Which Jeep Patriot Years to Avoid and Why? (Explained)

The Jeep Patriot (MK74) is a Chrysler Jeep compact crossover SUV that was launched in early 2007.

Engine stalling, transmission difficulties, body and paint peeling issues and other issues plague the Honda Pilot from 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2015.

I’ve summarized all of the data and user experiences available from rich information sources in this article. This article will be your one-stop decision. It will save you hours of research time on websites and forums.

Jeep Patriot Years to Avoid (with Reasons)

The Jeep Patriot is a low-cost Jeep. It got a sales success because it was priced competitively to entice as many people as possible into the Jeep fan club. Some folks adored the Patriot so much that it developed its fan base.

However, the engine and transmission faults and failures, leaking and overheating of various parts can make owning this vehicle a nightmare.

The failure of ball joints, leakage and rusting, and transmission faults are among the most common problems in all these models.

Here are the Jeep Patriot years to stay away from:

• 2008 Jeep Patriot
• 2009 Jeep Patriot
• 2014 Jeep Patriot
• 2015 Jeep Patriot

Now I will go through each year’s Jeep Patriot problems individually:

2008 Jeep Patriot Problems:

Sunroof leak, dome leak, power window failure, and clogged drains are some mention-worthy problems of this model. Engine has the problem of stalling. Then there is slow fuel intake, fuel neck crack and fuel cap issues.

The fuel gas tank, engine and power steering might shut off. There are faulty valves like the inlet check valve or rollover valve. Valves break inside the fuel tank as well. 

2009 Jeep Patriot Problems:

You will find that the engine check light in this model turns on automatically. The vehicle stalls when the engine is in neutral. The stalling especially happens immediately after filling the gas tank.

There has been a recall for the powertrain or fuel pump relay. Water leaks through the roof, causing rusting, even on the engine cradle. Frames get corroded as well.

The body paint would peel due to the water leakage. Moreover, such rusting may cause the brake and suspensions to fail.

2014 Jeep Patriot Problems:

Transmission problems are prevalent with CVTs, of course. Some even fail before the automobile has accumulated 100,000 kilometers.

The cost of replacing or rebuilding the gearbox might exceed $4,000. Gearbox slippage, grinding, or strange whining noises are all possible symptoms.

Moreover, there are engine issues, electrical faults and body paint peeling issues.

2015 Jeep Patriot Problems:

Many serious engine issues are noticed in this model. This includes hard start or no start. There is also missing throttle control. Stalling and hiccups are common too.

The drivetrain, ball joints, gearbox often present with multiple issues.

What Are The Worst Years of Jeep Patriot?

• Jeep Patriot 2008:This is the worst year with the most problems. This included engine failures, tranny issues, body paint problems etc. Leakages and rusting were also included. Additionally, electrical issues were also present.
• Jeep Patriot 2015:This is the second-worst model year. This included engine failures, transmission overheating issues, rusting and paint peeling problems etc.

Most Common Problems of Jeep Patriot

Some of the most prevalent issues are listed below.

Transmission Failures:

The transmission, also know as the CVT (automatic transmission) is a nightmare for the users. As soon as you buy the Patty, you will notice overheating issues with the transmission. This is especially seen with the 2015 model.

Other times, you may hear noises of scratching, winding down, and ticking.  The transmission slips, at which point you might also notice the spark plugs blown. The common symptoms include losing power or RPMs entirely. The transmission is also likely to fail entirely.

Most of the times, the fluid change does not help these issues. A complete rebuild of CVT is necessary. This is a highly unreliable part.

Engine Stalling:

Engine stalling or misfiring occurs frequently. Sometimes the engine light stays turned on automatically, without any issues. Other times the engine lights don’t turn on even when there is the issue of stalling.

When the misfiring gets bad, you may have a drop of RPM in your car. The traction light may come up.

Sometimes the RPM drops to 0. Other times the car will not proceed. Rather moves back and forth, this is risky in parking lots often.

The problematic engines sometimes makes the crankshaft sensors die out. Which is why the check engine light does not flash.

Peeling Paint:

Water may enter through the rear hatch of the vehicle and accumulate. The paint quality of these jeeps are so low that they will start peeling because of this water. The leak causes issues with ither components, including the seat.

A clogged sunroof drain may also cause these leaks to occur which results in paint peeling.

Rusting:

Rusting is very common in these bad year models. The most frequent victims are the front and rear subframes of the vehicle. This issue had actually been a recall for the 2007 model (Service Bulletin NUMBER: 23-012-14,).

But the later models presented with this issue too. The door hinges, the engine cover brackets etc are also prone to such rusting. This poses a safety treat to the passengers and the driver.

Fuel Pump Failure:

You see this issue a lot in the bad model years and a few in the 2007 and 2014 models. The failure occurs anywhere between 1,00,000 to 1,30,000 miles.

Jeep Patriot uses the VW TDI fuel pump. It is prone to failures. Especially because they are prone to clogging.

Which Jeep Patriot Years are Safe to Buy?

I’ve listed all of the most popular Jeep Patriot models ever made. These models have been tried and tested and are available for purchase by anybody.

• 2007 Jeep Patriot
• 2013 Jeep Patriot
• 2017 Jeep Patriot

These models give a speed of above 65mph with good wind resistance. The engines can offer a170 horsepower in the 5000+ rpm range. You can count on these model years for hunting trips to fishing trips!

Tow capacity of the Jeep Patriot is 1,500 pounds. The Patriot is then at a 33% more advantage against the Compass. Moreover the problem continuation of the bad model years is almost zero in these models.

To add to this, the 2007 Jeep Patriot has a rectangular design. This in not seen in the later models. It has an average speed of 20-30 MPG while it can top at around 32-36 MPG (for older/used vehicles).

Despite being a 4 cylinder vehicle, the 2007 Patriot holds up amazingly in mountains. Even compared to an 8 cylinder truck.

The 2013 although has some mixed reviews and mostly 4-star reviews. But it is a great one of the Patties. Especially as it has lesser number of complaints.

2013 model has a very good fuel-efficient C/SUV with 4WD capabilities. Cargo space, weight capacity, and fuel efficiency are free of complaints!

2017 Patriot is the one with probably the most comfortable front seats. Not to mention it has a 26 MPG average speed. It holds pretty well in adventurous rides too.

FAQs.

Conclusion      

It is hard to make a decision on the Jeep Patriot as almost every model year has critical issues and flaws. The only reliable model is the 2017 model.

So it is recommended to look for other SUVs of Jeep or other similar brands. It is best to avoid the Jeep Patriot model unless it’s a 2017 model. A pre-purchase inspection and test drive are highly recommended either way.

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