Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
4225–50K
4150–75K
2575–100K
33100–150K
7150K+
160 reports with mileage · 11 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Suspension. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
171 reports
50,000 miles · Sep 29, 2011
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT UNINTENTIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT UNINTENTIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS A 50,000. UPDATED 10/17/11 *BF UPDATED 10/21/11.
NHTSA ODI #10427855
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2011
Suspension
WE HAVE HAD OUT JEEP FOR 3 YEARS TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO GET A TIRE FIXED...AND THEY LET US KNOW THAT THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THAT IS ALSO THE REASON OUT NEW TIRES ARE WEARING OUT FAST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL JEEP. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10427529
75,000 miles · Sep 17, 2011
Suspension
EXPERIENCED SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL, AND OVERALL HANDLING PROBLEMS. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10425860
40,000 miles · Sep 8, 2011
Suspension
WHEN HAVING NEW TIRES INSTALLED,I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS LOOSENESS AND PLAY IN THE FRONT BALLJOINTS. THIS SEAMS TO BE A PROBLEM THATS NOT UNCOMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10424333
45,677 miles · Sep 6, 2011
Suspension
BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS, RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BOTH FAILED AT 45,000 MILES NOT COVERED ON EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THE TIME. NEVER BUY A EXTENDED WARRANTY IT COVERS NOTHING IT IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RIPOFF. COST $599.18 FOR A PROBLEM THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10423997
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2011
Unknown Or Other
WHEN I FIRST TEST DROVE MY JEEP, IT LEAKED WATER FROM THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS. IT WAS FIXED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, WATER BEGAN POURING OUT OF MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AFTER IT RAINED. I AGAIN HAD IT FIXED. NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME WATER IS AGAIN LEAKING OUT OF MY INTERIOR LIGHTS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. THIS IS…
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WHEN I FIRST TEST DROVE MY JEEP, IT LEAKED WATER FROM THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS. IT WAS FIXED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, WATER BEGAN POURING OUT OF MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AFTER IT RAINED. I AGAIN HAD IT FIXED. NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME WATER IS AGAIN LEAKING OUT OF MY INTERIOR LIGHTS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10423992
40,112 miles · Aug 27, 2011
Suspension
BALL JOINT REPAIR AT 40K? I JUST TURNED THE 40K MARK ON MY JEEP PATRIOT 2008 WHEN LAST WEEK I BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS WORSE WITH THE A/C SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. UPON OIL CHANGE, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT'S THE BALL JOINTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE NO WOBBLING OF MY STEERING, BUT…
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BALL JOINT REPAIR AT 40K? I JUST TURNED THE 40K MARK ON MY JEEP PATRIOT 2008 WHEN LAST WEEK I BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS WORSE WITH THE A/C SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. UPON OIL CHANGE, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT'S THE BALL JOINTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE NO WOBBLING OF MY STEERING, BUT HE STATES IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. NOW I READ THAT IT'S A 3 YR 36,000 MILE WARRANTEE SO I FALL OUTSIDE OF THAT. BAD JEEP, BAD! I HAVE HAD MORE BAD LUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN MY COMMANDER WHICH I LOVED. FIX THIS ISSUE! *TT
NHTSA ODI #10422269
45,000 miles · Aug 18, 2011
SteeringSuspension
2008 JEEP PATRIOT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS AND OUTER TIE RODS WERE BAD AFTER 45K MILES (99.9% HIGHWAY MILES). THE LOWER ARMS AND OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10419987
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2011
Suspension
JEEP PATRIOT (2008) LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES. PROBLEM STARTED AT 37,000 MILES. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, TOLD TO ROTATE TIRES (NO MENTION OF BALL JOINTS). FAILED INSPECTION 3 MONTHS LATER DUE TO BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. COST TO REPAIR OVER $1,000. CAR MUST BE FIXED, BUT JEEP DOES NOT INSURE THAT THE PART …
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JEEP PATRIOT (2008) LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES. PROBLEM STARTED AT 37,000 MILES. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, TOLD TO ROTATE TIRES (NO MENTION OF BALL JOINTS). FAILED INSPECTION 3 MONTHS LATER DUE TO BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. COST TO REPAIR OVER $1,000. CAR MUST BE FIXED, BUT JEEP DOES NOT INSURE THAT THE PART WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10419499
27,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ALTERNATORS BEARINGS WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ALTERNATORS BEARINGS WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED TO WORSEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
NHTSA ODI #10413897
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2008 Jeep Patriot 4X4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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