840 of the
4,387 complaints filed about the Jeep Patriot
are about the engine —
19% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2016.
One month ago while driving on Business US10, the vehicle had the sensation like the engine had stopped no acceleration, lightning bolts and engine light came on with a sound of a ding ding, ding. Pulled over to the entrance of a Shell station. Shut the vehicle off. restarted within 5 minutes and drove 1 mile to the dealership. The mechanic said it was most likely the throttle body but would have to schedule me out a few weeks and don't leave town in case you need a tow. After a few days the lights on the dash were no longer present. called the dealership and told them the lights were not showing on the dashboard. He advised It was most likely a glitch, but they would check it out. Following appointment, they sent me on my way and said they could not find anything wrong. Since then July 2026 the vehicle has an awful smell upon starting up, using a lot of gas, spitting, hesitating upon acceleration, poor ideal, Aug 12 2026 while entering US10 ramp vehicle hesitated upon acceleration, lightning bolts were blinking on a off but then it went away, I had a complete tune up the following week along with air filters and oil change done according to maintenance recommendations, That didn't help the problem at all. I am a 77 yr. old disabled women who have many doctor appointments and do not need a vehicle which may cause the risk of the engine stalling, loss of control not to mention other hazards. Aug 17,2026 took the vehicle to a Jeep dealer where they put the equipment to read the history and present problems, It showed error Electronic throttle. no other codes. So, now another issue they can't get my car in until this 1st week of September 2026 for a diagnosis. I asked if there would be any reason not to drive the vehicle, they said don't leave town. This vehicle has now caused me great anxiety and in fear that the vehile will stop at a traffic light, when I have to slow down approaching aa turn. I am asking and requesting this is considered a grave saftey hazard .
NHTSA complaint #11757914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2016 Jeep Patriot is cutting off while I’m driving on the highway at 65 mph. The lights on the dashboard are on and for no apparent reason. Now my radio system is cutting on and off sporadically.Rendering my satellite radio and hands free use of my phone useless. I’ve been told that my car has no recalls. Although this recall "S89 / NHTSA 16V-907, seems like the exact problems I’m experiencing. I have taken good care of this vehicle and have had regular maintenance provided. This is a SAFETY issue and I should be able to get it fixed by recall. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11756677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Last year (2025) we were on a trip to Minneapolis, MN when our vehicle randomly stalled out on us. It would allow us to start it up again immediately, but stalled again shortly after. Each time it stalled, the dash lights would pop up and the engine would immediately stall and die. We had the car fixed in a pinch, and the diagnosis was a crank shaft error. Fast forward to this past weekend, our car stalled again in traffic, with the dash lights coming on and the engine immediately dying. This time, we were unable to start the vehicle again to get it to a safe location, so ended up pushing it in neutral to the closest convenience store and have the vehicle towed to a Jeep dealer. Upon inspection of the car, the diagnosis was again a bad crank shaft sensor causing erratic readings and needing to be replaced. Having the same issue twice on the same vehicle, we looked into possible recalls that we had previously missed. We found that our VIN does not qualify for any past or present recalls. However, we did find a recall for 2016 Jeep Patriots that addressed the faulty crank shaft sensors (NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V907000). Having had this same issue twice, our vehicle is clearly being affected by root cause which the above recall was based on. Knowing that, it's hard to believe our vehicle doesn't qualify for this recall, and we would like that recall service extended to our VIN, especially since the issue has happened on multiple occasions.
NHTSA complaint #11744544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle violently jerked while the transmission was changing gear. Additionally, while starting the vehicle, the RPM revved to 1,500 RPM before the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the camshaft and crankshaft sensors were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,121.
NHTSA complaint #11730152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On a fateful day, I, [XXX] , found myself in a harrowing situation on the interstate. While driving, my car unexpectedly flipped over, tumbling four times before coming to a jarring stop. The chaos began when my engine backfired violently, which was followed by the alarming sight of smoke rising from under the hood as flames erupted. To make matters worse, my four-wheel drive system malfunctioned, leaving me helpless and unable to regain control. Despite my efforts, the seatbelt that is supposed to ensure safety failed to hold me securely, and the airbag system did not deploy, adding to the sense of dread I experienced during the crash. As I tried to process the unfolding nightmare, I found myself unable to unbuckle my seatbelt due to the shock and disorientation of the accident. The dashboard's sensors were unresponsive, and my speed monitor flickered as though mocking my plight. In that moment, the overwhelming fear and confusion turned into a painful reality as I was left with a broken left shoulder blade and a fractured left forearm, the break occurring in the upper arm, just adding to the turmoil of the incident. This life-altering experience not only left me physically injured but also sparked a deep reflection on my life and the importance of safety measures in vehicles. On a fateful day, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11725402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted, and the contact drove to the residence; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the crankshaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V907000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
NHTSA complaint #11720105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the shoulder of the road. While attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed crankshaft position sensor. The contact was informed that the crankshaft position sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had occurred several times. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
NHTSA complaint #11720263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine stalls only after filling up gas, resulting in check engine light or oil light turning on. I have taken it to numerous mechanics, who have all given me different answers, with anywhere from issues with EVAP hoses and fuel tank, to the fuel pump, or purge system. Problem was never addressed or mentioned when bought from dealership in June 2025 but noticed immediately after filling up gas for the first time since purchase of the car and problem occurs continuously after filling up gas. Not sure if related either, but if gas tank is overfilled at all in the slightest, it leaks out the bottom immediately.
