LOWER BALL JOINTS BAD 83000 MILES. MULTIPLE POSTS BY OTHER ON FORUM ABOUT SAME ISSUE. JEEPPATRIOT DOT COM. SOME PEOPLE NEED NEW ONES AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. TERRIBLE PARTS USED BY CHRYSLER, I AM AFRAID MY TIRE WILL FALL OF ON WAY TO WORK SO THAT I CAN PAY FOR THE REPAIR THAT IS NEEDED! *TR
2008 Jeep Patriot 4x4 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →
REPEATEDLY BROUGHT 2008 JEEP PATRIOT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR ESTIMATE OF CREAKING IN SUSPENSION AND/OR STEERING COLUMN. WAS TOLD THAT A ROCK WAS FOUND IN THE SUSPENSION AND IT WAS REMOVED. PROBLEM PERSISTED AND AGAIN I TOOK THE JEEP BACK FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD THAT NO SOUND COULD BE HEARD AND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE JEEP PATRIOT. LOOKED ON LINE WHERE I FOUND THE INFORMATION ON BAD BALL JOINTS AND ARMS HTTP://WWW.JEEPPATRIOT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=37926&PAGE=4. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND JEEP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. I AM TAKING IT IN FOR A 4TH TIME FOR MY CONCERN FOR SAFETY. *TR
2008 JEEP PATRIOT TIE ROD END FAILURE AT 50K MILES. GOOD THING I HAD A STATE INSPECTION AND THEY FOUND THIS. I'VE NOT HAD FRONT END PARTS GO BAD LIKE THIS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY ARE USING CHEAP FRONT END PARTS ON THESE VEHICLES, SOME FAIL AT UNDER 20K MILES. TIE ROD ENDS, BALL JOINTS, AND CONTROL ARMS SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE SPEED TO INDEPENDENTLY DROP FROM 70 TO 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE COMPUTER WAS RESET HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE COULD ONLY BE DIAGNOSED WHILE IT OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
I HAVE A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE IS THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING VALVE IS DEFECTIVE. THE MAIN VALVE STEM IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM AND THEY ARE SNAPPING IN HALF RIGHT BELOW WHERE THE VALVE SCREWS IN ON THE STEM. THIS CAUSES A SUDDEN DECREASE OF AIR PRESSURE THAT WE ALMOST LOST THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE TIRE STORE WE HAVE ANOTHER TIRE STEM THAT IS READY TO BREAK ALSO. THE VALVE STEMS USED TO BE MADE OUT OF BRASS OR STEEL. AND IN THE COLORADO WEATHER WITH THE SEVERE COLD I THINK IT IS CRACKING THE ALUMINUM STEMS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT BUT SHOULDN'T BE TOO COSTLY TO REPAIR. IF NOT RECALLED THERE WILL BE ROLLOVERS AS THE TIRE PRESSURE GOES OUT VERY QUICKLY. I DO HAVE KNOWLEDGEABLE SKILLS IN THE MECHANICAL AREAS SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT SAFE. *TR
2008 JEEP PATRIOT 49,000 MILES. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END MAKING LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. HAVEN'T LOCATED EXACT ISSUE YET, BUT HAVE IT NARROWED DOWN TO BALL JOINT OR TIE-END. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4 LTD. IT HAS 35,664 MILES ON IT AND BOTH BALL JOINTS ARE BAD, BAD, BAD. LAST NIGHT AFTER PICKING UP MY TWO BABIES, I ENCOUNTERED A FLAT TIRE. BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE CAMBERING AND NOW I HAVE TWO FLATS AS A RESULT OF THE BAD BALL JOINTS. AS SERVICE MEMBERS, WE NEED TO BE AT OUR JOBS OR BE ABLE TO BE ON CALL. THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE AND NOW, IT'S NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE ISSUE AT HAND. I KNOW I AM NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND I'M ASHAMED OF THE CHRYSLER CORP FOR NOT LOOKING INTO THIS AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
THE DIALS ON THE DASHBOARD REGULATING HEAT/AIR-CONDITIONING, TEMPERATURE, AND FAN SPEED HEAT UP TO VERY WARM/HOT WHEN THE AIR-CONDITIONING IS ON AND WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. THE DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS IS COMMON ON JEEPS. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. *TR
2008 JEEP PATRIOT 5-SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR. DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR. FIRST GEAR IS RANDOM, BUT IN THE LAST WEEK HAPPENED THREE TIMES, TWO TIMES, ABOUT 5KM APART. REVERSE GEAR IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. THE DEALERSHIP JUST STATED NFF (NO FAULT FOUND). *TR
2008 JEEP PATRIOT 5 SPEED MANUALS ARE HAVING CLUTCH RELATED ISSUES CAUSED MY CLUTCH MASTER OR SLAVE CYLNDER FAILURES. THE VEHICLE SUDDNELY STOPS OR NOT ABLE TO CHANGE GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I WAS LUCKY THAT I HAD THAT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS IN MY PARKING. THE CLUTCH RESERVOR IS SHARED WITH BRAKE AND CLUTCH. THERE ARE SO MANY 2008 PATRIOT OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, WHEN EITHER CLUTCH OR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILS, BRAKE FAILS TOO. I HAD TWO ACCIDENTES EARLIER WHEN BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I TOOK MY 2008 PATROT TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSIDER AS WEAR-TEAR ITEM, BUT IS IS NOT. THE CLUTCH PLATE IS WEAR-TEAR NOT A CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. CHRYSLER JEEP DEALERS ARE CHEATING CONSUMERS BY NOT HONORING LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. PLEASE READ THIS JEEP PATRIOT FORUM TO FIND SO MANY LIKE ME HAVING SAME ISSUES. BUT JEEP DEALERS ARE NOT REPORTING IT CORRECTLY, SO NHTSA CAN NOT FIND OUT ABOU THIS ISSUE, AND SO CHRYLSER CAN AVOID THE RECALL. HERE IS THE POST: HTTP://WWW.JEEPPATRIOT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=3208 I AM FORWARDING THIS MESSAGE TO ALL MAJOR NEWSPAPERS, AND TV MEDIA, I HOPE THAT SOMEONE TAKES SOME ACTION ABOUT THIS.
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL FAILURE. WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 8 IN ARIZONA WARNING LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH AND BRAKES NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER IN YUMA, ARIZ (FISHER JEEP) I WAS TOLD TO SHUT IT OFF AND SEE IF IT WOULD RESET ON IT'S OWN. THIS SEEMED TO WORK, BUT I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY TO CHECK THIS UNLESS IT FAILED COMPLETELY. I CONTACTED THE MFGR AND THEY CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER SAID. THEY ALSO SAID THIS ITEM (ETC) IS ONLY COVERED FOR 3 YEARS UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE I ONLY HAVE A FEW MONTHS LEFT I AM AFRAID THIS WILL FAIL AND LEAVE ME WITH A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL. *TR
DASH LIGHTS -- 4WD, ABS, ESP AND BAS LIGHTS, SKIDDING CAR ICON -- ALL COME ON AT SAME TIME ACCOMPANIED BY WARNING CHIME WHILE BRAKING AND TURNING A CORNER AT LOW SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. ENGINE STALLS, LOSS OF POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING ETC., CAR STALLS IN MIDDLE OF ROAD NEAR INTERSECTION ' SAFETY HAZARD. WILL NOT RESTART ON FIRST TRY (NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN I TURN THE KEY). STARTS ON SECOND TRY, THEN DIES. FINALLY STARTS AND REMAINS RUNNING ON THIRD TRY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED JEEP DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. NEITHER WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE DEFECT. THIS IS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN ONCE OR TWICE A DAY NOW AND IS BECOMING A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
ON MY 2008 JEEP PATRTIOT, ON BRAKING, USUALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, MOST OF THE DASH LIGHTS, INCLUDING 4WD, ABS AND ESP, COME ON BRIEFLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BEGINNING AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES. USUALLY, THE ONLY SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM IS THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME, BUT THE ENGINE REMAINS RUNNING. RECENTLY, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, AND EVEN MORE WORRISOME, IS THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE SOMETIMES DIES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS MORNING, THE LIGHTS CAME ON, THE WARNING CHIME SOUNDED AND THE ENGINE DIED WHEN I WAS TURNING A CORNER, CAUSING ME TO LOSE FORWARD PROGRESS, POWER STEERING, ETC. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO A JEEP DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE, AND NEITHER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE PROBLEM.*CW
SENTRY KEY RECEIVER FAILED IN STEERING COLUMN. THERE IS NO WAY TO START ENGINE WHEN COMPONENT FAILS, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIR. FULL REPAIR AND TOW COVERED BY WARRANTY, HOWEVER THIS RUNS OUT AT 36K MILES. AFTER THAT CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TOW COSTS AND REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY PART, WHICH IS NOT A COMPONENT SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR OF USE. *TR
THERE IS A WATER LEAK COMING FROM THE ROOF AREA AFTER A RAIN WITH VEHICLE PARKED OUTSIDE. MOST OF IT IS COMING DOWN NEAR THE DOME LIGHTS UPON STOPPING FROM FORWARD MOTION. IT CAUSES WATER TO GO INTO THE DASH AND ELECTRONICS PANEL AND ONTO DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. SUNROOF SEAL WAS REPLACED BY DEALER WITH NO RESULT. I RETURNED IT TO DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND REPAIR. MAJOR HIDDEN WATER DAMAGE SUSPECTED. DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT GET MFG INVOLVED AT THIS TIME. I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD IT COULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT A TRADE UP FOR MORE MONEY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR BOX WAS PLACED IN AN UNDESIRABLE LOCATION. WHEN SHE RESTED HER HAND, SHE WOULD REPEATEDLY KNOCK THE SHIFTER OUT OF ITS INTENDED POSITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,700.
VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 17" TIRES AND WHEELS. SPARE IS LIMITED USE 16" TIRE. *TR
WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW REAR OF VEHICLE BECOMES COVERED WITH SNOW OBSCURING TAIL LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE. MANUFACTURER OFFERS AN AFTER MARKET REAR DEFLECTOR,THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HELP CORRECT PROBLEM. COST IS AROUND $200.00. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4. WHILE DRIVING GREATER THAN 40 MPH WITH BOTH REAR WINDOWS OPENED, THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC THROUGH THE SIDE MIRROR AND THE NOISE IS UNBEARABLE. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER AGREED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND FOUND NO FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,506 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,622. UPDATED 09/25/08 *BF UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB
HEADLINER IS LOOSE IN MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT. SLAPS VIOLENTLY AGAINST ROOF. NOISE IS SO LOUD, IT SOUNDS LIKE A HELICOPTER (NO EXAGGERATION). THIS HAPPENS WHEN A WINDOW IS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. TO AN UNSUSPECTING DRIVER, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT SCARED ME THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. MY SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AS I WAS TAKING HER FOR HER FIRST RIDE IN MY BRAND NEW CAR, SHE PUT THE BACK WINDOW DOWN AND THIS LOUD HELICOPTER NOISE CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. I LITERALLY JUMP IN MY SEAT AS I WAS DRIVING. I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY WRECKED THE CAR FROM THE SCARE OF THE SUDDEN NOISE OVERHEAD. THIS IS ALSO POTENTIALLY DAMAGING TO YOUR EARS (IT IS THAT LOUD). CHRYSLER / JEEP REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE ALL 2008 JEEP PATRIOTS HAVE THE "SAME DESIGN FLAW" (YES THEY ADMIT IT). I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE BBB (CHRYSLER DOESN'T AGREE TO ARBITRATION WITH THE BBB), THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (OHIO AND MICHIGAN), AND EVEN CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY. I AM BEING TOLD THAT SINCE CHRYSLER REFUSES TO EVEN MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT, THAT IT DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO MY FATHER OVER THE PHONE, THEN TOOK HIM FOR A RIDE IN IT SEVERAL WEEKS LATER TO DEMONSTRATE. MY FATHER COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT IT COULD BE THAT BAD NO MATTER HOW I TRIED TO WORD IT. AFTER THE DEMONSTRATION MY FATHER WAS IN TOTAL SHOCK AND DISBELIEF. HE EVEN COMPLAINED THAT IT HURT HIS EARS AFTER JUST A FEW SECONDS OF RIDING IN THE CAR. MY POINT IS, YOU HAVE TO SEE/HEAR IT TO FULLY APPRECIATE THE SEVERITY. I AM
4WD! DEFAULT LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AS ACCORDING TO MANUAL. FOUR TRIPS TO FIRST DEALERSHIP FOR THE INITIAL REPAIRS. PROBLEM RESOLVED TOLD WAS FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. SINCE THEN, 4WD! AND ESP/BAS DEFAULT LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. WAITING FOR RESULTS. WHEN DEFAULT OCCURS THE 4WD IS DISABLED W/O WARNING, THUS, CAUSING A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2008 Jeep Patriot 4x4 → · Every Patriot 4x4 year → · How the figures are calculated →