What 353 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Patriot

Certified dealership service department omitted structural safety complaints from official service invoices, left vital diagnostic findings and performance metrics off paperwork tracking paths, cleared a compromised front suspension layout as safe, and actively instructed a vehicle operator to execute a driving pattern that induces sudden power loss on public roadway infrastructure. TIMELINE SUMMARY OF DEALERSHIP SERVICE (see uploaded PDF for details): March 26, 2026: Diagnostic service and fees for front right tire and new spark plugs. Left bay with immediate new serious issue. March 30, 2026: Follow up on new issue. No alerts. Given clearance. Zero charge invoice. May 19, 2026: Follow up AGAIN on same issue. Scheduled eventually after multiple tries to reach Supervisor. RPM alert reading. Technician gave negligent advice causing further damage to my vehicle and putting me in danger. The technician noted an unprecedented 3,000 to 4,000 RPM calculation anomaly on his computer screen yet dismissed the hazard by blaming my driving habits as "too gentle." He instructed me to find a ramp or an open stretch of road to "rev up" the acceleration and seek out cleaner fuel brands. Incomplete records. Zero charge invoice. I followed the advice and caused further damage and put myself and others at risk on the roads. June 22, 2026: Second opinion. Failing transmission and front arm controls damage. Reputable business reported: "Found front control arm bushings damaged and inop. Transmission fluid sample is dark and has a clutch odor. Test drove monitoring misfire and transmission: misfire 0. Trans slip during test drive even shows abnormal transmission slip. Recommend replacement of transmission and torque converter assembly." June 26, 2026: called management for full accountability. I request full repairs immediately. This situation created serious interruptions to my schedule and a threat to my personal safety. July 14, 2026: Certified letters to dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11750388

The subframe and rear cross members are extremely rusted and corroded, resulting in the vehicle being unsafe to drive. While there appears to be a ten year extended warranty covering the repair of this problem, apparently not every 2012 Jeep Patriot qualifies for extended warranty which only applies vehicles manufactured at only certain locations. According to FCA customer care the extended warranty does not attach my VIN number, although the rust and corrosion problem is identical to the damage repaired for other Jeep Patriots.

NHTSA ODI 11473951

RUSTED SUB-FRAME IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN. A GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR JEEP WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE REAR STARTED MAKING POUND CLUNKING SOUNDS. IF IT GET WORSE THE REAR WHEEL COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11416760

VEHICLE FAILED RI SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO CORRODED / COMPROMISED REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER. UNDERSTAND THAT CHRYSLER CORP. IS REPLACING THIS AND OTHER LIKE COMPONENTS ON MY YEAR JEEP PATRIOT. THEY ARE DIRECTING THAT THE ENTIRE TAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BE REPLACED. TING THAT I REPLACE THE

NHTSA ODI 11399078

TOOK JEEP PATRIOT TO FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER FOR FULL INSPECTION. UPON COMPLETION OF INSPECTION WAS TOLD BY THE TECH THAT MY VEHICLE HAD SEVERE UNDERBODY RUST/ ROT AND THAT THE FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AMONG MANY OTHER COMPONENTS NEEDED REPAIR/REPLACED SUCH AS COMPLETE BRAKE JOB, CV AXLES, GAS TANK BRACKET AND TWO SEIZED LUG/STUDS. APPARENTLY, FCA HAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION CALLED X69 BULLETIN THAT REPAIRS THE CROSSMEMBERS FOR RUST/ROT BUT IT IS ONLY FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEFORE 24 JANUARY 2012. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON MAY 2012. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NOT RECTIFIED FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER 24 JANUARY 2012 AND THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A FULL RECALL AND NOT A NARROW WARRANTY EXTENSION. BROKEN/COMPROMISED CROSSMEMBERS COULD RESULT AT A MINIMUM OF VEHICLE DESTRUCTION AND SERIOUS INJURY TO DRIVER/PASSENGERS AND A MAXIMUM LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE NHTSA SHOULD ACT ACCORDINGLY AND FORCE FCA TO START A RECALL IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI 11398157

