What 455 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Patriot

Air bag light is on and I havent been in a accident or anything.

NHTSA ODI 11722097

The driver headrest deployed without being in an accident. Took my vehicle to Phillips Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership on November 24, 2025 and the associate informed of the recalls/warranty I have. The invoice comment from the dealership "Performed inspection driver side front headrest has failed cannot replace due to part being discontinued." This results in driving a vehicle that is unsafe. I spoke with Chrysler hotline regarding the issue 12/2, 12/3, 12/8, 12/17 and was given a case # 94878288 which was closed without the problem being fixed/repaired. Just trying to get this issue resolved while the part is a recall and covered through the warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11705627

The air bag in the drivers head rest exploded while my daughter was driving away at college, thankfully she was stopped at a red light she only had a mild concussion, this head rest exploded all on its on without warning or being in a wreck,

NHTSA ODI 11678992

My air bag light keeps blinking off and on and my hood keeps rattling from coming loose in the front. And just like everyone my transmission doesn't act right they should have done recalled this car it was totally not worth 25000 dollars

NHTSA ODI 11640262

While parked the passenger side head rest opened up exposing the air bag ect stuff

NHTSA ODI 11598589

Brought Jepp Patriot 2016 to a car shop in Suisun City, CA and they did a thorough diagnostics of my Patriot and couldn’t find out why my battery light was coming on. They checked the alternator and battery and they said they were fine. I was on a main street in Suisun City and as I was turning to the left the car died on me and completely shut off. It was hard to turn wheels and hard to push the brakes and I had people push me out of the street into a sidewalk near a house. I then decided to try start it and it started and I was able to make it to my daughter’s house. My son-in-law and granddaughter used my car and hasn’t had the battery light come on yet but that has happened to me several times where it would come on and turn back off. There was only one incident where it died on me so far and I’m hoping it won’t do it again especially on a busier street. I can’t afford to bring it to dealership to see if they can find the reason why the battery lights comes off and on sporadically. I don’t know if any other Jeeps are having this issue but am asked to report it in case it does to happen to someone else.

NHTSA ODI 11581262

While sitting PARKED in a car port, the passenger seat headrest deployed, without the vehicle being bumped, jostled, shaken, or otherwise having any reason for the headrest to deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11518673

This vehicle had an air bag indicator light come on. After taking it to the dealer for diagnosis. It has a Restraint System Control Module that has quit responding and as a result has no Restraints that are operable. The part has been on order for over a month and the latest update from Chrysler says there is no ETA available due to the global microchip shortage. I am driving the vehicle out of necessity, but consider it unsafe.

NHTSA ODI 11496793

On 8/11/22 I was involved in a behicle accident where my air bag didn't deploy. Due to this I had injuries

NHTSA ODI 11479869

The front passenger AHR unexpectedly deployed while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was not involved in an accident. This incident happened on or about 05/12/2022. The driver AHR has not deployed, however, I am very concerned that an unexpected deployment might occur any time in the near or distant future.

NHTSA ODI 11464993

On 12/26/2020 I was driving down the interstate and my son lightly touched his headrest and it exploded open. I didn't realize at the time it was covered under the "x-86" extended warranty, and attempted in January 2021 to buy a replacement. Mopar canceled my order and told me to go through the dealership since it is a known issue. I did just that, and the order has been on hold since January or February of 2021. Chrysler customer service doesn't have a resolution for me, and won't talk to me anymore. Their department that specifically deals with this "x-86" issue won't even call or update my dealership Stew Hansen's, which is located at 12103 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50323. I am appalled and just want my headrest replacement. The parts manager found one in stock, but coincidentally it doesn't have the correct part number that Chrysler wants to honor to fix this for me. Chrysler is unwilling to make an exception for the part number and rectify this defective part. I want answers now. Please note that I have gotten married since this incident, and the dealership has my case filed under my maiden name [XXX], not [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11462135

I was hit on the front end of the car by another car going about 30 mph. It totaled the car but the airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11441243

The airbag light came on about 35 times, and I went to the dealer, they told me to come back later because the light wasn't illuminated, then I was told a sensor was broken, and they couldn't fix it, so that meant I would have zero airbags that worked.

