2008 Jeep Patriot 4X4 Suspension Problems

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN DECEMBER, COMPLAINED OF LOOSE STEERING FROM DAY 1 NICELY, INSPECTION STICKER WAS PUT ON THROUGH DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WHICH I LATER DISCOVERED WAS ON LOCAL NEWS FOR INVESTIGATION OF FRAUD LIKE ACTIVITY, REACHED OUT TO CREDIT ACCEPTANCE, NO RESULTS, LATER DISCOVERED THEY HAVE PAST LAWSUITS, INVESTIGATIONS, COURT RULINGS AGAINST THEM, AS WELL AS DEALERSHIP HAVING MULTIPLE BUSINESS CLAIMS IN MA/NH, I PROCEEDED TO BRING MY CASE TO THE BBB, DISTRICT ATTORNEY AS WELL, TWO WRITTEN ESTIMATES OF VEHICLE NOT BEING SAFE, STILL HAVE ONE OF TWO BALD TIRES FOR EVIDENCE IN MY POSSESSION, PICTURES OF 5 SAFETY LIGHTS ON TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT AT LEAST 500.00 ADDITIONAL REPAIRS, VEHICLE MONTHLY PAYMENT, INSURANCE, INITIAL DEPOSIT AND TRADE IN, I AM A STRUGGLING SOLE PARENT/PROVIDER THAT WAS TIRED OF DEALING WITH MY PRIOR VEHICLE, I HAVE RESEARCH TO PRESENT MY CASE INCLUDING LEMON LAW SUPPORT, LOAN COMPANY ON PROBATION IN NY AND ONE OTHER STATE, I DESPERATELY NEED ASSISTANCE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE AS I AM EMPLOYED WITH AMAZON FLEX SUBCONTRACTING AND NEEDING RELIABILITY, I STRUGGLE WITH WRITING SO HOPEFULLY THIS MESSAGE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE LEARNING FROM THEIR MISTAKES, NOT KEEPING HORRIBLY DANGEROUS VEHICLES FOR RESALE, AND I'M GOING TO END THIS NOTE BY GIVING ADDITIONAL INPUT ON HOW UNFAIR IT IS THAT MOPAR WAS FINED 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS, THIS VEHICLE IS VIBRATING WHEN I GET TO 40MPH, MAKING WHISTLING NOISE AT ALL SPEEDS, 5 SAFETY LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES GETTING WORSE AS WELL

NHTSA ID

11208490

Incident

Dec 8, 2018

Mileage

59,000 mi

SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT DUE TO LOCATION OF A/C DRAIN. IF IT BREAKS STEERING CONTROL WILL BE LOST. THIS WAS FOUND DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION. 2007 AND EARLIER MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED

NHTSA ID

10926741

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

MY FRONT CROSSMEMBER / SUB FRAME IS ROTTED OUT . CONTACTED JEEP THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WARRANTED 2007 MODELS BUT NOT 2008 . FRONT ENGINE CRADLE HAS HUGE HOLES IN IT . DESIGN FLAW CAUSE THE AC DRIPS RIGHT ON FRAME CAUSING RUST . DEALERSHIP SAID NO SETRVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BUT THEY LIED . FINALLY GOT A GOOD QUOTE TO HAVE FIXED GONNA COST 775 TO FIX . I HAVE ALSO CHANGED MY FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS 3 TIMES . BALL JOINTS , TIE RODS ETC AND THE OTHER PARTS . ONLY SAVING GRACE IS ITS PAID FOR AND LIFETIME POWER TRAIN WARRANTY .

