Jeep packaged its iconic design and decent off-roading prowess in a compact crossover SUV, the Patriot. Jeep might have made a confusing vehicle based on a car platform but it offers a decent reliability aspect. However, along with bringing a slew of updates for the 2011 model year, the Patriot also came with slightly higher numbers of issues than the last year’s model. Also, the SUV was recalled 4 times for issues including its safety equipment faults and steering malfunctions. The NHTSA investigated the SUV twice for an airbag inflator rupture problem and engine stalling issues due to fuel delivery failures. In the complaints section, the SUV saw a majority of them against its powertrain followed by airbags, suspension, and electrical system. In its class, the SUV goes up against the Ford Escape, the Subaru Forester, the Nissan Cube, and the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
Jeep Patriot user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Sudden engine stalling: Sudden engine stalling has been a known problem with several 2011 Jeep Patriot SUVs. The engines of the affected vehicles stalled suddenly while they were being driven. No particular reason for the failures was detected by the concerned dealerships upon further inspection.
- Transmission overheating: Apart from the engine stalling issue, several owners faced transmission overheating issues too. While driving, the instrument cluster would display the transmission overheating warning sign followed by loss of acceleration and engine stalling. The problems occurred with the CVT-equipped models only.
Safety problems
- Non-deployment of airbags: In cases of crashes, the airbags of some Patriot models failed to deploy. Despite the impacts during the crashes being significant, the airbags did not deploy, resulting in the occupants getting injured.
- Brake failures: Other than the non-deployment of airbags issues, the 2011 Jeep Patriot has several encounters with brake failures. The symptoms include the brake pedals going all the way to the floor and the vehicles not stopping despite pressing the brake pedals fully.
- Seat belt pre-tensioner failure: Several models of the 2011 Jeep Patriot faced this issue with their seat belt pre-tensioners. During a crash, the pre-tensioners failed to keep the occupants in place and, combined with the non-deployment of airbags, caused injuries too.
Miscellaneous problems
- Steering system malfunction: The steering in several 2011 Jeep Patriot 2WD models was calibrated poorly. As a result, the vehicles would pull to the right while driving, and even after aligning the wheels, the problem persists. Also, a few cases of steering seizures were also reported against the vehicle as well.
2011 Jeep Patriot recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
June 8, 2011 |
11V315000 |
Steering column |
A missing or incorrectly installed rivet could compromise the ability of the steering column to support the occupant loads in the event of a frontal crash, decreasing the effectiveness of the frontal impact safety system. As a result, the condition may increase the potential for injury in a frontal crash. |
The dealers will inspect for rivet presence and alignment and repair the steering column pivot as required, free of charge. The safety recall began on July 4, 2011. |
|
2 |
June 4, 2013 |
13V233000 |
Delayed Deployment or Non-Deployment of Airbags |
In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the side curtain airbag and/or seatbelt pretensioners. As a result, vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury in a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall began on June 21, 2013. |
|
3 |
September 15, 2016 |
16V668000 |
Airbags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled |
If the frontal airbags, seat belt pretensioners, and side airbags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems. |
Chrysler will notify the owners, and the dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. |
|
4 |
December 21, 2017 |
17V824000 |
Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable |
If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire. |
Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. |
Should you buy a used Jeep Patriot?
The Jeep Patriot is a go-to vehicle in its class if you prefer to venture into the wilderness occasionally, sporting that Jeep design. However, the SUV doesn’t offer the exact Jeep-like off-roading prowess but also fails to offer a comfortable on-road driving characteristic as well. In the reliability department, the vehicle fares decently but there have been some troubles with the steering of some of the 2011 units. Moreover, the brand did not issue any recall yet to fix the reported powertrain problems such as the transmission overheating and the engine stalling. Getting a used model of the Patriot would require an in-depth inspection of the aforementioned issues by a knowledgeable person.
