2008 Jeep Patriot engine problems

“Car stalls after fill up. NUMEROUS online Jeep forums have noted this issue for years. There seems to be an issue with the “vapor canister”. Recall was apparently issued for 2011 model - but not older models. It is intermittent yet consistent problem over past few months. Please note that an Engine stall leaves steering wheel LOCKED and unable to maneuver car for a period until can restart. Can leave driver on a VERY DANGEROUS situation traveling at speed !”

“UNKNOWN After I fill up on gas at different stations I had the car sputter and die after filling up til the nozzle stopped itself went to go start the car the first time it happened I got maybe half a mile down the road and stopped at a light and the car died. The second time I was at another gas station and I forgot to shut the car off because it was freezing cold felt like a negative 10 I went to go leave and thought oh crap let me shut it off for a second so the gas would register faster of what I had then if I left it on. I went to go drive away then and the car wouldn’t move I thought great what could it be well I looked down and I wasn’t “on” so I restarted the car and I could tell the car started and I sat for a few and it died. I waited a few seconds and started it again and sat for a few and then was able to go about my business. The third time I filled up and didn't think anything of it because it had been awhile since it happened but I pulled out on the street and it was at a T intersection and I was coming up and to the left well when I turned I died and the light had changed to green I was barely able to make it into the turn lane from when I…”

“CAR STALLS WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE OR SO OF DRIVING AFTER FILLING GAS TANK TO SHUTOFF. WHEN THE ENGINE DIES, SO DOES THE POWER STEERING, CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT I LIVED WITH IT BY NOT FILLING TANK TO FULL. NOW MY SON DRIVES THE CAR, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY HAPPEN WHEN HE IS DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, AND NHTSA MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND HOLD CHRYSLTER/JEEP RESPONSIBLE”

“EVERY TIME I REFILL MY TANK WITH FUEL, THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL HESITATE AND ALMOST STALL (OR WILL STALL IF DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS). WHILE STOPPED IN IDLE, ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY STALL. ONCE SOME FUEL IS BURNED, THE ENGINE WILL NO LONGER STALL. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS.”

“WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL THE SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON ENGINE STALLS OUT ABOUT HALF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN THE ENGINE GOES OUT SO YOU CANT EVEN COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.”

“THIS ISSUE STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN OUR 2008 JEEP PATRIOT WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS OLD. ALMOST EVERY TIME WE FILL THE TANK WITH GAS, IMMEDIATELY TO WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS THE CAR WILL SHUDDER AND STALL, THEN IT HAS A HARD TIME RESTARTING. WE HAVE HAD THE VAPOR PURGE VALVE AND CANISTER CHANGED 3 TIMES WHICH SEEMED TO FIX IT THE FIRST 2 TIMES, BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THIS HAS BEEN QUITE DISTURBING SINCE IT HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC, USUALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT OR TO MAKE A TURN, BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION. IT IS USUALLY OK AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT, BUT IT HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE THE FOLLOWING DAY A FEW TIMES. NONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS OR REPAIR SHOPS THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO SEEM TO HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE. I HAVE FOUND THAT NOT TOPPING OFF THE TANK FULLY, THE ISSUE SEEMS TO OCCUR MUCH LESS OFTEN, BUT THE FEAR OF IT STALLING WHILE DRIVING IS CONSTANT, AND IS STILL A MAJOR ISSUE TO THIS DAY.”