Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at 25-30 MPH and approaching a stoplight, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond and stuck on the floorboard. The contact stated that the vehicle inadvertently accelerated and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was knocked unconscious. The contact stated that his girlfriend sustained knee injuries and his mother sustained a laceration on the face, but none of them sought medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, then it was towed to an independent mechanic. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and did not provide any assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owned a 2017 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while in stopped traffic, a pickup truck rear-ended and the air bags failed to deploy. The adult son sustained injuries that required spinal surgery. A police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed total by the insurance company. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,646.
On 12/26/2020 I was driving down the interstate and my son lightly touched his headrest and it exploded open. I didn't realize at the time it was covered under the "x-86" extended warranty, and attempted in January 2021 to buy a replacement. Mopar canceled my order and told me to go through the dealership since it is a known issue. I did just that, and the order has been on hold since January or February of 2021. Chrysler customer service doesn't have a resolution for me, and won't talk to me anymore. Their department that specifically deals with this "x-86" issue won't even call or update my dealership Stew Hansen's, which is located at 12103 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50323. I am appalled and just want my headrest replacement. The parts manager found one in stock, but coincidentally it doesn't have the correct part number that Chrysler wants to honor to fix this for me. …
Brought Jepp Patriot 2016 to a car shop in Suisun City, CA and they did a thorough diagnostics of my Patriot and couldn't find out why my battery light was coming on. They checked the alternator and battery and they said they were fine. I was on a main street in Suisun City and as I was turning to the left the car died on me and completely shut off. It was hard to turn wheels and hard to push the brakes and I had people push me out of the street into a sidewalk near a house. I then decided to try start it and it started and I was able to make it to my daughter's house. My son-in-law and granddaughter used my car and hasn't had the battery light come on yet but that has happened to me several times where it would come on and turn back off. There was only one incident where it died on me so far and I'm hoping it won't do it again especially on a busier street. …
March 11, 2023, we were traveling on Route 193, in Greenbelt, Md. when another driver attempted a left turn taking our right of way. We didn't have any advanced warning and impacted the other vehicle. We were traveling approximately 30-35mph in a 35mph zone. The impact caused us to go into the dash. The airbags did not deploy.
The airbag light is on and I am afraid it will deploy at any time. The dealership and manufacturer say the part they need is on backorder with the supplier, but it has been 3 months since the problem was diagnosed, so it has not been repaired.
The contact owned a 2014 Jeep Patriot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while a family member was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. The contact stated that the driver's front air bag did not deploy and the family member died in the crash. The driver was the only occupant in the vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the police impound lot. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the passenger's side active headrest had deployed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the two plastic clips used to hold the headrest in place were fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V282000 (Electrical System, Air Bags), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 16,000. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls (1)
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.
NHTSA investigations
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.
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Frequently asked questions
Which Jeep Patriot years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (149), 2012 (57), 2011 (43), 2013 (33) and 2016 (33) model years. Airbag complaints make up 27% of all complaints for the 2014.
Is there a recall for Jeep Patriot airbag problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 16V-668 (air bags, Sep 15, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Jeep Patriot airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles; 53% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (1 mentions), followed by the side/window (1).
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.