2016 Jeep Patriot Problems, Recalls & Reliability

758 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Jeep Patriot, alongside 1 recall campaign and 4 defect investigations. It scores 78/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 60,100 miles.

Avoid this year if you can. The 2016 Jeep Patriot sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2013, 2017.

758Complaints
78/100Trouble index
1Recalls
52,000Typical trouble mileage

Avoid

Where 2016 sits among all Patriot years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 241 complaints (32%) · typically ~60,100 miles
“My car shuts down while driving. The stability light goes on and the engine dies while on the road”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Patriot
Electrical 108 complaints (14%) · typically ~53,840 miles
“Vehicle began not accelerating and then shut-off. Check engine light was not on, but it sputters. I put it in the shop and was told it's the engine and needs replacing.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Patriot
Other 95 complaints (13%) · typically ~53,000 miles
“The car will die at a complete stop either at a red light or just idling. It will also act like it is about to die will driving. The rpm's will drop to zero and when you give it gas it will not go. This will happen several times in one day.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Patriot
Transmission & drivetrain 74 complaints (10%) · typically ~59,500 miles
“Driving down highway vehicle had sudden loss of all power. Headlamps flickered and everything shut off. Unable to put hazard lights on or use horn to warn oncoming traffic.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Patriot
Speed control 48 complaints (6%) · typically ~45,000 miles
“Going down the highway attempting to accelerate the car will lose power, the red lightning bolt will flash. Then within seconds the light will cut off the car will gain power and will accelerate.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Patriot
Fuel system 42 complaints (6%) · typically ~49,503 miles
“Same issue as recall s89/16v907000. Stalls randomly and power not delivered to engine properly. Major safety issue for our family.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Patriot

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 433 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 52,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 32,000 and 76,140 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (1)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16V907000 2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016. The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…

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 →

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened September 17, 2021 · still open

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,…

Model years named: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Stall from Crankshaft\Camshaft Failure RQ22002 opened 2022, closed 2025
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment PE19014 opened 2019, closed 2026
Electrical overstress EA19001 opened 2019, closed 2024

Led to recall campaign 20V024.

Technical service bulletins

104 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Jeep Patriot. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2016 Patriot TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

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

2015peak 127 in 20202026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2016 Jeep Patriot reliable?

The 2016 Jeep Patriot drew 758 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 78/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).

What are the most common 2016 Jeep Patriot problems?

The top reported problems for the 2016 Jeep Patriot are engine (241 complaints), electrical (108), and other (95).

At what mileage do 2016 Jeep Patriot problems show up?

Owners most often report 2016 Jeep Patriot problems around 52,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 32,000 and 76,140 miles.

Does the 2016 Jeep Patriot have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2016 Jeep Patriot. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2015 Patriot All Patriot years 2017 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.