2012 Jeep Patriot
The Verdict
The 2012 Jeep Patriot has 351 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (192 complaints) and electrical (69 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 39/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Jeep Patriot, consider the 2017 model year which has 83% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2017 has 83% fewer complaints
View the 2017 Jeep Patriot dashboard →
Klunk Score: Check Engine
More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
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Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2012 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 vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the recall repair was not completed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue, but no assistance was provided. No further information was available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
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. The technician noted an unprecedented 3,000 to 4,000 RPM calculation anomaly on his computer screen yet dismissed the hazard by blaming my driving habits as "too gentle." He instructed me to find a ramp or an open stretch of road to "rev up" the acceleration and seek out cleaner fuel brands. Incomplete records. Zero charge invoice. I followed the advice and caused further damage and put myself and others at risk on the roads. June 22, 2026: Second opinion. Failing transmission and front arm controls damage. Reputable business reported: "Found front control arm bushings damaged and inop. Transmission fluid sample is dark and has a clutch odor. Test drove monitoring misfire and transmission: misfire 0. Trans slip during test drive even shows abnormal transmission slip. Recommend replacement of transmission and torque converter assembly." June 26, 2026: called management for full accountability. I request full repairs immediately. This situation created serious interruptions to my schedule and a threat to my personal safety. July 14, 2026: Certified letters to dealership.
I was crossing an intersection with a green light the opposing vehicle ran the northbound red light therefore slammed into my driver rear side going at an unknown speed. The force of the impact caused my glasses to fly off my face landing on the passenger floorboard. No airbags deployed.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that on several occasions, while attempting to refuel the vehicle, the gas pump shut off and only worked manually. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis, and it was determined that the fuel tank needed to be replaced due to a faulty fuel tank rollover valve. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,000.
Car dies as I’m driving wiring issue
215/55/r18 Well, JD bar ride in South Charleston, West Virginia off a lot in a car without an inspection sticker too bad front tires bad brakes, bad rotors, bad harness, bad ignition had to be replaced.
Unknown
roll over valve in gas tank on a 2012 Jeep Patriot.
the rollover valve in the gas tank won't allow me to put fuel in the gas tank.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot 4x4. The contact stated that on five occasions in two years when adjusting all four front air vents manually, a metallic paint/coating sliced her finger causing a paper-cut injury. Medical attention was not sought. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
When fueling the jeep the nozzle keeps popping off. I had a diagnostics test And was told that there is something in the gas tank that blocks it in case of a rollover. Is this a recall?
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle had a flat tire. The contact stated upon changing the flat tire, the contact noticed that the rear subframe where the rear axle was connected to was rusted and the axle had started to detach from the vehicle. The contact called the dealer and was informed there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and instructed the contact to reach out to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
Unknown: Something is wrong with the gas tank. When refueling, it's nearly impossible to activate the latch on the pump handle without the pump immediately stopping. To refuel, I have to gently squeeze the trigger to enable a very slow flow of fuel. To fill the tank, while gently activating the trigger, takes approximately 15-20 minutes. In the past, you could depress the trigger and activate the locking catch and fill up in 3-4 minutes depending on the pressure of the gas station system. I don't know if this issue points to a safety problem, however, clearly it's a defect. I consulted the Jeep dealership and they recommended to not fully insert the nozzle into the filler neck of the tank. It was a bizarre recommendation because it was never an issue in the past. Of course I tried their recommendation an as expected it made no difference. At a minimum, it's annoying as hell trying to fill up in Chicago while holding a fuel pump handle when it's 20°F with a wind chill well below that! I thought that perhaps it was my local gas station. On a trip from Chicago to I had to fill up twice each way at different stations and the issue persists.
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.
My fuel tank problem should be included in the Safety Recall M11/NHTSA 12V-142 Fuel Tank Roll-Over value..I have taken my car to several Jeep dealers and have been informed the problem with this tank falls in the recall…I have been dealing with this problem for years….I recently found out that the problem falls in the recall above…I took my car to the Jeep dealer, Pelegríno in Woodbury,NJ on 5/19/21 for the problem..They informed me tank would have to be removed to be fixed…they never informed me that there was a recall…so I did not get it fixed at the time. I have been dealing with this problem since 2018
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.
The vehicle stalls while driving with no warning. This has happened 5 times in the last week.
When filling the tank with gas and then driving the vehicle, the vehicle either stalls, bucks really bad, or hesitates when accelerating. There is a heavy smell of gas. This unsafe condition has been traced to a faulty fuel tank valve that requires the entire fuel tank to be replaced ($1,000- $1,800). Others have experienced fuel being spewed out suddenly when refueling very slowly due to this same faulty valve. Any fuel system issue puts the vehicle at risk of fire, which is risks my life and my family's life.
Fuel tank receiver separated from the fuel door holder
351 total