2017 Jeep Patriot Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe sudden loss of power or stalling, and some describe repeated throttle body replacements. Transmission warnings that appear at highway speed with loss of power, and brakes that do not slow the car or that lock up, are also reported. Recorded mileage varies widely, from very low to about 138,000 miles, and some reports mention airbags that did not deploy in crashes.

1. 1
   Engine

   Sudden loss of power or stalling

   • 19 complaints (32%)
   • median 31,500 mi at 2.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners describe sudden loss of acceleration, with the car unable to speed up or limited to low speeds, and some describe the engine stalling in traffic or while driving. Several complaints mention throttle body replacements, and some say the problem returned afterward. Warning lights such as the check engine and traction control lights are mentioned, and some say the dealer or shop could not find the reason. Recorded mileage ranges from 10,000 to 79,000 miles, and some describe the problem at a red light or in stop-and-go traffic.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced or cleaned, and request the repair invoices, since some complaints describe repeated replacements. On a test drive, check for smooth acceleration from a stop and in traffic, and ask a mechanic to scan for stored engine fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Toggle body was replaced. My husband had the exact same thing replaced. Same model year, bought a couple of months apart. Suddenly lost acceleration ability. Could not keep driving, as there was no power to keep moving along. Malfunction light and both skid/traction lights came on. We both made it home, towed to dealership as a precaution. Didn't want to chance driving any longer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383954, filed 2020-12, 35,000 miles

   “I was driving up to a red light, stopped and the engine started to revve up all by itself. I proceeded through the green light with my foot on the gas the vehicle did not want to accelerate ,I pulled into a parking lot, put in park and shut the vehicle off. This happened after my first oil change around 5000 miles. I restarted the vehicle about 10 minutes later and it drove fine. I drove to the dealership where I had the oil changed. The attendant hooked the vehicle up to a computer check and nothing showed up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11112124, filed 2018-07, 10,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission warning light and power loss at speed

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners describe a transmission warning light coming on at highway speed, followed by the car slowing and losing power, so they had to coast to the shoulder and wait before driving on. Some also describe a whining noise, an overheat warning, or being unable to move forward or accelerate. In some complaints the dealer could not reproduce the problem during a visit. Recorded mileage ranges from 116 to 138,000 miles, and most of these reports describe the warning appearing at highway speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission has had service bulletin work, including the bulletin on shift concerns and shuddering, and request the repair records. On a test drive at highway speed, check that the warning light stays off and that the car holds speed and power, and ask for the transmission fluid level and condition to be checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving 75 MPH, the transmission starts making a whining noise, and the transmission warning indicator illuminates, the vehicle decelerates and loses power. We coast the vehicle over to the road shoulder, wait awhile and the warning light goes off. This happened four times in succession on our last trip of 240 miles. It has happened at the very least 10 times on the same trip to west virginia. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11277373, filed 2019-10, 24,000 miles

   “I was driving and heard a noise I took my vehicle to the dealership they serviced it and three days later the noise came back a whining noise. All of a sudden it didn't want to move forward the whining increased, then the overheated warning light came on, then inability to accelerate. Finally the transmission light came on. I took it back to the dealership they called the warranty people and I was told because I didn't do every maintenance suggestions they will not honor the lifetime warranty on the part. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11218444, filed 2019-06, 138,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brakes fail to slow the car or wheels lock

   • 10 complaints (17%)
   • median 35,468 mi at 2.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2025

   Owners describe brake pedals that failed to respond or stayed on the floor, and in some reports the car kept speeding up while the brake was pressed. Other reports describe wheels locking during braking, including a rear wheel that locked shortly after brake parts were replaced, and a case where the car slid until it stopped. Some of these reports describe a crash after the event. Recorded mileage ranges from 16,258 to 57,777 miles, and a report describes a rear wheel lock-up about 200 miles after new brake parts were installed.

   What to check: Ask whether the brake system, including the ABS and the brake pedal, has been inspected for fault codes, and request records for any brake or wheel-lock event. On a test drive in a safe area, check that the pedal feels firm and that the car stops straight without the wheels locking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sitting still at red light all at once car roll forward push down on brake car go fast with feet on brake car still go fast hit car in the back end on highway”

   NHTSA complaint #11319285, filed 2020-03, 57,777 miles

   “While driving home from wok in a Jeep Patriot 2017 on a city street the brakes would not work suddenly and the speed increased rapidly uncontrollably. Two vehicles hit me going thru an intersection and the Jeep Patriot vehicle ran into a warehouse going thru 2 metal doors and a brick wall without any air bags deploying. The Jeep Patriot completely went into the warehouse and was stopped by hitting a large pillar.”

   NHTSA complaint #11066883, filed 2018-02
4. 4
   Seats

   Headrest deploys or moves unexpectedly

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 3.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe a front headrest that deployed or popped open without any crash, or that deactivated and could not be returned to its normal position. Some reports describe neck or head pain after the sudden movement. Some say the dealer advised there was no recall or extended warranty for the problem. Most of these reports do not record mileage, and the report that does lists 50,000 miles.

   What to check: Check that both front headrests stay in position, adjust normally and lock in place, and ask whether any headrest has been repaired, replaced or reset. Ask the seller for any dealer records about active headrest deployment, and check for a related service or recall notice using the vehicle's VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Before this drivers headrest exploded on me striking my neck I was already totally disabled with known cervical issues from congenital spinal stenosis. I've had 3 disk diaections and cage pedicle screws fixation of L4 L5 S1. Previous to this exploding headrest injury I was attempting to get off social security obtaining online Google certifications. Friday the 7th of July not long after dark my wife and I going to town for food. My wife already got in passenger seat of our 2017 jeep patriot she bought new, no rear end collisions. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11532893, filed 2023-07

   “The head rest on the passenger side was deactivated with out a reason and could not be place back to its original setting. This happed while driving in highway. Luckily there was no one seating at the seat that time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11403586, filed 2021-03, 50,000 miles
5. 5
   Seat belts

   Seat belt chime sounds randomly or belt locks

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 8,400 mi at 1.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2022

   Owners describe passenger seat belt chimes that go off at random even when the belt is buckled, whether the engine is off, on or moving. Some say a belt tightened or locked during a collision or while driving, and a rear belt would not release once it locked. Another complaint mentions a driver belt beeping alongside an airbag warning light. Recorded mileage ranges from 8,400 to 45,000 miles, and a report notes the chime started less than two weeks after purchase.

   What to check: On a test drive, buckle each seat belt and check that the chime follows the buckle state correctly, and check whether a belt locks or tightens during a stop. Ask whether the belt sensor, buckle or retractor has been repaired or replaced, and request the invoices.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was at work in a 2017 Jeep Patriot company vehicle. I am a field worker and was traveling north on schaefer hwy to a clients home. I was t-boned at the cross section of schaefer and schoolcraft when another vehicle driving east on schoolcraft ran a red light- hitting me in the driver door, after hitting the driver door, turning his/her wheels and digging into the vehicle by my feet, breaking the left front wheel off the Jeep. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11400296, filed 2021-03, 28,000 miles

   “I have two non verbal autstic boys, I heard my son gasping I pulled over and the rear seat belt had retracted under his rib cage, I kicked out the booster seat and lifted him into my leg higher to attempt to pull the belt, he could not breath, it only got tighter and the tension was so tight the lap lock would not release, I called 911, they had no choice but to cut the belt. It only got tighter. The dealership guy checked the other belt and said it only locks also when it wants, and remember me complaining to him the day I bought it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11084293, filed 2018-04, 8,400 miles

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to ask for records of any throttle body, transmission, brake or headrest repairs, and to check for stored fault codes. A test drive that includes highway speed, a firm stop and a few restarts can show how the car behaves in the areas owners most often describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 55 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.