The compact SUV segment doesn’t really have a lot of cars that look like a tough vehicles but that’s where Jeep comes in to deliver a muscular-looking SUV for $18,040. The Jeep Patriot takes its design from its bigger cousin, the Jeep Wrangler and some people buy this car for just that reason. The 2017 Jeep Patriot stays true to the brand’s ruggedness but also offers some great practical space ideal for a family and the jeep is also much more affordable compared to its rivals like the Buick Encore, the Kia Sportage, and the Mazda CX-3. However, the Patriot does feel a bit dated when compared to the rivals, and even though the NHTSA report shows the car has 0 recalls and just 34 complaints, it doesn’t pack enough safety scores as the rivals do.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Warning lights – The user was driving the car when the ABS, traction, and check engine lights came on and the car was reported to jerk post that. The user had to switch the car off for a while before restarting it to fix the issue.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The car decelerated all of a sudden without applying the brakes and users also reported hearing knocking sounds from the engine. At times, the engine would stall and flash all the warning lights simultaneously.
- Steering – The steering wheel was reported to vibrate and pull toward the right on its own forcing the driver to slam the brakes.
- Fuel propulsion system – The car was at a red light and it accelerated on its own, the owner slammed the brakes but the car kept accelerating and ran into another car.
- Powertrain – The transmission was reported to overheat and started jerking for a few seconds with a loud noise.
- Brakes – The user was driving and wanted to slow down but the brakes failed to work and this resulted in a crash.
- Suspension – The front passenger side control arm was bent and this caused the car to bounce while driving which may lead to losing control.
Safety Problems
- Seatbelt – the seatbelt alarm keeps going even when the belt is buckled. Users also claimed that the rear seatbelts retracted by themselves after latching them securely.
Interior Problems
- Seat – A user was rear-ended by another car but the seat just reclined back during the impact rather than keeping the occupant in place safe and steady.
Exterior Problems
- Windshield – It was cold weather and the user witnessed the car’s rear windshield shatter after parking the car.
- Wheels – Users were cruising on the highway while the wheel was claimed to lock up with multiple warning lights turning on.
Structural Problems
- Water leak – Users reported water leaking from the map light section during rain which damaged the lights, sunroof controls, and the control panel directly below it which included the radio.
- Hood – Users stated that the hood vibrates when driving at speeds above 50 MPH.
Recalls
The 2017 Jeep Patriot does not have any recalls yet.
Should you buy the 2017 Jeep Patriot?
The 2017 Jeep Patriot is a car with the rugged and utilitarian styling that many looks for and the amount of space this car offers make it ideal for a family drive. However, apart from the styling and the slightly lower price, there isn’t anything great about the Patriot, especially when compared to the rivals. All the competitors offer a much better build quality and driver comfort and the price difference isn’t a lot between the Patriot and the Mazda or the Kia. Even though the Jeep has no recalls, the rivals are equipped with better safety features and have better safety scores making the Jeep seem a little less of an obvious choice here. We would recommend picking the Kia Sportage as that car offers a better value and has a much more comfortable drive quality than the Jeep.