NHTSA ID

10860298

Incident

Apr 18, 2016

Mileage

153,300 mi

WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP I WOULD HEAR A BANG NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY JEEP. IMMEDIATELY MY ESP/BAS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THE ESP/BAS WARNING LIGHT WOULD GO OFF BUT COME BACK ON AGAIN AFTER MAKING A TURN. I NOTICED MY LEFT, REAR TIRE WAS WEARING OUT ON THE INSIDE. TREAD ON OTHER 3 TIRES HAD NO UNEVEN WEAR. ON DEC. 23, 2015 I BROUGHT MY JEEP INTO PALM CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE OF PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA FOR A MULTIPOINT INSPECTION AND OIL CHANGE. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY REAR SUB CHASSIS WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND REPAIRS EXCESSIVE. I WAS INFORMED BY MY SERVICE ADVISOR -- KRISTIE WILKINSON, REPAIRS WOULD EXCEED WHAT THE JEEP IS WORTH AND THAT RUST IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND IT IS NOT EVEN COVERED UNDER MY LIFETIME MAXIMUM CARE CHRYSLER SERVICE CONTRACT (# 34813970) I PURCHASED IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR WARRANTY. THE NEXT DAY I WAS SHOWN THE SEVERE RUST ON THE REAR CHASSIS SUBFRAME BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND TECHNICIAN. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE REAR OF MY JEEP'S WEIGHT IS RESTING ON TOP OF THE TRANSFER CASE, AND IF HE JUST HIT THE REAR WITH A HAMMER ONE TIME IT WILL FALL APART IN PIECES AND THAT THE JEEP WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS IS A FAULT/WEAKNESS THAT IS ALREADY RECOGNIZED BY CHRYSLER CORP. IN THE 2007 JEEP PATRIOTS AND IS COVERED BY THEM UNTIL 2017. THIS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH MUST BE ADDRESSED IN THIS MODEL YEAR (2008), ALSO.

NHTSA ID

10820340

Incident

Dec 23, 2015

Mileage

116,150 mi

AT JUST OVER 50,000 MILES THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WENT OUT ON MY 08 JEEP PATRIOT, NOW IN 2015 THIS PROBLEMS HAS SURFACED AGAIN THIS TIME IT IS THE CONTROL ARM AND THE OUTER TIE RODS. LOOKING THIS UP ON THE INTERNET THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP PATRIOTS. WHERE MY WIFE WORKS THEY HAD A COUPLE OF THESE JEEPS THAT THEY USED AS COURTESY VEHICLES AND AFTER ONLY A COUPLE OR YEARS AND MINIMAL DRIVING AROUND A HOSPITAL CAMPUS THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIRS. WHILE THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT MY MECHANIC JUST CALLED AND SAID THIS WAS REALLY BAD AND COULD HAVE LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF WE HAD NOT BROUGHT IT IN WHEN WE DID. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE FAILING LIKE THIS AND THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM AND MANY CUSTOMERS ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN REPAIRS. WHAT DOES IT TAKE BEFORE THESE ARE RECALLED? DOES IT TAKE SOMEONE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10681112

Incident

May 2, 2011

Mileage

54,000 mi

2008 JEEP PATRIOT BEGAN MAKING CLUNKING/CRACKING NOISES FROM THE FRONT END AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES. TOOK INTO LOCAL JEEP DEALER AND THEY STATED THE BALL JOINTS WERE IN VERY POOR CONDITION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED VIA FRONT END LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AFTER SEEING WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE, TOOK TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP. WHILE DRIVING TO THIS SHOP, BRAKES BEGAN GRINDING. BALL JOINT FAILURE CAUSED BRAKES AND CALIPER TO BE MISALIGNED ON THE ROTOR CAUSING THE ROTORS TO BE DAMAGED. MECHANIC PRESSED IN MOOG BALL JOINTS THEY SAID WOULD BE SUPERIOR TO OEM PARTS AND THAT THEY REPLACE BALL JOINTS ON PATRIOT, COMPASS AND CALIBER OFTEN. AFTER GETTING BALL JOINTS REPLACED, THE JEEP BEGAN HANDLING POORLY IN SNOW PACKED ROAD CONDITIONS, WHERE THE FRONT OF THE JEEP FEELS UNCONTROLLABLE AND WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ALL WHILE HAVING TOTAL CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK BACK TO JEEP, THEY SAID IT WAS A BALL JOINT ISSUE ONCE AGAIN AND THAT THE INNER TIE RODS WERE LOOSE, BUT DIDN'T THINK THAT A SLIGHTLY LOOSE TIE ROD WOULD CAUSE THE JEEP TO GO FROM SIDE TO SIDE. PURCHASED NEW TIRES, THINKING IT WAS AGING TIRES. NO LUCK AND VEHICLE OVER TIME HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON ROAD, EVEN ON REGULAR DRIVING CONDITIONS. TOOK TO GMC DEALER WHERE A WELL KNOWN JEEP MECHANIC WORKS. CONFIRMED TIE RODS ARE LOOSE AND STRUT IS LEAKING. I UNDERSTAND WEAR AND TEAR ON VEHICLES, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING JEEP PATRIOT REVIEWS/PROBLEMS, I CAME ACROSS AN EVEN MORE ALARMING TRENDS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND OTHER HTTP://WWW.JEEPPATRIOT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=97871 HTTP://WWW.JEEPPATRIOT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=34529 HTTP://WWW.JEEPPATRIOT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=41396 HTTP://WWW.JEEPPATRIOT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=15863 HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/JEEP/PATRIOT/2008/SUV/CONSUMER-REVIEWS/ HTTP://WWW.CARS.COM/JEEP/PATRIOT/2008/CONSUMER-REVIEWS/ *JS

