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Jeep PatriotModel year report

2012 Jeep Patriot Problems

Compared with other Jeep Patriot years

More complaints than typical for this model

93/100 2.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2009, 2010, 2013

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
354filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
55,000miles, 257 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Jeep Patriot (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Jeep Patriot most often describe the engine cutting out or stalling while driving, and trouble filling the fuel tank because the pump keeps clicking off. Both appear in complaints across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 100,000, and several owners relate the fuel-filling trouble to a recall campaign on the fuel tank. Transmission noise and shuddering, air bag warning lights and non-deployment, and rear subframe corrosion also recur in the sample.

  1. Engine

    Engine shuts off while driving / loss of power

    • 167 complaints (47%)
    • median 43,100 mi at 3.9 yrs old (146 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2012–2026

    Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at highway and city speeds, sometimes with the accelerator unresponsive beforehand. In many cases the vehicle restarts only after sitting for several minutes to half an hour, and some owners say the stalling repeats. Dealers are described as unable to duplicate the problem or finding no stored codes; in a few cases the automatic shutdown relay, throttle body or powertrain control module software was the stated repair. Reported from under 3,000 miles up past 150,000 miles, with several complaints at highway speed and in hot weather.

    Recall 13V1200002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has ever stalled and whether any stored codes or PCM software updates were checked. A pre-purchase scan for pending codes and a test drive at highway speed are worth doing.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving down the highway at 70 MPH. Then the Jeep just stalled out and I had to pull over to the shoulder. The Jeep was then towed to the dealership where it sat over the weekend because the service department was closed. On monday the Jeep started for the mechanic and they found no codes when hooked up to a scanner. I picked the car up the next day and a month later the same thing happened again. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10496259, filed 2013-02, 14,000 miles

    “We have now had 2 episodes of our 2012 Jeep Patriot suddenly losing power while driving on the interstate at between 65 to 70 MPH. The first time was on i39 in southern illinois when the temperature was in the 90s. We were able to pull off on to the shoulder. After several attempts we were able to restart the car and got to the nearest gas station. The indicator showed almost 1/2 tank of gas but after filling up the car ran well. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10496699, filed 2013-02, 18,000 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel pump shuts off / hard to refuel (rollover valve)

    • 85 complaints (24%)
    • median 54,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (55 state mileage)
    • filed 2012–2026

    Owners describe the fuel nozzle clicking off every few seconds during refueling, so filling the tank takes many minutes or has to be done at the slowest setting. Several complaints say fuel spilled from the tank or filler during refueling. Dealers and mechanics are reported to have diagnosed a faulty rollover valve or inlet check valve inside the tank, with replacement of the whole tank as the stated fix; some owners say their VIN was not included in the related campaign. Mostly reported between roughly 32,000 and 120,000 miles, with a few at lower mileage.

    Recall 12V142000Recall 13V1200001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Try a full refuel during the test drive and see whether the pump clicks off repeatedly or fuel backs up. Ask whether the fuel tank or rollover valve has been replaced and whether the VIN was included in the fuel system campaigns.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I had my check engine light come on. I went to auto zone and had them run a quick dx check to see why the engine light came on. The code that came up reported an issue with my gas cap or fuel sensor. I am not able to pump gas into my vehicle without the pump shutting off continuously; when pumping my gas I have to hold the pumps lever and it will still lose pressure and shut off. I have to pump very slowly in order to fill up my vehicle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11360569, filed 2020-09, 103,000 miles

    “When trying to fill the tank with gas the pump keeps shutting off every 5-10 seconds and sometimes gas comes back oout the fill tube. My mechanic says we have a bad rollover valve and the whole gas tank needs to be replaced to fix it.”

