NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Jeep Patriot. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
JEEP DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE BEARING WENT OUT IN THE TRANSAXLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO LOCK UP. IT LOCKED UP SO HARD THAT THE CASE WAS CRACKED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND ALL THE FLUID RAN OUT OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED CORPORATE TO SEE WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO. 3 DAYS LATER, THEY REPLACED THE TRANSAXLE. WHEN I WANTED TO GET COPIES OF THE PICTURES THE DEALERSHIP TOOK, THEY SAID "NO" AND THEY BELONG TO CORPORATE BECAUSE IT IS NOW IN AN INVESTIGATION. I TOLD THEM THAT I NEED THE PICTURES BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE LOCKED UP ON THE INTERSTATE AND KILLED PEOPLE. WHEN WE GOT THE PAPERWORK FROM THE SERVICE GUY, IT SAID THAT WE AS THE CUSTOMER WOULD "DELIGHT" IN THE INSTALLATION OF A WITEC SYSTEM. WE SAID NO SUCH THING. I THINK IT IS A WIFI TRACKING MONITORING SYSTEM. I WANT THERE TO BE A RECORD OF THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF ANYTHING DID HAPPEN, THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO COVER IT UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CHEMICAL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE ODOR PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RAIL FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL ON I-27 JUST SOUTH OF AMARILLO TX, THE ENGINE OF THE 2013 JEEP PATRIOT SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO REQUEST THAT THE CAR BE TOWED TO AMARILLO TX. WAITED 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK AT WHICH TIME THE CAR STARTED. HOWEVER, UNSURE IF THE INCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AGAIN, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AMARILLO. THERE A TECHNICIAN SAID THAT HE DISCOVERED CODES OF P0120 AND P2135. HE SAID IT APPEARED AS IF EVERYTHING RESET AND THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE INCIDENT, IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME. *JS
I HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE SERVICE EXPERIENCE. I HAD TO WAIT OVER A MONTH TO GET MY 2013 JEEP IN FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. AFTER ANOTHER TWO WEEK WAIT, I WAS TOLD ALL WAS GOOD AND TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE. THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT ASSURED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GOOD TO GO REPEATEDLY, EVEN AFTER I ASKED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF PRIOR BAD SERVICE. THE MAINTENANCE SHOP FAILED TO RECONNECT MY VEHICLES FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF CONTROL ON THE ROAD AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER. I SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD, WITH ONE TIRE FLOPPING AROUND IN THE WHEEL WELL UNCONTROLLABLY NARROWLY AVOIDING TWO OTHER VEHICLES ON MY WAY OFF THE ROAD. HAD THIS HAPPED AT A FASTER SPEED, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS HAPPENED OVER TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE DEALERSHIP STILL HAS MY VEHICLE. THEY HAVE REPLACED SOME PARTS BUT HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE DAMAGED TIRES. ONE EXPECTS THE HIGHEST OF MAINTENANCE STANDARDS WHEN TAKING A VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, THIS DEALERSHIP IS FAILING HORRIBLY IN MAINTENANCE STANDARDS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE 2013 PATRIOT, I NOTICED THAT IT HAD A SKIP AND WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. IT WOULD USUALLY HAPPEN MOST OF THE TIME AT TAKE OFF FROM A STILL POSITION AND WHILE GOING UPHILL, OR AT LOW SPEED (0 TO 45MPH) AFTER TAKING IT 3 TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT, THEY FINALLY SENT IT OUT OF TOWN TO BE CHECKED, AND LOW AND BEHOLD THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION... WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MI!!!! AND NO ITS STILL NO ITS WORKING CORRECTLY, IT STILL SKIPS ON OCCASION AND USUALLY AT TAKE OFF FROM A STILL POSITION. DO NOT BUY A JEEP! I NEVER WILL AGAIN, AND AM WORRIED FOR THE FUTURE SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY A DIFFERENT CAR. ALSO MY BRAKES SQUEAK, AND HAVE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, I BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. BUT THE MOST CONCERNING IS THE TRANSMISSIONS DEFIANTLY ARE DEFECTIVE AND ALL PATRIOT OWNERS I HAVE SPOKE TO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, YET NO RECALL! I GUESS SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO GET HURT OR WORSE FIRST! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TIME IT RAINED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARDS BECAME FLOODED WITH WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO QUALITY MOTORS (2022 W MAIN ST, INDEPENDENCE, KS 67301) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FACTORY SHOULD HAVE SEALED THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO FULLY SEAL THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