NHTSA complaint #11711168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle acts like it wants to shut off. No warnings or check engine lights it just starts to shake and not let me accelerate. Auto shop looked at it and engine and transmission are ok. They look ed at it 6 times in 4 months and it just keeps happening. Now car is leaking oil and they can’t figure out where from, they replaced oil pan me anything relating to it so not sure what’s wrong. Also, clicking sound from air vent seems to be a electrical issue. Key is starting to bend from ignition shape also. We replaced the key multiple times. New brakes and new rotors but car screeches and sounds like brakes are old but they’re brand new. Car sounds like struggling when accelerators.
NHTSA complaint #11710973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle began not accelerating and then shut-off. Check engine light was not on, but it sputters. I put it in the shop and was told it's the engine and needs replacing.
NHTSA complaint #11706405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light and traction control warning light were illuminated. In addition, the contact had to use force to steer the wheel. The contact was unable to coast to the side of the road during several failures. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that after resuming driving, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the crankshaft and camshaft sensors had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V907000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11695843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving home from a wedding with a passenger in my car, the engine for my Jeep Patriot stalled several times. The car would come to a stop and was difficult to control when the stalling occurred, putting both myself and my passenger at risk of a traffic accident. The car was towed to an independent service center which documented in their reports the engine stalling repeatedly. This independent service center was not able to alleviate the issue despite replacing the crankshaft and camshaft sensors. I then took the car to my local Jeep dealership, which performed further repairs on the crankshaft sensor and wiring harnesses, thereby resolving the problem. The vehicle and components were not inspected by any other parties to my knowledge. There were no warning lights or prior indication that the engine was about to stall, adding to the danger associated with this incident.
NHTSA complaint #11695473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Patriot. While the contact’s daughter was driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and decelerated unintendedly. During the failure, the power steering, brake assist, and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road, where the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was towed and after approximately 30 - 40 minutes, the vehicle was restarted. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V115000 (Electrical System); online, which indicated a similar failure and that the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM-7) might fail, causing the vehicle to stall without warning. The make and model year was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #11688798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the fuel and the oxygen were not mixing correctly. The dealer confirmed that the throttle body box sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, who confirmed that the same failure had reoccurred. The throttle body box sensor was replaced again. The contact stated that after the repair, while starting the vehicle, there was a misfire coming from the engine. The contact made several attempts, but the failure persisted. After turning off the vehicle, waiting for a while, and then restarting the vehicle, the contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the dealer a third time, and the dealer determined that the same part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,105.
NHTSA complaint #11686811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My son was driving his vehicle on the interstate in Florida when all of the sudden engine stopped working. He was able to navigate to the side and eventually it started up and made back to campus. Codes had came up so took to Firestone and changed spark plugs. We checked NHTSA website for engine recalls and showed had some but not for his specific vehicle per VIN. Only sounded a little better so took to Jeep dealership and paid for diagnostic evaluation and told “alternator falling apart” but nothing wrong with engine or transmission. They changed a belt Dealership also said no recall for his particular vehicle. Problem continued so took to local mechanism who replaced alternator and a good bit better. So between 8/20/25-8/26/25, he took car to 3 repair shops that couldn’t find the problem completely. Then on [XXX] while driving on interstate, son saw smoke then fire coming from under hood. Car caught on fire. Was able to pull over and call 911 who had fire department put out fire. He survived fire but emotionally a wreak. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11684580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving my 2016 Jeep Patriot on multiple occasions, the engine suddenly shuts off without warning. After shutting off the car would also have alot of issues restarting. I finally took it to multiple mechanics and they all indicated they couldn't find out exactly what was the problem, given nothing showed up on their diagnostics testing's. After the car finally wouldn't start anymore, i got it towed to the dealership and they diagnosed the car with failed crankshaft sensor (which has already been recalled on a chunk of the 2016 Jeep patriots manufactured).
NHTSA complaint #11683001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.