The compact SUV segment is a very competitive market and Jeep decided to tackle this issue by pricing the Patriot lower than its competitors. The Jeep Patriot offers the rugged styling and characteristics of the brand and has managed to sell over 75,000 units of the vehicle. The 2013 Jeep patriot only carries 112 complaints in total with a single recall. There have however been major concerning issues with the car that include component breakage and chances of fire. The SUV is also said to overheat after continuous driving but all these complaints were found in only selective vehicles. The jeep Patriot faces some serious competition from cars like the Subaru Crosstrek, the Buick Encore, and the Kia Sportage.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
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Power window – The user was driving while they noticed smoke in the rear row through the mirror. The burning smell got stronger and the driver stopped the car to a side and turned the ignition off. The wires were soon disconnected by the fire safety team and it was determined that the rear passenger window regulator had short-circuited. The dealers claimed there were no faults from the brand’s side and the regulator and wires had to be replaced.
Mechanical Problems
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Engine – The contact stated that the car would decelerate all of a sudden and even stall. Starting the car back was said to be difficult and they had to get it towed to the mechanics. It was said that the throttle body had failed and the catalytic converter was said to need a replacement too. The car performed normally after the repair.
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Engine cooling – The Patriot seems to have a heating issue and the vehicle was said to drop in speed and enter limp mode. The car would only hit a maximum of 30 MPH and the only solution is to find a place where the vehicle can be parked to let the engine cool down.
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Fuel system – The vehicle was said to stop taking in fuel when it reached half tank capacity. This was diagnosed to find out that the roll-over valve was faulty and replacing it fixed the issue.
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Powertrain – It was a regular drive when the user suddenly heard a crackling noise and the car completely died. There was fluid leaking from underneath the car and was towed to the dealers. The issue was inspected and it was stated that the input shaft bearing was faulty and had premature wearing. The bearing got onto the transaxle and completely locked it up. The locking up caused the case to crack and resulted in all the fluids leaking. The entire transaxle was replaced after notifying the corporate office.
Safety Problems
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Airbags / Seatbelts – The users received a recall stating that the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners could be disabled while driving without the knowledge of the occupants. However, the dealers claimed they did not have the necessary parts to perform the repair. Some owners have been waiting for the repair for almost a year.
Structural Problems
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Sunroof – The sunroof is said to have a leak that lets water drop straight onto the dash area. This caused the radio and dash lights to stop working and soaked the front carpets. The sunroof needed new seals and the radio console had to be replaced as the water damage on it was way beyond repair. This only affected the cabin equipment as the headlight stopped working because the water was able to blow up the respective fuse.
2013 Jeep Patriot recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
15th September 2016 |
16V668000 |
Airbags/seatbelt pretensioners may be disabled. |
The occupant restraint control system may short circuit, preventing the front airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and side airbags from deploying during a crash. |
Dealers will replace the ORC module. |
Should you buy the 2013 Jeep Patriot?
The 2013 Jeep Patriot is a good choice in the compact SUV segment but there have been certain issues that needed a recall but were not addressed. Multiple vehicles had a faulty catalytic converter that hindered the performance of the car and the Patriot also overheats a lot even if the fluid levels are all ideal. Recalls for such issues would have peaked up the reliability of the Jeep but as it stands, there are better options available in the market. Both the Subaru and the Kia offer better reliability than the Jeep but it still is a good options, especially if you are looking for a rugged and muscular vehicle. We recommend getting the transaxle and the catalytic converter checked before picking up the Jeep in order to avoid any future breakdowns and stalling.