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN OBJECT HANGING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER AND FRAME WERE RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BROWN-DAUB DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (7720 BETH BATH PIKE, BATH, PA 18014, (844) 532-2120) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 11363562

FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME OF THE JEEP HAS BAD CORROSIN, JEEP ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS PASS THE WARRANTY COVERAGE, WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 11231561

(1) SEAT BELTS/AIR BAGS: HAVE NOT HAD NOTICEABLE ISSUES WITH THESE YET HOWEVER ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A CHRYSLER RECALL #S61. IS A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE I COMMUTE TO WORK DAILY ON THE FREE WAY AND COULD GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT WHICH COULD BE DEADLY IF THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY OR IF THE SEATBELT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. (2) AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS: CHRYSLER RECALL # N01; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEGAN HAVING ISSUES SPONTANEOUSLY AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE AND HAVE PERSISTED. WARNING SIGNALS ON DASH WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL-RELATED. JEEP WILL ALSO RANDOMLY ALERT WHILE DRIVING MAKING A, "DING" NOISE WHEN THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. THIS SOFTWARE/ELECTRICAL ERROR COULD CAUSE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY AND CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SEATBELT PRE-TENSIONERS AS WELL WHICH COULD BE DEADLY IN A HIGH-SPEED FREEWAY ACCIDENT. (3) FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: CHRYSLER RECALL # N17; JEEP HAS LURCHED WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING AS IF THE ENGINE WAS STALLING OR AS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. JEEP WILL LURCH MOST OFTEN WHEN ACCELERATING AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION IS GETTING STUCK OR THE ENGINE IS STALLING BECAUSE THE RPM READING WILL SHOOT UP THEN DROP BACK DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING. (4) FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STORAGE TANK, ASSEMBLY: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 JEEP PATRIOT'S DUE TO SOME VEHICLES BEING BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY CONTAINING A DAMAGED ROLL-OVER VALVE. (5) SUSPENSION: CONSTANT SQUEAKING IN BACK SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR DRIVING ON UNEVEN GROUND. AUTOMOTIVE SHOP HAS YET TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OR ISSUE RESULTING IN THE SQUEAKING AND CREAKING AND WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO THEM FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11221105

FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND/OR BUSHINGS HAVE GONE BAD, BEFORE 72K MILES. CAUSES STEERING INSTABILITY AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. DOZENS OF OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THIS SAME MAKE/MODEL ARE EASILY FOUND ONLINE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND IT MERITS A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11155476

THIS JEEP PATRIOT HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION, FIRST AND FOREMOST. WHEN DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEEDS WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET, VEHICLE WILL STUTTER AND MISS GEARS. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FOUND ANY SOLUTION TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT LIGHT ON THE DASH. SECOND, THE JEEP HAS HAD A CREAKING/CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DEALER STARTED WITH REPLACING THE REAR STRUTS AND SWAY BAR BUSHING. THIS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE AND THE SOUND KEPT GETTING WORSE. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS HAVE DIAGNOSED SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT THEY "THINK" ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION AND CAUSING THE SOUND. THERE IS NO DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALERS ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO USE MY MONEY FOR A TRIAL AND ERROR REPLACEMENT OF EACH PART UNTIL THEY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUND. I AM NOT A TEST RAT FOR THEIR DEALERSHIP AND IF THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAR THEN THEY NEED TO REPLACE IT.

NHTSA ODI 10762366

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL WOULD SPIN FASTER THAN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WITH FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL THAT WAS SPINNING FASTER THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD NOT BE COMPROMISED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS MILEAGE 11,632.

NHTSA ODI 10496443

METALLIC CLUNK HEARD WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT OT DRIVEWAY (MAKING A Y TURN). METALLIC CLUNK HEARD WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A Y TURN. DEALER CHECKED BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT BUT STILL COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD TO COME BACK WHEN PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10453199