    NHTSA complaint #11390249, filed 2021-01, 42,000 miles
  3. Other or unknown

    Rear subframe / crossmember rusted through

    Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the rear suspension crossmember or subframe rusting through and fracturing, sometimes discovered at state inspection after clunking or grinding noises from the rear. Owners report being told the crossmember, cradle or related suspension parts need replacement, and some say a manufacturer warranty extension did not cover their build date or VIN. Reported between roughly 35,000 and 146,000 miles, often on older vehicles in states that use road salt.

    What to check: Have the underbody inspected on a lift, focusing on the rear crossmember and subframe for perforation or flaking. Ask whether any corrosion-related warranty extension applies to the specific VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Vehicle failed ri safety inspection due to corroded / compromised rear suspension crossmember. Understand that chrysler corp. Is replacing this and other like components on my year Jeep Patriot. They are directing that the entire tar suspension components be replaced. Ting that I replace the”

    NHTSA complaint #11399078, filed 2021-03, 117,225 miles

    “Rusted sub-frame in the rear of the vehicle that is completely broken. A google search shows this to be a major problem for Jeep which makes the vehicle dangerous to drive and should be recalled. The rear started making pound clunking sounds. If it get worse the rear wheel could fall off the vehicle.”

    NHTSA complaint #11416760, filed 2021-05, 124,000 miles
  4. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission whine, shudder and loss of drive

    • 45 complaints (13%)
    • median 64,892 mi at 6.6 yrs old (37 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $4,200 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2012–2026

    Owners describe a whining or humming noise that rises and falls with acceleration, shuddering, and hesitation to accelerate or pick up speed. Some complaints say the transmission overheated warning came on and the vehicle would not exceed a low speed, and that transmission replacement or rebuild was recommended. A service bulletin describes reprogramming the powertrain control module for shift concerns and diagnostic improvements. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 130,000 miles, sometimes with higher outdoor temperatures.

    6 related service bulletins

    What to check: Listen for whine or shudder during acceleration and at steady cruise, and ask whether the PCM reflash or any transmission work has been done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The transmission just made noise and whined a lot. Unable to go past 60 miles per hour. Checked fluid was fine. Car had 129,345 miles on it. I have changed transmission fluid and both filters twice. We have owned this 15 months”

    NHTSA complaint #11307099, filed 2020-02, 129,245 miles

    “Car makes a whining noise once it's been driving for a little bit. It is in sync when you accelerate (whines up when pushing gas, whines down when you let go). It hesitates to accelerate which is extremely dangerous on the freeway. On multiple occasions I've been driving down the road and the transmission light comes on, the whining noise continues and the car will just slow down and eventually stop. I've had to cross multiple lanes on the freeway to try and get over to the shoulder so I didn't break down and get hit right away. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11219091, filed 2019-06, 10 miles
  5. Air bags

    Air bag warning light / air bags not deploying

    • 47 complaints (13%)
    • median 29,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2026

    Complaints describe the air bag indicator staying lit, and in some cases frontal air bags not deploying in a collision. Owners report a dealer being unable to resolve the warning light, and one complaint describes harness damage after the air bag module work. Recall 16V668000 and 13V233000 concern the occupant restraint control module and related software affecting air bag and pretensioner deployment. Reported from very low mileage to around 100,000 miles, with several owners finding the light already on at purchase.

    Recall 16V668000Recall 13V233000

    What to check: Check that the air bag lamp goes out after the bulb check at startup, and have the dealer confirm whether the occupant restraint control module recalls were completed for this VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a accident or crash car before( the Jeep was in making left turn ,in motion) I was in camuy rural area, city of puerto rico and the airbag doesn't came out thank to our. Mighty god it wasn't too much but the air bag it doesn't work.”

    NHTSA complaint #11321219, filed 2020-04, 35 miles

    “I bought my car as a second hand with the airbag light on and the dealer told me it's a recall that Jeep has to fix. I took it to the dealership that specializes in Jeep's and they couldn't fix it . Is there any way I can get helped ?”

