2011 Jeep Patriot Steering Problems

Vehicle is known to have an issue with rusting subframe/crossmembers . Warranty on this vehicle was extended. (Service Bulletin 23-007-17, X69 Warranty Extension) However upon multiple dealer visits and requesting inspection was not notified that issue was happening. Approximately 1.5 years after warranty extension had expired noticeable issues started occurring including noises that got worse and prompted a visit to dealer. Had to fight tooth and nail to get dealership or company to work with me on repairs on low mileage (121K) vehicle and even then they missed 1/2 the problem and told me not to come back to the shop. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - See beginning - How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Front crossmember completely rotted out and separated, holding on by only control arm - Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes, know issues but wording of service bulletin and dealership neglect result in customer not being informed or postponement of repair until too late - Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - Dealership - Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - No warning other than single notification of warranty extension, asked for vehicle inspection 7 months prior to warranty expiration and given an all good -

I went to get my car inspected and was told that I would need to replace my cross member/subframe which would cost thousands. I was trying to figure out how to fix it for less when I came across a discussion board where everyone with these vehicles were having the same problem. I also look on YouTube and all the comments under multiple videos showing how to replace it also had the same problem. This issue is Chrysler knew this was an issue and extended the warranty for that part and most owner of that vehicle had no idea they did. The owner ended up paying thousands for the part or trading their car in and buying another one. I believe Chrysler quietly extended the warranty and never properly notified vehicle owners of the extension. They also didn’t make any type of public announcement that would inform drivers who brought the cars used after one or more owners had it. They also did not allot enough time for the warranty. In the extension letter to dealership I dug up online was announced in 2017. The cars with this issue where produced in 2008-12 but they only extended the warranty to ten years from the start of service. That means if you brought a car in 2008 you would have had less than one year to realize you where eligible for a new subframe under warranty. Also they should have recalled the parts since so many people were have issues with it. And if one’s lived in a state where they don’t need safety inspections they would never have known.

My Jeep will not pass inspection because of excessive rust/rot on the front and rear sub frame. To have both front and rear sub frames repaired will cost me approximately $3,000 dollars, which I do not have. This should have been recalled and covered by manufacturer long before this time. What am I suppose to do know with no usable vehicle ???

The front subframe rusted through on the left hand side which in turn caused the lower control arm to shift outward preventing full steering capabilities. There was a warranty extension dated back from 2017, brought into service on December of 2019, to the Chrysler dealership where it was purchased for lights on the cluster and a steering vibration and no one mentioned the subframe issue that was persisting on this model year. Was told rather that it needed a new bearing and a speed sensor. Replaced both and the issue wasn’t fixed. I am told now (July 2021) that this extension expired in March of this same year. Was told by both the dealer and the customer service hotline that there is absolutely nothing they can do. They also mentioned that there should have been a letter sent out for this warranty extension but nothing was ever received. Been at the same address since well before the purchase date of this vehicle.

The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated while getting the vehicle inspected, she was informed that the front and rear cross member had holes due to rust. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V315000 (Steering). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not eligible for the free repair. The failure mileage was approximately 131,641.

I purchased my 2011 Jeep Patriot from a car dealership in October of 2020. After a week of having the vehicle, I noticed a loud clunking sound coming from underneath. I took it back to the dealer and was told it was nothing. After taking it to my mechanic, he found major rust and corrosion on the front and rear subframe and crossmembers. I paid $2200 in repairs on the car, only to find out the he only did the front end of the car. The back end is just as bad and the car is unsafe for me to drive. When he did the front end of the car, the pieces fell apart as he began taking it apart. This car was a ticking time bomb. It’s now June of 2021 and I don’t know what to do

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT FRAME BROKE AND THE CV AND FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO WRESTLE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT AND BACK REPLACED WITH SEVERAL OTHER PARTS THE DEALER HAD BROKE IN THE PROCESS OF "FIXING" IT

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AFTER PICKING UP MY 3 CHILDREN FROM DAYCARE. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE FOLDED OUTWARD. THE SUB FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS APPARENTLY ARE DEFECTIVE.UNBEKNOWNST TO ME THERE IS A WARRANTY 10 YEAR/ UNLIMITED MILEAGE. THERE WAS ALSO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON JEEP PATRIOTS/ COMPASSES BETWEEN 2001-2007 BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. INSTEAD OF FIXING THE ISSUE THIS COMPANY/ MANUFACTURER HAS CONTINUED TO USE THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS ON NEWER MODELS SUCH AS MINE. I MIGHT ADD FOR SOME ODD REASON THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT DOESN'T COVER MY YEAR ALTHOUGH ITS THE SAME DEFECTIVE SUB FRAME AND CROSS MEMBER PARTS. ALL THEY HAVE DONE WAS OFFER THIS WARRANTY, WHICH I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF OR TOLD ABOUT BY THEM OR THE DEALER I MADE MY PURCHASE THROUGH. AFTER MY CHILDREN AND I NEARLY GOT SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DID I LOOK INTO THIS AND FOUND OUT. DUE TO THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS NOT ONLY WERE WE ALMOST KILLED BUT THE CAR SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER PARTS AND COMPONENTS. I STILL HAVE PAYMENTS LEFT ON THIS AUTOMOBILE AND IT IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND REALLY HASN'T GOTTEN THAT MUCH USE COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT I'VE PAID ALREADY, NOT EVEN COUNTING WHAT I STILL OWE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY SEEM COMPLETELY UNCONCERNED AND UNHELPFUL IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A JEEP/ FIAT/ CHRYSLER PRODUCT EVER AGAIN. THESE PEOPLE PUT ME AND MY FAMILY KNOWINGLY INTO A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE AND NEARLY GOT US KILLED. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 65MPH AND THIS HAD HAPPENED I WOULD NOT BE HERE WRITING THIS. ALL I CAN DO IS THANK GOD IT DECIDED TO FAIL WHEN IT DID, NOT LATER ON THE INTERSTATE. TO SUM IT UP TIRE CAME OFF, LOST STEERING CONTROL, GROUND TO A HALT IN THE STREET SIDEWAYS, CAR FLUIDS POURING ALL OVER ROAD. ALSO HAVE PICTURES OF SCENE.

