2012 Jeep Patriot: owner complaints and recalls

Owners have filed 353 complaints about the 2012 Jeep Patriot and NHTSA has issued 4 recall campaigns. The most-reported system is engine, named in 114 of them.

353
Complaints
4
Recalls
9
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
6
Injuries
32.3
Severity index

Severity index 32.3 - Low. It weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints, so a vehicle attracting serious reports scores above one attracting many trivial ones (how this is calculated).

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 32.3p25 35p75 96cleanestworst
Where the 2012 Jeep Patriot sits against the quartiles of every vehicle we track.

Among the 129 2012 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2012 Jeep Patriot ranks 112 of 129 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 13% of its model-year peers. See the full 2012 ranking.

What actually fails

EngineEngine: 114 complaints (32.3%)114 32%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 86 complaints (24.4%)86 24%Power TrainPower Train: 63 complaints (17.8%)63 18%Air BagsAir Bags: 56 complaints (15.9%)56 16%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 44 complaints (12.5%)44 12%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 36 complaints (10.2%)36 10%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 30 complaints (8.5%)30 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 29 complaints (8.2%)29 8%
Systems named in complaints. One complaint can name several, so shares overlap.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE11432.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM8624.4%
POWER TRAIN6317.8%
AIR BAGS5615.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4412.5%
SEAT BELTS3610.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER308.5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL298.2%

Complaints filed per year

030612011: 12012: 302013: 332014: 222015: 242016: 222017: 612018: 362019: 512020: 252021: 162022: 112023: 92024: 22025: 72026: 3 (partial year)1112131415161761181920212223242526
Complaints filed per calendar year, not model year. The hatched bar is the current year and is still incomplete.
YearComplaints
20111
201230
201333
201422
201524
201622
201761
201836
201951
202025
202116
202211
20239
20242
20257
2026 (year to date)3
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V66800015/09/2016SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONERChrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air
13V12000003/04/2013FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEChrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles manufactured October 18, 2011, through May 7, 2012. Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of fuel from the secondary side to the primary side of the fuel
12V14200003/04/2012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYCHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 JEEP PATRIOT AND COMPASS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2012. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY CONTAINING A DAMAGED ROLL-OVER VALVE.
13V23300004/06/2013AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWChrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012. The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-t
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.