NHTSA ODI 11424575

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHCILE WAS TAKEN TO EXTREME DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (2300 SEYMOUR RD, JACKSON, MI 49201, (517) 783-6200) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DISABLED AND THAT THE PASSENGER HEADREST AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 11402635

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONCE IN 2017. THEN IT WENT OFF AND CAME BACK ON 4 YEARS LATER. ON JANUARY 15, 2021 IT CAME ON ABOUT 20 TIMES. AND THEN ALL WEEKEND. I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IN THIS CASE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T HAVE A FULLY OPERATIONAL PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, AS SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR POSSIBLY KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON ALL ACCOUNTS ON CITY STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11388761

MY MALFUNCTIONING JEEP PATRIOT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTALED CAR, 2 DAMAGED BUILDINGS, AND A FCA LETTER STONEWALLING AND WASHING THEIR HANDS OF. THIS ACCIDENT CAME WITHIN A WHISKER OF TAKING OUR LIVES. ACCIDENT HAPPENED AS I DESCENDED OUR DRIVEWAY TO OUR HOUSE. DEEP SKID TIRE MARKS IN GRAVEL THEY CHOSE TO IGNORE. THEIR "INVESTIGATION" WAS VERY VERY SHALLOW. I HAVE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ALL THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND POLICE REPORT WHICH I CAN FAX TO YOU. I AM A VERY ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED VETERAN I NEED YOU. THANKS.*DT*DT*JP*DT*JB*JB

NHTSA ODI 11383533

HELLO . MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN CAR ACCIDENT . SHE WAS IN HER 2016 JEEP PATRIOT. WHICH THE ACCIDENT WAS PRETTY BIG. WHICH CAUSED AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. AIRBAG FROM STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T DEPLOY PROPERLY AND ALSO THE AIRBAG FROM THE DASHBOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIRBAGS RELEASED A LOT OF WHITE POWDER AND SMOKE WHICH MADE HER HAVE A HARD TIME BREATHING. SHE IS IN THE HOSPITAL NOW DUE TO THE LACK OF HELP FROM THE AIRBAG AND ALSO INHALING THE SUBSTANCE FROM THE AIRBAG

NHTSA ODI 11377824

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. WHEN I WENT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED MY DRIVER SIDE HEAD HAD EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI 11372316

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AN UNKNOWN VEHICLE VEERED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND CUT HER OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLY, SWERVED ACROSS THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO THE HILLSIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE PASSENGERS SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY COMPLETELY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,300. *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11317673

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME WHETHER RUNNING OR STATIONARY, THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER BATTERY CHANGE AT DEALERSHIP. DEALER SAYS THAT IT NEEDS NEW IPM INTEGRATED POWER MODULE $918 + TAX??

NHTSA ODI 11317187

WHEN INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAGS DELAYED DEPLOYMENT. THIS HAPPENED ON A DOWNTOWN STREET WITH SPEED OF 25 MPH. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION - SOMEONE FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT AWAY AND ACCIDENT COULDN'T BE AVOIDED.

NHTSA ODI 11160698

ON MONDAY 07/09/2018, WHILE STOPPED ON A CITY STREET WAS REAR-ENDED BY A TRUCK WHICH DIDN'T STOP GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 -50 MPH. IT SMASHED MY CAR INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WHICH WAS A CAR LENGTH AWAY. THE SEAT BROKE BACKWARDS, THE CENTER CONSOLE BETWEEN THE SEATS FLEW OFF, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED, KNEES WENT FORWARD INTO THE DASH.

NHTSA ODI 11110422

I BELIEVE THE CLOCKSPRING IS FAULTY. AIR BAG LIGHT ON, HORN NOT WORKING AND THE STEP/RESET BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. SCARED THE AIR BAG WONT DEPLOY IF IN A ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11110047

AIR BAG ALARM AND LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11105246

THE SYSTEM THAT MONITORS WHETHER A PASSENGER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT MALFUNCTIONS AND CAUSES THE SEATBELT TO SHOW UNBUCKLED THEREFORE TURNING THE AIRBAG OFF IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS SPECIFIC PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SIMILAR VEHICLES IN THE SAME YEAR BUT MY VIN WAS NOT SELECTED AND MY DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO PAY IN ORDER TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11102516