Problems · by component
2012 Jeep Patriot power train problems
63 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Patriot cite power train, 18% of all 354 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
63
18% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Certified dealership service department omitted structural safety complaints from official service invoices, left vital diagnostic findings and performance metrics off paperwork tracking paths, cleared a compromised front suspension layout as safe, and actively instructed a vehicle operator to execute a driving pattern that induces sudden power loss on public roadway infrastructure. TIMELINE SUMMARY OF DEALERSHIP SERVICE (see uploaded PDF for details): March 26, 2026: Diagnostic service and fees for front right tire and new spark plugs. Left bay with immediate new serious issue. March 30, 2026: Follow up on new issue. No alerts. Given clearance. Zero charge invoice. May 19, 2026: Follow up AGAIN on same issue. Scheduled eventually after multiple tries to reach Supervisor. RPM alert reading. Technician gave negligent advice causing further damage to my vehicle and putting me in danger. The technician noted an unprecedented 3,000 to 4,000 RPM calculation anomaly on his computer screen yet dismissed the hazard by blaming my driving habits as "too gentle." He instructed me to find a ramp or an open stretch of road to "rev up" the acceleration and seek out cleaner…”
“The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal whining sound emanating from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission, requiring that the transmission be replaced. The contact was informed that the on-board diagnostic system was not functioning as intended. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.”
“CAR STALLS AT EVERY STOP. WHILE DRIVING HIGH WAY SPEEDS FOR A FEW MINUTES IT DROPS DOWN IN SPEED CAUSING YOU CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE IT IS VERY SUDDEN. IF I DRIVE THE JEEP AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP REGARDLESS IF AT STOP SIGN RED LIGHT OR BEHIND TRAFFIC THE CAR WILL TURN OFF HAVING ME TO TURN THE KEY IN OFF POSITION AND PUT IT IN PARK TO START IT AGAIN. IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING I CAN BE GOING 45 MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE JEEP STARTS DECLINING IN ITS ACCELERATION AND WILL NOT GO ABOVE 10MPH. ALSO WHEN INITIALLY STARTING UP IF I HAVE TO BACK UP IT TURNS OFF WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF BACKING UP. THIS ISSUE IS BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN TO A FEW PEOPLE WHO I KNOW THAT OWN THE SAME EXACT JEEP OR THE 2013 MODEL. ALSO HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND ONLY THING THAT POPS UP IS A CODE FOR THE GAS CAP WHICH I HAVE REPLACED AND STILL POPS THE CODE FOR IT”
“I HAVE A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT AND THIS KEEPS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. JUST TODAY IT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 15 MINUTES SO I PULL OVER, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND WAIT FOR IT TURN OFF TO DO THE SAME THING 15 MINUTES LATER. LUCKILY I AM ABLE TO GET TO AN EXIT AND NOT HAVING TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY BUT THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT LIGHT WILL STAY ON AND THEN THE CAR LOSE THE POWER. GLAD I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE PROBLEM”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 30 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. A & B MOTORS INC (30007 GRATIOT AVE, ROSEVILLE, MI 48066, (586)445-1600) RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF $5,000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP PATRIOT LIMITED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.*DT TRANSFER FROM SECONDARY SIDE TO THE PRIMARY SIDE OF FUEL TANK CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL. CONSUMER STATED VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB”
Showing 6 of 63 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.