JUST AFTER PURCHASING MY JEEP BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 17 MILES ON IT, AROUND APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES, THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING NOISES WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORMED THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND HE STATED IT WAS HAPPENING TO ALL THE VEHICLES THAT YEAR WITH THE SPECIFIC BRAKES, AND WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THEN HE STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS, BUT ALL THE JEEPS BRAKES THEY WERE SELLING WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER COUPLE THAT CONTACTED JEEP DIRECTLY, AND THEY HAD REPLACED THE BRAKES, BUT THE DESIGN WASN'T DIFFERENT AND THEIR BRAKES ALSO WERE MAKING NOISES ON THEIR BRAND NEW JEEP. CURRENTLY, THE BREAKS SQUEAK, AND HAVE SINCE JUST AFTER OWNING THE CAR. ITS DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER DUE TO THE NOISE, AND I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE NOISE. MY CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED ALMOST EVERY TIME I GO IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY JUST KEEP REPEATING THE SAME THING. BEING A BRAND NEW CAR, THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. TO THIS DAY THIS STILL IS AN ISSUE, AND I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE. THRU RESEARCH, EVERY JEEP OWNER I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THAT HAS A 2013, OR 2014, THIS IS AN ISSUE. HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO GET MY JEEP FIXED PROPERLY. *TR
DRIVING AT 70 MPH, INTERSTATE 57, NEAR MARION, ILLINOIS. DRIVER ALERTED BY PASSING VEHICLE. DRIVER IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO SHOULDER WHEN DRIVER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. WHEN STOPPED, ALL PEOPLE EXITED VEHICLE. DRIVER AND NAVIGATOR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TRYING TO PUT OUT FLAMES COMING FROM REAR HATCH AREA. WITH THE AID OF SEVERAL PASSING MOTORISTS, FLAMES WERE NEARLY PUT OUT BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE. POLICE WERE IMMEDIATELY THERE, BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT. LOST MOST OF THE CLOTHING AND CAMPING EQUIPMENT THAT WERE RIDING IN THE PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS IN THE BUMPER-MOUNTED HITCH CARRIER. WHEN WE FIRST STOPPED, FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT AND MELTING PLASTIC BODY PANELS AND PLASTIC BUMPER PARTS, AND PLASTIC REAR WIPER PARTS, AND PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS IN THE HITCH CARRIER. STANDING BEHIND VEHICLE, FLAMES SEEMED TO ORIGINATE FROM THE LOWER RIGHT HAND BUMPER AREA, AND SPREAD RAPIDLY UP AND OVER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, SMOKING AND MELTING EVERYTHING PLASTIC. DRIVER & NAVIGATOR SUFFERED MINOR BURNS ON HANDS OF THE KIND CAUSED FROM VARIOUS MELTING PLASTICS. BY SOME MIRACLE, THE GAS TANK DID NOT EXPLODE. DAMAGE SEEMED EXTENSIVE BUT CONFINED TO REAR 1/4 OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE, BUT DEEMED UNSAFE TO MOVE UNDER IT'S OWN POWER. SO UP ON A TOW VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILITY IT WENT. AT THIS WRITING, DAMAGE ASSESSMENT/REPAIR IS TAKING PLACE. OUTCOME UNKNOWN, BUT PROBABLY GRIM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP PATRIOT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DOAN DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM FIAT (LOCATED AT 4477 W RIDGE RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14626, (585) 352-6600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP PATRIOT LATITUDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE RESPONDED TO BRAKING ATTEMPTS WITH HESITATION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V104000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,102.
