Most common 2012 Jeep Patriot problems
Share of the 354 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Patriot complaints by model year
Best Patriot years: 2017, 2013, 2010. Years to avoid: 2014, 2016, 2008, 2012. Compare all years →
2012 Jeep Patriot recalls (4)
Air bags
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.
Remedy: 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 August 15, 2017.
Electrical system › Software
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 of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags.
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline
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 primary side of the fuel tank may be interrupted, causing the engine to…
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2012 Jeep Patriot:
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early…
Engine stall, fuel delivery failure
In a letter dated April 3, 2013, Chrysler Group LLC submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA identifying a safety defect in the fuel delivery system in approximately 20,532 model year (MY) 2012 Jeep Patriot (11,624) and Compass (8,908) vehicles manufactured from October 18, 2011 through May 7, 2012 and equipped with certain fuel tanks produced between October 18, 2011 and January 26, 2012 (Recall…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2012 Jeep Patriot owners say
Engine & cooling all 119 →
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the lights inside the vehicle were flickering and the vehicle shuddered. Additionally, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and then stalled. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact smelled an abnormal odor, and the vehicle failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. Additionally, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the exhaust was clogged. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. Additionally, the contact became aware of a coolant leak. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal sound and shuddered. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled again. The contact stated that due to the failure, the vehicle was undrivable. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 102 →
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while his son was attempting to refuel the vehicle, the fuel tank was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a cracked roll-over valve. The roll-over valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V142000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 44,500.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, fuel was pouring from the fuel tank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V142000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 63 →
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal whining sound emanating from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission, requiring that the transmission be replaced. The contact was informed that the on-board diagnostic system was not functioning as intended. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
Certified dealership service department omitted structural safety complaints from official service invoices, left vital diagnostic findings and performance metrics off paperwork tracking paths, cleared a compromised front suspension layout as safe, and actively instructed a vehicle operator to execute a driving pattern that induces sudden power loss on public roadway infrastructure. TIMELINE SUMMARY OF DEALERSHIP SERVICE (see uploaded PDF for details): March 26, 2026: Diagnostic service and fees for front right tire and new spark plugs. Left bay with immediate new serious issue. March 30, 2026: Follow up on new issue. No alerts. Given clearance. Zero charge invoice. May 19, 2026: Follow up AGAIN on same issue. Scheduled eventually after multiple tries to reach Supervisor. RPM alert reading. Technician gave negligent advice causing further damage to my vehicle and putting me in danger. …
2012 Jeep Patriot engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 28 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 23 / 27 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD | 22 / 27 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | 4WD | 21 / 25 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Jeep Patriot a good car?
Based on 354 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Patriot rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Patriot at the same age. It is one of the Patriot years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Jeep Patriot?
The engine & cooling — 119 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (102) and transmission & drivetrain (63).
How many recalls does the 2012 Jeep Patriot have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2012 Jeep Patriot, the most recent from September 15, 2016 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Patriot?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2013 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2016, 2008 and 2012. See the full Jeep Patriot years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Jeep Patriot problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 47% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.