTERY'S IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS DRAWLING THE ELECTRICAL POWER AWAY WHEN ACCELERATING OR USING HEADLIGHTS OR TURN SIGNALS

NHTSA complaint #11020699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 199,125 miles Comstock Park, MI

SUSPENSION

ENTIRE FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE RACK AND PINION TO BE DAMAGED. AUTO SHOP SAID HE WOULD NOT DARE HIT A POT HOLE WITH THIS SINCE THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COULD FALL OUT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE JEEP FORUMS.

NHTSA complaint #10954024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Brunswick, OH

SUSPENSION

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON INDICATING INTAKE RUNNER VALVE STUCK OPEN, REPLACED ALL PARTS CHECKED BUTTERFLY'S ALL OK. ALSO X FRAME UNDER ENGINE RUSTED OUT. NO ACCIDENT YET.

NHTSA complaint #10938420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Brunswick, OH

ENGINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON INDICATING INTAKE RUNNER VALVE STUCK OPEN, REPLACED ALL PARTS CHECKED BUTTERFLY'S ALL OK. ALSO X FRAME UNDER ENGINE RUSTED OUT. NO ACCIDENT YET.

NHTSA complaint #10938420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Gloucester City, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES

VEHICLE ABS LIGHT APPEARS FROM TIME TO TIME ,ABS STOPS TO WORK AND ALSO CRUISE CONTROL STOPS TO WORK AT THE SAME TIME ,LATELY MORE OFTEN - SOMETIMES IF DRIVING FOR LONGER PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL RESUME FUNCTIONALITY THEN COMES BACK AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10919689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Modesto, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHENEVER IT TRAINS MY CAR LEAKS EITHER FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THROUGH THE MAP LIGHT IT IS VERY BAD I NORMALLY KEEP TOWELS IN THE CAR TO CATCH THE WATER BECAUSE IT HAS SHORT-CIRCUITED MY CONSOLE IT TAKES TIME FOR MY CONSOLE TO WORK IT GOES IN AND OUT OR SOMETIMES IT TAKES ABOUT A WEEK TO WORK AGAIN AND I DON'T LIKE DRIVING AT THAT POINT BECAUSE NOTHING COMES ON IT HAS CAUSED WATER STAINS ON THE ROOF INSIDE THE CAR AND THERE IS A MILDEW SMELL I HAVE HEARD OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME THING I WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO REPLACE MY WHOLE CONSOLE I THINK THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS PLEASE FIX IT. IT EVEN LEAKS WHEN I GO THROUGH A CARWASH

NHTSA complaint #10874153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Modesto, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHENEVER IT TRAINS MY CAR LEAKS EITHER FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THROUGH THE MAP LIGHT IT IS VERY BAD I NORMALLY KEEP TOWELS IN THE CAR TO CATCH THE WATER BECAUSE IT HAS SHORT-CIRCUITED MY CONSOLE IT TAKES TIME FOR MY CONSOLE TO WORK IT GOES IN AND OUT OR SOMETIMES IT TAKES ABOUT A WEEK TO WORK AGAIN AND I DON'T LIKE DRIVING AT THAT POINT BECAUSE NOTHING COMES ON IT HAS CAUSED WATER STAINS ON THE ROOF INSIDE THE CAR AND THERE IS A MILDEW SMELL I HAVE HEARD OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME THING I WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO REPLACE MY WHOLE CONSOLE I THINK THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS PLEASE FIX IT. IT EVEN LEAKS WHEN I GO THROUGH A CARWASH

NHTSA complaint #10874153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,141 miles Carnegie, PA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP PATRIOT FWD. WHILE PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPEWED OUT. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FILLER NECK VALVE WAS OPEN AND ALLOWED FUEL TO SPLASH BACK. DUE TO THE FAILURE, IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY TWENTY MINUTES TO FUEL THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,141.

NHTSA complaint #10840328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Birmingham, MI

SUSPENSION

THIS BEAUTIFUL CONDITION JEEP PATRIOT 2009 HAS NOT RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT AND HAS HUGE RUST HOLES WHERE THE ENGINE CRADLE ONCE WAS. NOW I GET CLANKING AND CRACKING NOISES WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR AND BELIEVE THE RUSTED OUT ENGINE CRADLE IS THE ISSUE. SEARCHED WEB SITES AND SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE ON OTHER YEARS FOR SIMILAR VEHICLES LIKE THE JEEP COMPASS WHICH SHARES THAT PLATFORM.

