2016 Jeep Patriot: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2016 Jeep Patriot
On the 2016 Jeep Patriot, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 55,000 miles. The earliest to appear is seat belt or retractor failure, reported by a median of 10,000 miles. Overall it scores 75 out of 100, high risk for a 2016.
High risk for a 2016 — 81st riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. 761 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2016 Jeep Patriot
Owners have reported 59 named failure modes on the 2016 Jeep Patriot, and the three most-reported carry 34% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other engine problem leads with 152 reports, about 11 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 39k to 85,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 59 reports, usually reported between 35k to 87,500 miles. 2 of those reports mention a fire.
Stalling while driving follows with 46 reports, usually reported between 35k to 90,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (221), electrical (109) and adas (62).
The mileage the reports cluster at
439 of the reports on the 2016 Jeep Patriot came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 50,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 47% by 50,000 miles, 91% by 100,000 miles and 97% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 50,000 and 60,000 miles, which alone holds 13% of the dated reports.
31% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: seat belt or retractor failure around 10k, other steering problem around 13k, other body or interior problem around 32k and ABS module or sensor failure around 34k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 59. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 26 mention a crash, 7 a fire and 10 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.35, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, stalling while driving at $300–$2,500 and other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
38% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 152 | 81 | 39k | 54k | 85k | 10.8 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 59 | 25 | 35k | 50k | 87k | 4.2 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 46 | 34 | 35k | 60k | 90k | 3.3 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 46 | 28 | 40k | 60k | 88k | 3.3 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 34 | 17 | 40k | 50k | 64k | 2.4 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 34 | 22 | 41k | 58k | 81k | 2.4 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 22 | 9 | 18k | 32k | 68k | 1.6 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 21 | 19 | 6k | 10k | 32k | 1.5 | $200–$900 | High |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 19 | 5 | — | 54k | — | 1.4 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 18 | 11 | 32k | 34k | 44k | 1.3 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 15 | 10 | 4k | 13k | 53k | 1.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 15 | 14 | 44k | 64k | 81k | 1.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 14 | 14 | 4k | 53k | 60k | 1.0 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 13 | 6 | — | 59k | — | 0.9 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 12 | 7 | — | 31k | — | 0.9 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 11 | 8 | 20k | 56k | 67k | 0.8 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 11 | 4 | — | 27k | — | 0.8 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 10 | 6 | — | 52k | — | 0.7 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 9 | 5 | — | 79k | — | 0.6 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 9 | 5 | — | 102k | — | 0.6 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 8 | 8 | 39k | 65k | 65k | 0.6 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 8 | 6 | — | 14k | — | 0.6 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 8 | 4 | — | 39k | — | 0.6 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 6 | 3 | — | 155k | — | 0.4 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 6 | 3 | — | 14k | — | 0.4 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 5 | 2 | — | 36k | — | 0.4 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 5 | 3 | — | 32k | — | 0.4 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 5 | 3 | — | 32k | — | 0.4 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 4 | 3 | — | 101k | — | 0.3 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 4 | 3 | — | 59k | — | 0.3 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 4 | 1 | — | 2k | — | 0.3 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 3 | 1 | — | 27k | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Transmission slipping | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 44k | — | 0.2 | $1,200–$5,500 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 3 | 2 | — | 112k | — | 0.2 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| CVT failure | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 195k | — | 0.2 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 58k | — | 0.2 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 3 | 3 | — | 52k | — | 0.2 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 5k | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 2 | 2 | — | 80k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 2 | 2 | — | 9k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other seat belt problem | airbag | 2 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 71k | — | 0.1 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 76k | — | 0.1 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 96k | — | 0.1 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 42k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Automatic braking for no reason | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $0–$1,500 | Critical |
| Parking sensor failure | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $180–$900 | Low |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 9k | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 77 | 43 | 13k | 40k | 63k | 5.5 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2016 Jeep Patriot draws about 54 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 97th percentile of complaint rates among 2016 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 14,077 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2016 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 jeep patriot. The contact stated that the engine warning light remained illuminated and the vehicle swerved to the left while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 2,928.
On 4/12/17 at approximately 5:30 pm I was driving my jeep of 11,000 miles on it. Still a new car. It started running as if loosing power. I pulled off of highway to see what was happening. I pulled hood release it did not open. I looked under jeep to attempt to get hood open as an police officer pulled up beside car to see if I was ok. As he began to ask this and I turned to reply. Car burst into flames. Officer attempted to use fire extinguisher but it did not help and by the time fire department arrived it was a total loss. Fire raged so hot it melted the front seat head rests and the entire front of jeep is gone. Perhaps by pulling over is the only reason I am still alive. I have a lot of documents and pictures. In these documents I have word for word of chrysler jeep refusing to do an investigation on why this car burned..
Other electrical problem
Just got the jeep but did not take home for three days after the sale.the wire harness was bad on the jeep? So far no problems so far after we got it home! Its the 75 anniversary edition real nice.love it. Have own 2 patritots before this one. And no problems with them.
I was driving on a city street around 2:30 pm when I notice smoke coming out from under my hood. I pulled off to a safe spot and by this time ii could see the fire coming out of the front of my jeep. Three fire inspectors looked at it and are unable to determine the cause of the fire. However, a jeep mechanic also looked at it and believes the fire started behind the battery. The jeep is totaled. Still waiting on reports from the insurance company. Cynthia I just wanted to give you an update. We did hire some people who went out and also were not able to fully determine the fire. I am having a hard time getting in contact with chrysler. I will keep trying and let you know what they tell me. Depending on what they tell me we might move forward with more investigation. I will keep you updated. From progressive claim #161737586 agent amy etta ph. 503-495-4507
Stalling while driving
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 jeep patriot. While driving, the electronic throttle, electronic stability control off, and malfunction indicators illuminated. Also, the engine stalled and lost power. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle control needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that no recall was associated with the vehicle. No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 35,790.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 jeep patriot. While driving, the electronic throttle, electronic stability control off, and malfunction indicators illuminated. Also, the engine stalled and lost power. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle control needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that no recall was associated with the vehicle. No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 35,790.
Recalls on the 2016 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2016 Jeep Patriot, affecting an estimated 14,077 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover engine and engine cooling:engine. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
42,231 vehicles 2016-12-16- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016. The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.
- Consequence
- If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S89.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2016 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2016 — 81st riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 11 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2007 comes out best at 56 and 2016 worst at 75, with 2016 itself at 75.
If the model year is negotiable, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2009 and 2011 score lower than 2016 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2010–2017 generation specifically, 2010 is the strongest year at 66 and 2016 the weakest at 75.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2010-2017 generation, 2010 Jeep Patriot scores best at 66 and 2016 Jeep Patriot worst at 75.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: airbag inflator rupture from about 4k, other steering problem from about 4k, seat belt or retractor failure from about 6k and other body or interior problem from about 18k.
On a 2016 Jeep Patriot with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether airbag inflator rupture has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
Where these figures stop being useful
761 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 761 reports, 439 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 58% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Jeep Patriot?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (152 reports, median 55,000 miles), other electrical problem (59 reports, median 50,000 miles) and stalling while driving (46 reports, median 60,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2016 Jeep Patriot problems start?
Seat belt or retractor failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 10,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 5,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 50,000 miles.
Is the 2016 Jeep Patriot reliable?
It scores 75 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 81st riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2016 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Jeep Patriot is best?
Within the 2010–2017 generation, 2010 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 2016 worst at 75. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed