The Lemon Index2010 Jeep Patriot.
The 2010 Jeep Patriot is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 15 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 35, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 21 to 25 mpg combined. It's the best Jeep Patriot year we track.
One of the most reliable. 2.9× fewer complaints than average.
Worst year 2014
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 136 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Jeep Patriot year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 46K to 110K miles on the car (103 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 70K–107K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 42K–117K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 33K–114K miles
Recalls 2
- seat belts 2016
The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
- airbags 2013
The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Jeep told dealers about
Jeep sent dealers 43 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedActive head rest inadvertent deployment2019–2026
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
My Patriot stalled on the freeway. This was the second time this has happened. I took it to the mechanic where they said this could have been from a faulty gas gauge and I was out of gasoline. I do not think this was the case.
2010 Jeep Patriot owner · NHTSA complaint 10481317
More owner reports
Engine stalled while driving 45mph on a city street in normal weather conditions.
NHTSA complaint 10487419
Quick answers
Is the 2010 Jeep Patriot reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 35; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2010 Jeep Patriot problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (33%), speed control (20%) and electrical (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Jeep Patriot have?
2 safety recalls (latest: seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Jeep Patriot get?
21 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2010 Jeep Patriot problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 46,000 and 110,000 miles. The middle report was at 76,600 miles, from 103 complaints.
Does the 2010 Jeep Patriot have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 20% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2010 Jeep Patriot cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 Jeep Patriot have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works