2014 Jeep Patriot Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Jeep Patriot report two dominant themes: sudden loss of power or rough running traced to throttle body, ignition or transmission problems, and front-seat headrests (active head restraints) that pop open on their own with the vehicle parked. Many complaints also describe air bag or seat belt warning lights and non-deployment in crashes, and several owners say their VIN was outside the related recall campaigns.

1. 1
   Engine

   Sudden power loss, sputter or stall (throttle body / limp

   • 224 complaints (41%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (192 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $845 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the check engine, throttle control (lightning bolt), traction control and stability control lights coming on together, followed by the vehicle sputtering, losing speed or dropping into limp mode, sometimes limiting it to about 20-30 mph. Owners often say restarting clears some lights and restores normal operation for a while before it recurs. Some dealers or shops replaced the throttle body, spark plugs or an alternator; others could not confirm a cause. Reported across the range from roughly 30,000 to over 130,000 miles, often during highway acceleration or while pulling away from a stop.

   Recall 13V5520003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced or serviced, and whether a scan shows stored codes such as U0401. A test drive that includes a highway acceleration run can help reveal hesitation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving in motion on a highway, since then and going forward it throws same lights on cluster each 1/4 mile!!! My vehicle throws a few warning lights on the instrument cluster(e.t.c.aka electronic throttle control, traction control, and check engine.) the vehicle starts to sputter and completely comes to a stall. I pull over as safe as I can and turn engine off then back on only to see no lights except check engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11398169, filed 2021-02, 60,100 miles

   “Purchased a 2014 Jeep Patriot (used) on 03/15/2014 was going to work at 5am. All of a sudden was in 2 lane Jeep started loosing power, skipping bad,it did not wont to run!!! Finally got it out of the road. This was in august of 2015. Called my husband he came we got it back home. Police stopped to see if I was ok now I called the Jeep recall place and gave them my VIN number said no recalls . So now the Jeep will not start when I turn the ignition on! Have to do it several times to get it to crank!!! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10762001, filed 2015-09, 49,000 miles
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Front headrests deploy on their own (active head restraint)

   • 43 complaints (8%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the driver or passenger front headrest popping open while the vehicle is parked, unoccupied or just being backed out of a driveway, with no impact involved. Complaints commonly attribute it to a small plastic clip or pin inside the headrest breaking; some say an occupant was struck or injured when it fired. Dealers typically diagnosed a failed headrest needing replacement, and owners report no recall covering it. Mostly reported between about 13,000 and 140,000 miles, often discovered while the vehicle was stationary in a driveway or parking space.

   What to check: Inspect both front headrests for a loose or already-fired mechanism, and ask whether either has been replaced. Sit in and move the seats to see if the headrest feels locked in place.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was sitting in my car getting ready to leave a parking space I backed out and then I heard a pop I didn't know where it came from I looked around the vehicle I didn't see anything once I got back into the vehicle I noticed that my headrest had popped out I was not hit by anything it just popped out”

   NHTSA complaint #11408642, filed 2021-04, 113,000 miles

   “I left car in garage- fine. I go back later to get in Patriot, I find the passenger side headrest deployed/popped open. The vehicle was sitting there. I hadn't even turned it on when I noticed it. I have been in no accident (at least within the last year). It now decides to deploy on its own.”

   NHTSA complaint #11326871, filed 2020-06, 106,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, whine or loss of drive

   • 47 complaints (9%)
   • median 49,500 mi at 3.8 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners report the transmission warning light coming on with unexpected deceleration at highway speed, a loud whine with the vehicle refusing to exceed about 40 mph, and harsh or shuddering shifts. Some complaints describe the transmission being diagnosed as failed and replaced, while others say a fluid flush was performed and the problem came back. A few describe grinding or a cracked case. Reported from roughly 49,000 to 138,000 miles, often after extended driving or during acceleration on the highway.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and check the fluid condition and level. Drive long enough to get the transmission warm, then accelerate through the gears to listen for whine or shudder.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving approx 45 MPH when I heard a popping noise followed by grinding noise while in 5th gear. Took my car to the shop and was told it looked like the transmission. I then took it to a transmission shop who verified that the transmission was shot. It was cracked in several places. I had the transmission replaced with a new one. When I went to pick up my car, I asked to take pictures so that I could talk to Jeep about having a transmission fail at 103k miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11312268, filed 2020-02, 103,000 miles

   “The CVT transmission will make a loud whine and not go over 40 MPH . Usual happens after about 30 min of driving and will not show any codes. This happens during acceleration and you have to pull over and wait before it will resume somewhat normal operation .”

   NHTSA complaint #11349645, filed 2020-08, 75,298 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalling tied to oil pressure or internal damage

   • 84 complaints (15%)
   • median 61,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (67 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Several owners describe the engine stalling with the check engine and oil pressure lights on, or a sudden loss of power followed by an engine that will not accelerate. Shops diagnosed outcomes ranging from a failed crankshaft to engine replacement, and some owners connect the symptom to recall 13V552000 covering balance shaft bearing debris while saying their VIN was not included. Others report catalytic converter failures with jerking and stalling. Generally reported at higher mileage, from about 50,000 to over 150,000 miles, often at highway speeds.

   Recall 13V5520002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm whether recall 13V552000 applies to and was performed on the vehicle, and ask about oil pressure history or engine replacement. Check the oil level and look for leaks, and listen for unusual noise at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had all the issues that was stated in the recalls but my VIN number wasnt part of recall I am on my thrid motor replaced and electrical still isnt working properly I purchased brand new 2014 and within first year needed new engine when ifiled complaint nothing was done by Jeep or dealer,just replaced the engin last month now the alternator needs replacing and transmission blew yesterday all of these issues happened while I was driving”

   NHTSA complaint #11319103, filed 2020-03, 67,000 miles

   “I have a 2014 2.4l Jeep Patriot. I first noticed the problem when I was driving at 60 MPH, then suddenly the check engine light came on and the vehicle began to lose speed. The engine felt like it was running out of power and I was unable to accelerate. The engine began to stall and would not allow me to go over 20 MPH. The problem continued to get worse. While stopped at a red light, the engine would idle very heavily. When I went to proceed, the engine would stall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11416385, filed 2021-05, 151,059 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Air bag or seat belt warning light, non-deployment in a

   • 117 complaints (21%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the air bag warning light staying on in all conditions regardless of passenger seat occupancy, with repeated dealer visits and diagnostics that did not resolve it. Some owners say frontal air bags did not deploy in a collision, and others report a seat belt buckle fracturing in a crash. Various complaints tie these symptoms to recall 16V668000 but state their vehicle was not included or that parts were not yet available. Spread from around 40,000 to 168,000 miles, with the warning-light pattern reported regardless of weather or road type.

   Recall 16V6680001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check whether recall 16V668000 was completed for this VIN, and confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check. A scan tool can show whether any restraint-system codes are stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag light- always on cold or hot weather driving uphill downhill flat street bumpy street any speed backing out of garage sitting at a stop light highway or city driving turning stopping I have nothing in the passenger seat all the time I have taken the Jeep back to the service center 3-4 times for this problem. They run a diagnostic it could be this or this then they tell me it's fixed then it comes on again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11324835, filed 2020-05, 40,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the driver side and the passenger's side panel air bags deployed independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, the technician was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer had been notified. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10626782, filed 2014-08, 20,000 miles

Buying note. Given the sampled complaints, have a mechanic check the throttle body and stored engine codes, the transmission, and both front headrests before buying, and confirm which of the two open recalls apply to the VIN and were completed. Service records showing consistent maintenance matter more than mileage alone on this model year.

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.