PROBLEM RECURRING ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. AT ALL SPEEDS FROM IDLE TO 75 MPH. THE LATEST WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING 75 MPH CAR DROPPED DOWN TO 30 MPH AND THEN STALLED CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING AND ALMOST AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO THE JEEP MANUFACTURER AS STATED BY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE THROTTLE BODY/ SOFTWARE IS THE ISSUE AND OCCURES IN MODELS FROM 2008 - CURRENT THEN VERBALLY QUOTED ME $650 FOR REPAIR. I THEN RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MORE THAN 2500 PEOPLE WITH THE ISSUE AND THAT'S JUST PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HELP.

TAKATA RECALL: I HAD A REPAIR DONE TO MY JEEP PATRIOT TWO WEEKS AGO. THE REPAIRS WERE OVER 800$. I HAD TO HAVE THE TWO FRONT CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, AND TIE RODS REPLACED. AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, I LOST STEERING AND NOW NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.

VEHICLE WAS MAKING MOANING NOISE & HAD SLOPPY STEERING. HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM CHANGED AND THE BUSHING SEPARATED (HAVE THE OLD PARTS IN GARAGE).

THE STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY NEEDS TO BE HELD AT AN ANGLE FOR THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT. I'VE TAKEN THE JEEP TO THE SHOP THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM ALWAYS COMES BACK.

"DEATH WOBBLE". I EXPERIENCED THIS ON A SHORT TWO HOUR TRIP WHERE I COULDN'T CONTROL THE CARD. EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP OR TIRED TO TURN THE CAR WAS HARD TO STEER. THIS JEEP HAS ON 40K ON IT AND IS 4 YEARS OLD. I WAS TRAVELLING ON THE HIGHWAY AND GENUINELY FEARED FOR MY LIFE. I WAS OVER HALFWAY TO MY DESTINATION SO I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE BACK ROADS WITH MY HAZARDS ON AND WENT SLOW. THE FACT THAT JEEP IS UNWILLING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS UPSETTING. BUT WHAT IS MORE UPSETTING IS HOW THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH REGARDS TO THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND NOT JUST WITH THE PATRIOT. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THE COMPANY NOW AND DO NOT TRUST THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN (UNDER 40 MPH), LESS THAN HALF A MILE FROM DEPARTURE FROM MY HOUSE, THE ENGINE CUT OUT. LOST ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT AND THE OIL TEMP LIGHT BOTH CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR TO A SIDE STREET, TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A MINUTE, AND THEN BACK ON. UPON TURNING ON WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME TO SWITCH VEHICLES. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING WERE LOST.

TOOK MY CAR INTO MECHANIC FOR FOUR NEW TIRES. AT THAT TIME WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS SHOWED SIGNS OF ABNORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THEY RECOMMENDED FIXING. AS I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET IT INTO THE SHOP AT THAT POINT, I WAITED. TOOK CAR IN FOR STATE MANDATED ANNUAL INSPECTION AND IT FAILED - AT 38000 MILES. NOT ONLY THAT BUT CAR NEEDED ANOTHER NEW TIRE BECAUSE BALL JOINT HAD AFFECTED THE NEW TIRES I JUST BOUGHT. MECHANIC STATED THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IN A CAR THAT'S BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. I DO NOT DO ANY OFF ROAD DRIVING - JUST NORMAL ABOUT TOWN AND SOME MINIMAL HIGHWAY. I AM THE ONLY OWNER - BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT OUGHT TO BE ADDRESSED. I SEE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOPE THEY DECIDE TO RECALL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE CAR STALLED. IT DECELERATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON A DIFFERENT HIGHWAY AND THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM THEN EITHER. *TR

CAR PULLS RIGHT WHEN ACCELERATING. DEALER STATES THIS IS A CONDITION ON ALL 2 WHEEL DRIVE CARS AND JEEPS FROM CHRYSLER. SOMETHING IN THE DESIGN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND UPON RESTART, THE STEERING OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP PATRIOT SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF AND BOTH THE DEALER AND CONTACT WERE AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 900 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175.