The Lemon Index2012 Jeep Patriot.
The 2012 Jeep Patriot is worse than average by owner complaints: 110 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 164, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 21 to 25 mpg combined. The best Jeep Patriot year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 354 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Jeep Patriot year. 2012 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 20K to 83K miles on the car (257 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 13K–77K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 27K–80K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 23K–79K miles
Recalls 4
- 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.
- fuel system, gasoline 2013
Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of fuel from the secondary side to the primary side of the fuel tank may be interrupted, causing the engine to stall.
Show all 4 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2012
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 JEEP PATRIOT AND COMPASS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2012.
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 100 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Oil Pump Assembly If error code P06DD present on any Pentastar V6 application, please inspect…
- Condition where
- 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
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedActive head rest inadvertent deployment2019–2026
- ClosedEngine stall, fuel delivery failure2012–2013
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Patriot SUV 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Jeep Patriot SUV 2WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Jeep Patriot reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 164; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Jeep Patriot year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2012 Jeep Patriot problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (48%), fuel or ev drive system (21%) and transmission & drivetrain (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Jeep Patriot have?
4 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 2012 Jeep Patriot get?
21 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2012 Jeep Patriot problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,800 and 83,100 miles. The middle report was at 55,000 miles, from 257 complaints.
Does the 2012 Jeep Patriot have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 17% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Jeep Patriot cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Jeep Patriot have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Jeep Patriot year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2013 and 2017.
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