2012 Jeep Patriot Problems, Recalls & Reliability
552 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Jeep Patriot, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 51/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 40,750 miles.
Below average
Where 2012 sits among all Patriot years
What owners report
“Engine stalls while driving. The traction control lights appears when engine stalls. It may restart after about 15 minutes. This reoccurs randomly. After it starts back up the check engine light appears.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Patriot
“My car recently developed issues with a faulty fuel tank valve. This makes it difficult to pump gasoline. There was a recall in 2012 jeep patriots for this issue (m11). However, my car was not included in the recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Patriot
“I replace a transmission through the jeep dealership now i am having problem again with the tranny it stalls . I have to cut it off to restart it for it to have power to pull off.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Patriot
“Takata recall - said vehicle has been on the recall list for 24 months, dealer indicates ongoing issues from manufacturer in obtaining parts to repair recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Patriot
“Driving down the street car stalling as esc warning and traction light came on. I could not drive and had my car towed to dealership.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Patriot
“Jeep stalls randomly, has happened while stopped, and while driving. This has happened on 4 different occasions. On another occasion vehicle lost power driving, as if it were going to stall, but after about a minute regained power”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Patriot
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 391 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 50,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 22,000 and 80,635 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit,…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on…
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012. The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall number is N01.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles manufactured October 18, 2011, through May 7, 2012. Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of fuel from the secondary side to the…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank transfer tube free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 30, 2013. Owners were notified by Chrysler on July…
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 JEEP PATRIOT AND COMPASS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2012. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY CONTAINING A DAMAGED ROLL-OVER VALVE.
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 25, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade,…
Led to recall campaign 13V120000.
Technical service bulletins
100 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2012 Jeep Patriot. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2012 Patriot TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Jeep Patriot reliable?
The 2012 Jeep Patriot drew 552 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 51/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2012 Jeep Patriot problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Jeep Patriot are engine (119 complaints), fuel system (101), and transmission & drivetrain (63).
At what mileage do 2012 Jeep Patriot problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Jeep Patriot problems around 50,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 22,000 and 80,635 miles.
Does the 2012 Jeep Patriot have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Jeep Patriot. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.