2009 Jeep Patriot 4X4

MY JEEP PATRIOT HAS A VERY UNUSUAL PROBLEM OF GOING INTO "LIMP" MODE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS--EVEN AFTER AS LITTLE OF 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE "TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT" LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE VEHICLE'S ON-BOARD COMPUTER FORCES THE VEHICLE DOWN TO SLOW, SUB-HIGHWAY SPEEDS--EVEN AS SLOW AS 35 MPH. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERY DANGEROUS FOR US (ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY) AND OCCURS UNDER NORMAL (AND EVEN COLD TEMPERATURES). IT IS NOT REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION OIL OR EVEN INSTALLING A TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER (BOTH WHICH I HAVE TRIED). I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS--INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP AND A TRANSMISSION SHOP--WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN STUMPED BY THE ISSUE. AFTER LEARNING ABOUT AND THOROUGHLY DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION SHOP CONCLUDED THAT SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND THEY WROTE A STATEMENT TO THAT EFFECT. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS DANGEROUS, FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH MY JEEP PATRIOT, I STARTED A WEBSITE TO COLLECT RESPONSES FROM OTHER JEEP OWNERS. IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE WEBSITE HAS BEEN UP (JEEPPATRIOTTRANSMISSIONOVERHEAT.COM), I HAVE RECEIVED MANY SUBMISSIONS FROM OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM (AND ALL OF WHICH HAVE ATTESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS ULTIMATELY STUMPED BY THE PROBLEM). THE PROBLEM IS FOUND ON VEHICLE YEARS RANGING FROM 2007-2014. SOME OWNERS BELIEVE THE KOHO BEARINGS ARE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IN ANY EVENT, A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY KNOWN REMEDY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THOROUGHLY, AS WELL AS REVIEWING EXISTING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, I AM NOW CONFIDENT THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD (EXISTS ON 1,000+ PATRIOTS), IS FOUND ON NEW AND USED PATRIOTS OF ALL MILEAGES, IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND HAS BEEN IGNORED BY JEEP. IT IS MY OPINION THAT A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE NHTSA, AFTER CONDUCTING ITS OWN RESEARCH. *TR

MY JEEP PATRIOT HAS A VERY UNUSUAL PROBLEM OF GOING INTO "LIMP" MODE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS--EVEN AFTER AS LITTLE OF 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE "TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT" LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE VEHICLE'S ON-BOARD COMPUTER FORCES THE VEHICLE DOWN TO SLOW, SUB-HIGHWAY SPEEDS--EVEN AS SLOW AS 35 MPH. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERY DANGEROUS FOR US (ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY) AND OCCURS UNDER NORMAL (AND EVEN COLD TEMPERATURES). IT IS NOT REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION OIL OR EVEN INSTALLING A TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER (BOTH WHICH I HAVE TRIED). I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS--INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP AND A TRANSMISSION SHOP--WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN STUMPED BY THE ISSUE. AFTER LEARNING ABOUT AND THOROUGHLY DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION SHOP CONCLUDED THAT SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND THEY WROTE A STATEMENT TO THAT EFFECT. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS DANGEROUS, FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH MY JEEP PATRIOT, I STARTED A WEBSITE TO COLLECT RESPONSES FROM OTHER JEEP OWNERS. IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE WEBSITE HAS BEEN UP (JEEPPATRIOTTRANSMISSIONOVERHEAT.COM), I HAVE RECEIVED MANY SUBMISSIONS FROM OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM (AND ALL OF WHICH HAVE ATTESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS ULTIMATELY STUMPED BY THE PROBLEM). THE PROBLEM IS FOUND ON VEHICLE YEARS RANGING FROM 2007-2014. SOME OWNERS BELIEVE THE KOHO BEARINGS ARE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IN ANY EVENT, A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY KNOWN REMEDY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THOROUGHLY, AS WELL AS REVIEWING EXISTING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, I AM NOW CONFIDENT THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD (EXISTS ON 1,000+ PATRIOTS), IS FOUND ON NEW AND USED PATRIOTS OF ALL MILEAGES, IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND HAS BEEN IGNORED BY JEEP. IT IS MY OPINION THAT A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE NHTSA, AFTER CONDUCTING ITS OWN RESEARCH. *TR

WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT DOME LIGHT AND REAR AND FRONT DRIVER'S FLOOR BED WAS SOAKED WITH WATER. THE VEHICLE HAS A SUNROOF AND WE HAVE READ ABOUT MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED JEEP VEHICLE WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO A JEEP DEALER AND GET IT FIXED OURSELVES. MANY PEOPLE HAVE DONE THIS MULTIPLES TIMES AND THEIR CARS STILL LEAK. JEEP IS STILL LEAKING ON THE FLOOR BEDS. THEY ARE SOAKED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO RAIN AND JUST THE DEW ON THE CAR CAUSES THE FLOOR TO BE WET. WE FEAR ELECTRICAL DAMAGE THAT CAN CAUSE FAULT OF VEHICLE RESULTING IN INJURY, MOLD, AND RUSTING OUT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! *TR

VEHICLE DOES NOT FILL UP WITH GASOLINE PROPERLY, POTENTIALLY DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING SAFETY DEVICE IN THE GAS TANK. THE PUMP TURNS OFF AFTER.5 GALLONS, AND MUST WAIT APPROXIMATELY 15 SECONDS AND THEN PUT IN ANOTHER .5 GALLONS, AND SO ON. THE JEEP DEALERSHIP BELIEVES IT IS A STUCK/MALFUNCTIONING ROLL OVER VALVE LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK AND SINCE THE ROLL OVER VALVE IS A PART OF THE TANK, THE ENTIRE TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHILE THE FILL UP PROBLEM IS AN INCONVENIENCE A MALFUNCTIONING ROLL OVER VALVE IN AN ACCIDENT, SPECIFICALLY A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT, MAY ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK OUT CREATING A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY SITUATION THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE EXIST. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, IT BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE JEEP USED IN FEBRUARY 2013, WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. *TR

THE FACTORY RADIO IN MY DAUGHTER'S JEEP PATRIOT KEPT BLOWING ITS SUPPLY FUSE. WE REPLACED THE RADIO FIGURING THAT WAS THE ISSUE BUT THE FUSE WOULD STILL BLOW. IN TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT PROPERLY SUPPORTED AS ITS ROUTED THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT ENTERS NEAR THE FLOOR IN THE WALL NEXT TO THE DRIVERS LEFT FOOT AND THEN TURNS HORIZONTAL UNDER THE DASH JUST ABOVE THE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR THE CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDALS. THE HARNESS WAS LYING ON TOP OF THE SHARP METAL EDGE ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET AND WORE THROUGH THE INSULATION ALLOWING THE 12V FEED FOR THE ROAD TO SHORT TO GROUND BLOWING THE FUSE. AT LEAST ONE OTHER WIRE HAD ITS INSULATION BURNED IN THE PROCESS. NOT ENOUGH TO DEEM IT "A FIRE" BUT DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. I CONSIDER OURSELVES VERY FORTUNATE - ONLY THE RADIO WAS AFFECTED. IT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN ONE OF THE SAFETY SYSTEMS - BRAKES, AIR BAGS, ETC. THAT ALSO GO THROUGH THAT HARNESS AND IF MULTIPLE WIRES WERE INVOLVED THE FUSES COULD HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I OWN 2 JEEP PATROITS - A 2009 AND A 2010. I CHECKED MY 2010 AND THE HARNESS ON THAT PATRIOT APPEARS TO BE SUSPENDED UP AGAINST THE DASH FRAME SO IT'S OFF THE BRACKETS FOR THE BRAKE/CLUTCH. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE HARNESS IN OUR 2009 WAS JUST MISS-INSTALLED OR A DESIGN FAULT WAS CORRECTED IN 2010. I DO HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH I CAN FORWARD IF THIS ISSUE IS DEEMED SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *TR