NHTSA ID

10669437

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

55,000 mi

SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARMS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594725

Incident

Apr 14, 2012

Mileage

39,039 mi

FRONT BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES, BUT WEAR OUT REPEATEDLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524954

Incident

Jul 14, 2013

Mileage

116,000 mi

HAD TO HAVE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED AT 47K MILES BECAUSE THEY HAD BECOME EXCESSIVELY WORN. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT WHEELS HAD DEVELOPED A WOBBLE AND WERE NOISY WHEN DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE/TIRE ROTATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524530

Incident

Oct 28, 2011

Mileage

47,172 mi

THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE STARTED WAY EARLIER, SINCE THE PATRIOT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD SOMETIMES COME ON AND THEN GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I REPORTED IT DURING THE FIRST YEAR, 2008 AND A FEW TIMES DURING 2009 AND 2010. I HAD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR. CHECKS BY DEALERSHIP CAME BACK, "NOTHING IS WRONG". THAT'S IT!! THIS YEAR THE PROBLEM GOT WORST, INTERMITTENTLY, MY HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL, WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. HAZARD LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. ONE DAY IT RAINED AND I REALIZED THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK, I HAD TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP SPEND ALL DAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, UNPLUG THE COMPUTER, REBOOTED AND THEN EVERYTHING WORKED. FIVE HOURS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. I GOT CHARGE 100 DOLLARS FOR THAT, NOW I HAD TO PAY TOTAL OF 317 DOLLARS BEFORE TAX FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR TO PUT IN WI FI BODY MODULE. THIS EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE RECALLED, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL BEARING AND ARM THREE TIMES!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I DO NOT GO OFF ROAD, I DON'T GO OVER POT HOLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515637

Incident

May 20, 2013

Mileage

151,000 mi

I HAVE READ MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON HERE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND MY MECHANIC SAID MY MODEL JEEP WAS KNOWN FOR THIS, BUT AFTER HITTING A CURB MY WHEEL AND SUSPENSION PARTS HOLDING IT ON LET THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, RIM AND ALL FALL COMPLETELY OFF. AFTER GETTING IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HAVING HIM PUTTING IT ON THE LIFT HE TOLD ME I COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR EVEN AFTER THE FRONT RIGHT WAS FIXED B/C THE CAR WAS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. I WAS TOLD THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WHICH HOLD THE SUSPENSION TOGETHER AND KEEP THE WHEELS ON THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND THE TIRES COULD FALL OFF AT ANY MOMENT. HE TOLD ME HE HAD THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES WITH MY MODEL CAR AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED A YEAR AND HALF AGO WITH 45,000 MILES OR SO. ONCE THE MECHANIC DID CHANGE THE BALL JOINTS, HE TOLD ME SOMETHING EVEN WORSE... HE COULD TELL SINCE THEY WERE NOT FACTORY BALL JOINTS, THAT THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THEREFORE, THE FACTORY SET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SOMETIME BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND A YEAR OR SO AFTER THE REPLACEMENT BALL JOINTS (THE PARTS THAT HOLD YOU TIRES ON SO THEY DON'T FALL OFF DRIVING 60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND KILL YOU AND OTHERS) WERE PUT ON, A NEW REPLACEMENT SET HAD TO BE ADDED. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND SCARY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10513010

Incident

Mar 15, 2012

Mileage

70,000 mi

I HAD BEEN HEARING GRINDING NOISES FROM THE FRONT OF MY JEEP; STILL UNDER 3/YR WARRANTY- I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. AT FIRST THEY DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ANY CONCERNS AND STATED THE NOISE WAS MY TIRES. OF COURSE IT WAS SUGGESTED TO GET MY TIRES REPLACED ESPECIALLY MY FRONT RIGHT DUE TO THE UNEVEN WEAR. SO I DID, SOUND CONTINUED TO BECOME MORE CONSISTENT- I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND MY CONTROL ARMS, AND BALL JOINTS TO BE BAD. SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN- TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER- THEY DID NOT SEE/HEAR ANY PROBLEMS AND NOW I HAVE A CLUNKING NOISE LOUDER THAN THE GRINDING NOISE. I'M CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN- NOT TO MENTION I FEEL I'VE ALREADY PAID FOR THIS PROBLEM ONCE TO BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510600

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP TO REPLACE THE TIRES. MECHANICS FROM 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE WERE COMPLETELY WORN ON BOTH SIDES, THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SHOT FOR THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE CAR. I HAD THEM REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. I THEN CHECKED ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS ASTONISHED TO SEE THAT MANY MANY PEOPLE HAD COMPLAINED OF BALL JOINTS GOING PREMATURELY BAD ON THIS VEHICLE. HAD I NOT BEEN REPLACING MY TIRES, I MIGHT NEVER HAVE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AND IT CLEARLY WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED. MY DAUGHTER IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER AND DOES A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. HAD THE BALL JOINTS FAILED, SHE MIGHT EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I CONTACTED JEEP AND THEY SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR BALL JOINT FAILURE FOR THE 2005-2006 MODEL YEARS. I STRONGLY FEEL A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THE 2008 MODEL YEAR AS WELL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508438

Incident

Mar 20, 2013

Mileage

57,048 mi

SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE, WORSE WHEN BRAKING DOWNHILL. HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END. CHECKED THE JEEP CUSTOMER WEB SITE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482577

Incident

Oct 29, 2012

Mileage

45,549 mi

HAD VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD BE DEALER THAT BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE "WORE OUT" AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. OH AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE "BUILT IN TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, SO BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED" THIS IS ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 43,500 MILES ON IT! HOW CAN THIS BE! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO A HUGE NUMBER OF JEEP PATRIOT OWNERS AND THESE PART SHOULD LAST WAY LONGER THEN 43,000 MILES. THIS IS POOR QUALITY PARTS! THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO REPLACE THESE MAJOR SUSPENSION PART EVER 40,000 TO 45,000 MILES! THE COST OF THIS IS OVER $1,000.00. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND DEFINITELY MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10476507

Incident

Sep 19, 2012

Mileage

43,500 mi

IN DECEMBER I HAD TAKEN MY JEEP IN FOR NEW BRAKES AS THEY WENT BAD AND WAS TOLD MY FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE BAD AND GOING TO NEED REPLACED. I COULDN'T AFFORD IT AT THE TIME AND IT SEEMED TO BE RUNNING OK. IN MAY IT WAS RUNNING TERRIBLE, VERY SHAKY AND BUMPY. WHEN I TOOK IT IN I WAS TOLD FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS AND ONE BACK CONTROL ARM AND BUSHINGS WERE ALL BAD/BROKEN. AS A RESULT OF THAT I ALSO RUINED MY TIRES AND HAD TO REPLACE THOSE AS WELL. AT THE REPAIR TIME ONLY HAD ABOUT 56000 MILES ON IT. THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AS WELL. (OVER 1600 DOLLARS TOTAL AND THAT IS WITH A DISCOUNT I GET). *TR

NHTSA ID

10464524

Incident

Dec 30, 2011

Mileage

54,000 mi

MY JEEP PATRIOT NEEDED FRONT BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT 32,000 MILES. IT HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN RECKLESSLY OR EVEN OFF ROAD. IT WAS A $1,045.00 REPAIR JOB. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A HAZARD TO DRIVE. THE JEEP FORUMS ARE ALIVE WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME REPAIR EARLY ON. THIS IS AN EXCESSIVE REPAIR AND A DANGER. HTTP://WWW.JEEPPATRIOT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=37926&PAGE=4. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463378

Incident

Jun 25, 2012

Mileage

32,000 mi

FRONT END SUSPENSION PARTS WERE WORN AND ABOUT TO FAIL. REPLACED LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, SWAY BAR LINKS,BUSHING SWAY ELIMINATOR. FURTHER DRIVING WOULD HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF FRONT END. *TR I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF SUSPENSION ISSUES THE PATRIOTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. ALL OF THE FAILURES ARE OCCURING AT VERY LOW MILEAGES AND BOTH FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION ELEMENTS ARE FAILING. ALL SUGGESTING DEFECTIVE PARTS USED IN ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA ID

10461649

Incident

Jun 11, 2012

Mileage

35,844 mi

DRIVER SIDE, FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT BADLY WORN. WAS TOLD BY CAR DEALER THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH JEEP PATRIOTS. THE DEALER SEES THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT SO OFTEN. THEY KEEP SEVERAL DRIVER SIDE LCA/BALLJOINT ASSEMBLIES IN STOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10461166

Incident

Jun 9, 2012

Mileage

56,000 mi

TOOK OUR CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND DEALER STATED THAT DRIVER SIDE CONTROLLER ARM HAS PLAY AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO TOLD THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH CAR WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453898

Incident

Mar 16, 2012

Mileage

35,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT WITH APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 CONTROL ARMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO. MOST OF THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS HIGHWAY DRIVING AND I DO NOT SUBJECT THE VEHICLE TO HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. I FIND IT ALARMING THAT I'VE REPLACE 3 OF THE SAME COMPONENT AND SUSPICIOUS THAT THERE IS A RECENT RECALL ON CONTROL ARMS ON THE LIBERTY MODEL. BESIDES THE MONETARY INCONVENIENCE, I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND AM QUITE CONCERNED THAT A COMPONENT THAT CAN AFFECT THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450692

Incident

Mar 20, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, (THIS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION SINCE BOUGHT) THEY BASICALLY TELL ME THAT IT NEEDS TO COMPLETELY FAIL BEFORE THEY WILL DO SOMETHING. THEN THEY COME BACK AND SAY THAT THEY CAN REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE LEAKING FOR $410.00. AND THEY ALSO SAY THAT MY FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD WHICH OF COURSE THEY CAN BE REPLACED FOR $845.00. SO FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT FIX BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO FIX OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE BAD FOR A PRICE.......VERY DISAPPOINTED IN DODGE. THIS MAY CAUSE ME TO DEFECT FROM CHRYSLER AND BUY FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450005

Incident

Feb 29, 2012

BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS FAILED AT 30,000 MILES AND UNDER. I JUST FAILED MY ANNUAL PA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION FOR THE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS. THIS YEAR IT WAS THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND OUTER TIE ROD. LAST YEAR, WHEN IT FAILED THE SAFETY INSPECTION, IT WAS THE OPPOSITE SIDE COMPONENTS. MY ODOMETER READ 30379 MILES AT THE SERVICE DATE. THIS IS LISTED ON THE CURRENT INVOICE FROM A REPUTABLE CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER / DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE WORK DONE. LAST YEAR'S SAFETY INSPECTION FAILURE WAS AT ABOUT 23000 MILES. I AM OBVIOUSLY UPSET THAT I HAVE HAD TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE SO EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED FOR THE WELFARE OF OTHER OWNERS WHICH MAY NOT HAVE REQUIRED STATE INSPECTIONS LIKE I HAVE WHERE I LIVE. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE INSPECTIONS AND THE MECHANIC WHO RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AND POSSIBLY SAVED ME FROM A FUTURE ACCIDENT. I STARTED DOING SOME HOMEWORK FINDING THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES. I FOUND THIS BY LOOKING AT MANY DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT JEEP OWNER WEBSITES, BLOGS, AND EVEN COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I DO NOT DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY, GO OFF-ROADING OR ANY OTHER THING LIKE THAT WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAFETY CONCERN TO DATE. IN FACT, WHEN I SENT AN EMAIL TO CHRYSLER I WAS GIVEN A STOCK REPLY AMOUNTING TO "WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR TROUBLE BUT WE CAN'T MAKE A DIAGNOSIS ON YOUR VEHICLE. PLEASE GO TO A LICENSED CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER. PLEASE REPORT YOUR SAFETY CONCERN WITH NHTSA. HAVE A NICE DAY!" ...AND HERE I AM. I WONDER IF THEY EVEN READ MY EMAIL BECAUSE I ALREADY HAD THE WORK DONE. HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR HAVE TO PAY OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR REPAIRING SAFETY ISSUES CHRYSLER SHOULD BE ADDRESSING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449545

Incident

Feb 15, 2012

Mileage

30,379 mi

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUED WITH THE 2008 JEEP PATRIOT. THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS AND ARMS BREAKING. WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THIS AUTO AND IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHEN I LOOKED INTO IT ONLINE I FOUND MANY BLOGS REGARDING THE 2008 JEEP PATRIOT WITH THIS PROBLEM. I THINK JEEP NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I'VE NEVER HAD TO PUT MONEY INTO A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448802

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

Mileage

43,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY DETECTED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIE ROD END AND LOWER BALL JOINT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,053. UPDATED 03/14/12*LJ

NHTSA ID

10446812

Incident

Jan 31, 2012

Mileage

37,053 mi