    NHTSA complaint #11366518, filed 2020-10, 63,000 miles

Buying note. The most frequently described problems are stalling and refueling trouble, so a highway test drive and a full fill-up are the two checks most likely to reveal something. Confirm the air bag and fuel system campaigns were completed for the specific VIN, and inspect the rear underbody for rust before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 354 consumer complaints for the 2012 Jeep Patriot. 257 of the complaints include a mileage, and 47% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 55,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 100 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 9 Jeep Patriot model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 93 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (12), Steering (11), Brakes (7), Exterior lighting (6), Engine cooling (5), Wheels (4), Tires (3), Seats (2), Interior lighting (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “When I turn my blinkers on left or right blinker, the windshield wipers come on. Not every time, but at least once a day.catalytic converter emissions will not pas inspections. This car is not that old and have read many people complaining about the catalytic converter not passing inspection because of emissions. My car will not pass inspection and was told they were recalling Jeep patriots.”

NHTSA complaint #11400202, filed 2021-03, 146,000 miles

Fuel system: “After filling up with gas, my car starts to buck and has bad acceleration even while driving 70 down the freeway. It continues this problem until I have only 1/4 tank of gas and even goes beyond that. I'm starting to have problems with the car starting also and it smells badly of gas fumes.”

NHTSA complaint #11092189, filed 2018-05, 77,570 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The transmission in my 2012 Jeep Patriot is not functioning properly. It does not accelerate as it should. It stalls when I attempt to accelerate. It does this on city streets and highways. It overheats on hills and can't take it out of town because it's not reliable. This doesn't make sense since the car only has 74,000 miles.”

NHTSA complaint #11204125, filed 2019-04, 74,000 miles

Air bags: “My screen tablet show me some time on air bag is off . Turn on and turn off many times. Today 10/24/2018 . I went to chrysler for recall but they doesn't fixed. I am very unsucefull with chrysler. They don't give me a new date for fixed. I want reporting with you NHTSA thank you. I need a early messenger of you.”

NHTSA complaint #11142483, filed 2018-10, 143,532 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

47% of the 257 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 21,000 and 82,000 miles.

16%0–1014%10–2517%25–5018%50–7520%75–10014%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (257 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 55,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’12’14’1661’18’20’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Jeep Patriot version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Patriot 2WD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual232925$2,700
Patriot 2WD2.0L 4-cylCVT232724$2,800
Patriot 2WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual232825$2,700
Patriot 2WD2.4L 4-cylCVT212723$2,900
Patriot 4WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual222724$2,800
Patriot 4WD2.4L 4-cylCVT212523$2,900
Patriot 4WD2.4L 4-cylCVT202321$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Jeep Patriot → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 100 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 100 bulletins →

Other model years of the Jeep Patriot

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20175934,00004250 · FewerStable
201645951,000142580 · MoreFalling
201531550,7441—2563 · TypicalFalling
201454853,000242495 · MoreFalling
201312050,000142514 · FewerFalling
201235455,0004—2593 · MoreFalling
201132672,1004—2581 · MoreFalling
201013676,6002—250 · FewerFalling
200919178,5001—2532 · FewerFalling
200818695,1320—240 · FewerFalling
20079485,6000—24Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Jeep Patriot model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Jeep Patriot?

Owners of the 2012 Jeep Patriot most often describe the engine cutting out or stalling while driving, and trouble filling the fuel tank because the pump keeps clicking off. The issues reported most often: Engine shuts off while driving / loss of power; Fuel pump shuts off / hard to refuel (rollover valve); Rear subframe / crossmember rusted through.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Jeep Patriot have?

NHTSA recorded 354 consumer complaints for the 2012 Jeep Patriot as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Jeep Patriot is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 114 complaints (32% of the total), followed by fuel system with 102.

Has the 2012 Jeep Patriot been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Jeep Patriot get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Jeep Patriot (Patriot 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 23 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Jeep Patriot reported?

Among the 257 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 55,000 miles and the middle half falls between 21,000 and 82,000 miles; 47% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.