1ST TIME: STARTED TO HEAR A TICKING SOUND FROM UNDER HOOD. TOOK IT TO ONE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP DRIVING IT CAUSE THEY COULD HEAR IT BUT DIDN'T WANT TO FIND IT. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, TEST DROVE IT, FOUND IT, FOUND OUT BEARINGS IN TRANSMISSION WERE BAD. 2ND TIME: 4TH GEAR STARTED JUMPING OUT WHEN DRIVING DOWN ROAD. GOT CONSISTENTLY WORSE, TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP TORE TRANSMISSION APART AGAIN. CHANGED 3/4 GEAR FORK, AND 2 OTHER PARTS IN TRANSMISSION. *TR
DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH. WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND CAR ACCELERATED A BIT WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS PEDAL BAND BRAKES WENT OUT FOR A SECOND. ON SUBSEQUENT OCCASIONS, IN COLD WEATHER BRAKES GET STUCK AND BARELY WORK FOR FIRST COUPLE OF USES. I'VE SEEN AT LEAST ONE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE AND FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE ENDANGERS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *TR
THE CAR HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL JUST OUTSIDE OF FLAGSTAFF, AZ THE ENGINE STALLED AND STOPPED RUNNING. THE CAR WOULD NOT START EVEN AFTER SITTING FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. AT THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. THE DEALERSHIP IN FLAGSTAFF SAID THAT IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. THEY TOLD US THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK IF IT IS LESS THAN HALF FULL AND YOU GO UP A HILL THIS WILL HAPPEN. IT WAS SCARY AS THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. IT WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD NEAR US AT THE TIME. JEEP DID A RECALL OF THE PATRIOTS IN 2012 FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DESIGN PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED IN THE 2013 MODELS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000. *TR
THE CAR HAD 1/4 TANK OF GAS AND THE CAR STARTED ACTING LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS CONSISTENTLY NEAR STALLING WHEN DRIVING. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR HAD A CLOGGED FUEL FILTER. I'VE ALSO HAD THE CAR FULLY STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO REAR-END MY CAR AT LEAST ONE TIME. WHEN I TOOK THIS CAR TO A DEALERSHIP IN LOS ANGELES IN JULY, I WAS TOLD THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART. BECAUSE THE PART DID NOT ARRIVE WHEN SCHEDULED AND THE DATE WAS PUSHED BACK, I CALLED JEEP CORPORATE AND THEY SENT MY CONCERN TO THEIR ESCALATION DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE ANTICIPATING THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MID-OCTOBER; HOWEVER, THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND JEEP HAS BEEN DRAGGING THIS OUT FOR 3 MONTHS NOW. THIS IS THE SECOND ISSUE I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND THE FIRST ISSUE IS NOW RECURRING. AT THE VERY LEAST, I EXPECTED JEEP TO PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN OREGON. *TR
AS MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND BRAKING TO PARK THE CAR, THE ENGINE SPED UP AND ALL 4 WHEELS WERE SPINNING EXTREMELY FAST CAUSING HER TO THRUST FORWARD. SHE WAS NOT IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODE AT THE TIME. SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES HARDER TO SEE IF SHE COULD STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED AND LUNGED OUT OF CONTROL .THE ONLY WAY SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD STOP THE WHEELS FROM SPINNING WAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. EVEN THOUGH SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN AND THE ONLY REASON THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING FORWARD WAS BECAUSE SHE HIT A TREE. THE WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN AFTER SHE HIT THE TREE AND THE CAR WAS STILL IN PARK AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THEM FROM SPINNING WAS WHEN SHE SHUT DOWN THE IGNITION. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONSOLE LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING ON AND OFF AS THIS WAS HAPPENING. MY WIFE HAD CONCERNS WITH THIS BEFORE AS SHE WENT TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE AT OTHER TIMES SHE FELT THE ENGINE SPEED SURGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *TR
WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IN THE NORMAL FLOW OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC FOR 45 MINUTES OR MORE, THE CAR WILL OVERHEAT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR DROPS IN POWER /SPEED DOWN TO 20-30 MPH. IT FEELS AS IF YOU ARE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT BEING EITHER REAR ENDED OR SIDE SWIPED. THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN AT THE LOWER SPEED UNTIL YOU GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ALLOW IT TO COOL. *TR
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING AND LEAVES THE DRIVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING, LOSS OF ALL CONTROL UNTIL THE CAR IS RESTARTED. WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHER SPEEDS WITH CLUTCH PUSHED IN THE CAR STALLS. IT IS A RANDOM PROBLEM. FIRST TIME - AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH THEN THE BRAKE AND STARTED TO MAKE MY TURN AND ABOUT TO PUT THE CAR INTO SECOND GEAR, I REALIZED I HAD NO CONTROL SINCE THE CAR STALLED WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN WITH TRAFFIC COMING. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES. FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. IT IS HARD TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM SINCE IT CATCHES THE DRIVER BY SURPRISE EACH TIME. EACH TIME THE DRIVER IS LEFT WITHOUT CONTROL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *JS
FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS ALL BULBS FOR SIGNAL LIGHT PURPOSE DO NOT LAST EVEN 4 TO 5 MONTH AFTER REPLACEMENT. I CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM NOR REPAIR SHOP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH ME SINCE BRAND NEW.