2009 Jeep Patriot Problems, Recalls & Reliability

380 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Jeep Patriot, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 35/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Body & structure leads the reports, typically around 75,000 miles.

380Complaints
35/100Trouble index
1Recalls
78,000Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2009 sits among all Patriot years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Body & structure 58 complaints (15%) · typically ~75,000 miles
“The driver's side frame is completely rusted out after only six years of driving.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Patriot
Transmission & drivetrain 50 complaints (13%) · typically ~87,878 miles
“While driving on the interstate suddenly without any "warning" all the dash lights battery, engine, ect came on and the engine stalled. Would not drive or re-start just died. Suggested that it is the computer/pcm...”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Patriot
Engine 48 complaints (13%) · typically ~97,000 miles
“Jeep patriot stalls within about a mile of filling the gas tank, steering wheel locks and is very dangerous. I was stopped at a red light luckily. Problem needs to be recalled asap, gas tank needs to be replaced to fix the problem. Happens to a lof of patriot owners in cars from 2007-2009. Please…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Patriot
Suspension 47 complaints (12%) · typically ~50,000 miles
“Front subframe is cracked and completely rusted out. This leading to movement in the lower control arms while stealing and breaking. The rust is really bad for a 2009 car and could lead to a failure while driving.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Patriot
Fuel system 38 complaints (10%) · typically ~79,000 miles
“Every time i fill up gas tank car wont start immediately and when i finally get it to start it turns off again when i drive off or at first stop i make. Problem seems to only occur when gas tank is completely full.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Patriot
Electrical 37 complaints (10%) · typically ~70,000 miles
“Dome light leaking water when rain or snow, leaving seats, car floor mats drenched. Had to replace radio three times and it smells like something burning”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Patriot

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 311 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 78,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,000 and 112,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (1)

POWER TRAIN 08V528000 2008

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO BREAK.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Technical service bulletins

38 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 2009 Jeep Patriot. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2009 Patriot TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2009peak 57 in 20162026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2009 Jeep Patriot reliable?

The 2009 Jeep Patriot drew 380 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 35/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).

What are the most common 2009 Jeep Patriot problems?

The top reported problems for the 2009 Jeep Patriot are body & structure (58 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (50), and engine (48).

At what mileage do 2009 Jeep Patriot problems show up?

Owners most often report 2009 Jeep Patriot problems around 78,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,000 and 112,000 miles.

Does the 2009 Jeep Patriot have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2009 Jeep Patriot. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2008 Patriot All Patriot years 2010 Patriot →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.