NHTSA complaint #10747645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Sunman, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE SUNROOF LEAKS. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAY THEY CAN 'FIX' IT. THEY BLOW OUT THE DRAIN LINES. THAT DOES NOT FIX IT, WITHIN A FEW MONTHS IT IS BLOCKED/KINKED AGAIN. WHY DOES THE WATER DRIP THROUGH THE WINDOW SEAL ANYWAY? SEEMS THAT IS WHAT NEEDS FIXING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIO-$550.00-AND EVERY TIME THEY BLOW OUT THE DRAIN LINES, IT IS $35.00. THIS IS MY 5TH AND LAST JEEP PRODUCT. IT IS PARKED IN A GARAGE ALL DAY AT WORK AND ALL NIGHT AT HOME. WHAT WOULD THE PROBLEM BE LIKE IF I PARKED IT UNDER TREES? NOW THE MAP LIGHTS DON'T WORK FROM THE WATER DAMAGE, AND YES, I KNOW, IT IS PAST WARRANTY-IN THE BEGINNING, YOU THINK YOU LEFT IT OPEN A CRACK, OR IT IS COLD AND SOMETHING IS FROZEN, AND THEN THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN 'FIX' THE PROBLEM. AND NOW, FINALLY, I AM REALIZING THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW-I GOOGLED IT, AND I AM AMONG THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10630159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Sunman, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SUNROOF LEAKS. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAY THEY CAN 'FIX' IT. THEY BLOW OUT THE DRAIN LINES. THAT DOES NOT FIX IT, WITHIN A FEW MONTHS IT IS BLOCKED/KINKED AGAIN. WHY DOES THE WATER DRIP THROUGH THE WINDOW SEAL ANYWAY? SEEMS THAT IS WHAT NEEDS FIXING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIO-$550.00-AND EVERY TIME THEY BLOW OUT THE DRAIN LINES, IT IS $35.00. THIS IS MY 5TH AND LAST JEEP PRODUCT. IT IS PARKED IN A GARAGE ALL DAY AT WORK AND ALL NIGHT AT HOME. WHAT WOULD THE PROBLEM BE LIKE IF I PARKED IT UNDER TREES? NOW THE MAP LIGHTS DON'T WORK FROM THE WATER DAMAGE, AND YES, I KNOW, IT IS PAST WARRANTY-IN THE BEGINNING, YOU THINK YOU LEFT IT OPEN A CRACK, OR IT IS COLD AND SOMETHING IS FROZEN, AND THEN THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN 'FIX' THE PROBLEM. AND NOW, FINALLY, I AM REALIZING THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW-I GOOGLED IT, AND I AM AMONG THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10630159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Sunman, IN

STRUCTURE

THE SUNROOF LEAKS. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAY THEY CAN 'FIX' IT. THEY BLOW OUT THE DRAIN LINES. THAT DOES NOT FIX IT, WITHIN A FEW MONTHS IT IS BLOCKED/KINKED AGAIN. WHY DOES THE WATER DRIP THROUGH THE WINDOW SEAL ANYWAY? SEEMS THAT IS WHAT NEEDS FIXING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIO-$550.00-AND EVERY TIME THEY BLOW OUT THE DRAIN LINES, IT IS $35.00. THIS IS MY 5TH AND LAST JEEP PRODUCT. IT IS PARKED IN A GARAGE ALL DAY AT WORK AND ALL NIGHT AT HOME. WHAT WOULD THE PROBLEM BE LIKE IF I PARKED IT UNDER TREES? NOW THE MAP LIGHTS DON'T WORK FROM THE WATER DAMAGE, AND YES, I KNOW, IT IS PAST WARRANTY-IN THE BEGINNING, YOU THINK YOU LEFT IT OPEN A CRACK, OR IT IS COLD AND SOMETHING IS FROZEN, AND THEN THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN 'FIX' THE PROBLEM. AND NOW, FINALLY, I AM REALIZING THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW-I GOOGLED IT, AND I AM AMONG THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10630159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles NEW Orleans, LA

POWER TRAIN

I WAS SLOWING DOWN AS I APPROACHED A LIGHT WHEN MY JEEP PATRIOT STALLED IN TRAFFIC. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT.

NHTSA complaint #10626253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles NEW Orleans, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS SLOWING DOWN AS I APPROACHED A LIGHT WHEN MY JEEP PATRIOT STALLED IN TRAFFIC. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT.

NHTSA complaint #10626253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,579 miles SAN Antonio, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY

JEEP IS LEAKING WATER THROUGH THE FRONT MAP LIGHT, SUNROOF, "A" PILLARS, AND REAR INTERIOR HATCH LIGHT. SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ON 10-8-2013 AND THE WATER LEAK STARTED AGAIN ON 03-24-2014. CHRYSLER DID ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN #23-016-10 ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THERE IS WATER ACCUMULATING INSIDE THE PILLAR'S AND I CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY AIR BAGS AND MOLD ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #10574830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,800 miles Albany, NY

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED FOR NEW TIRES AT 35000 MILES ,, ALL MILES ARE HIGH WAY WITH NO OFF ROAD OR BEACH ETC. MECHANIC FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS/CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY TO THE POINT OF MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND UN DRIVABLE UNTIL REPAIRED. READING ON LINE COMMENTS THIS PREMATURE FAILURE SEEMS AS IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10562525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Winston Salem, NC

POWER TRAIN

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR THE RPM'S STARTED GOING UP AND THE CAR STARTED WHIRRING LIKE IT WAS STRAINING. A LIGHT CAME ON THAT I LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT LIGHT. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE TO ABOUT 5MPH. I HAD TO PULL OFF AND SIT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES UNTIL THE CAR COOLED DOWN AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES. YOUR CAR SLOWING DOWN ON A BUSY INTERSTATE COMING FROM WASHINGTON DC IS VERY SCARY. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OVER AND NOT CRASH. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALER WHO CHECKED IT AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. SO WE DROVE IT AGAIN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME DURING A 90 MILE TRIP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10544095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.