WATER KEEPS FLOWING FROM THE CEILING DOME LIGHT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT THE ROOF DRAINS, AND IT KEEPS HAPPENING. I WENT OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND WATER WAS POURING FROM THE CEILING LIGHT . I STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND ALL THE LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING, AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY OFF, IT KEPT RUNNING. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF!!! I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY!! *TR

I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. TWO TIRE VALVE STEMS ARE CRACKED AND ONE HAS A SLOW LEAK. I HAVE READ OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME SYSTEM WHERE THE VALVE STEMS SIMPLE BREAK WHEN HAND WASHING THE CAR AND THE TIRE GOES FLAT IN SECONDS. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND COULD KILL SOMEONE IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THESE STEMS. *TR

JUST PURCHASED THE 2009 JEEP PATRIOT FOR MY SON, IT RAINED AND IT IS LEAKING WATER IN THE DOME LIGHTS AND BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR. I AM SCARED THERE WILL BE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE AS WELL AS MOLD AND MILDEW. I HAVE STARTED LOOKING UP ISSUES ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. SHOULDN'T JEEP BE HELD RESPONSIBLE???? *TR

AT LESS THAN 370000 MILES, (JUST OUT OF WARRANTY) I NOTICED A CLUNKING AND RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2009 JEEP PATRIOT. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. WHEN TAKING OFF OR BRAKING, ESPECIALLY AROUND 5-10 MPH, THE CLUNKING IS REALLY LOUD. I DROVE TO CHRYSLER IN WIESBADEN, GERMANY, AND INFORMED THEM THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS A LOWER BALL JOINT MAKING THE NOISE ON BOTH SIDES. LATER THEY CALLED ME AND SAID I WAS RIGHT, AND THEY DO NOT DO BALL JOINT REPAIR, THEY REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM. MAKES SENSE, I AM A MECHANIC, SAE CERTIFIED, WORKING AT A REPAIR FACILITY. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER ALSO SAID I NEEDED A CV BOOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. COST OF A CONTROL ARM (PART ONLY-600 EURO!!. COST OF A CV BOOT, JUST A PIECE OF RUBBER, 201 EURO. PARTS ONLY. TOTAL COST WITH PARTS AND LABOR WOULD HAVE BEEN 1,060 EURO, ABOUT 1200 US DOLLARS FOR ONE SIDE ONLY. I DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO ROB ME, SO I ORDERED BOTH SIDES, CONTROL ARMS, CV BOOTS, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS COMPLETE. I INSTALLED THEM WITH THE HELP OF MY SUPERVISOR USING MANUFACTURER'S DATA TO TORQUE ALL BOLTS AND NUTS. PARTS USED WERE CHRYSLER USA PARTS. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS STARTED MAKING THE SAME NOISES THE SAME DAY. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS AND MANUFACTURE A FITTING PART. THE MATERIAL IS TOO CHEAP FOR SUCH A HEAVY CAR. SO, NO WARRANTY, NO RECALL (NOBODY DIED YET!) AND NO COOPERATION FROM CHRYSLER. *TR

I HAD MY VEHICLE AT TUFFY MUFFLER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION/INSPECTION WHEN THEY POINTED OUT THAT THREE OF THE FOUR METAL TIRE PRESSURE/POSITION SENSORS WERE CRACKED. THE STATED THIS COULD RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF AIR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD REPLACED AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS IN CHRYSLER MADE PRODUCTS. IT APPEARS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE METAL ALLOY THEY ARE USING. I CALLED CHRYSLER TO INFORM THEM THAT I WAS FILLING A COMPLAINT AS THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED WITH CUSTOMER SAFETY ISSUE. I AM COVERED UNDER A LIMITED WARRANTY FOR MOST OF THE COST BUT THE ISSUE IS THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. *TR