JEEP PATRIOT · model year

2008 JEEP PATRIOT

273 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008JEEPPATRIOT carries 273 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 7 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 PATRIOT is fuel/propulsion system with 38 filings, followed by structure:body (34) and engine (30). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 29 investigation files overlapping the 2008 PATRIOT, and 3 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

273
Complaints
2
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

273 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM38
STRUCTURE:BODY34
ENGINE30
POWER TRAIN24
SUSPENSION24
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
UNKNOWN OR OTHER20
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL11
SERVICE BRAKES10
STEERING10
EXTERIOR LIGHTING10
STRUCTURE6
AIR BAGS6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
WHEELS3

Recent Complaints

20230920FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The vehicle stalls after a gas fill up. Daughter was stuck in traffic. No Power steering, brakes, etc. Started back up. very dangerous. This has happened after every fill up.

20230719ENGINE

Car stalls after fill up. NUMEROUS online Jeep forums have noted this issue for years. There seems to be an issue with the “vapor canister”. Recall was apparently issued for 2011 model - but not older models. It is intermittent yet consistent problem over past few months. Please note that an Engine stall leaves steering wheel LOCKED and unable to maneuver car for a period until can restart. Can leave driver on a VERY DANGEROUS situation traveling at speed !

20230719FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Car stalls after fill up. NUMEROUS online Jeep forums have noted this issue for years. There seems to be an issue with the “vapor canister”. Recall was apparently issued for 2011 model - but not older models. It is intermittent yet consistent problem over past few months. Please note that an Engine stall leaves steering wheel LOCKED and unable to maneuver car for a period until can restart. Can leave driver on a VERY DANGEROUS situation traveling at speed !

20230613UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Water leaks in through the sunroof and top racks and leaks out the dome lights inside of the car

20230613ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Water leaks in through the sunroof and top racks and leaks out the dome lights inside of the car

20230403SUSPENSION

My 2008 Jeep Patriot with 100,000 miles on it both front and rear subframes are completely rotted and unsafe I need some help I can't afford all this repair I'm disabled I'm working with my local mechanic I need you guys to help pay for some of this

20220723SUSPENSION

Front and rear crossmembers are rusted through. Replaced front subframe for $1008.00 in 2021. Available for inspection. Could come to a complete stop if it breaks. Confirmed by independent service center. Not inspected yet. Front squeak heard 2021. Rear squeak heard 2022. This is my 2nd jeep patriot & both jeeps front & rear crossmembers are rusted through breaking apart.

20220723STRUCTURE:BODY

Front and rear crossmembers are rusted through. Replaced front subframe for $1008.00 in 2021. Available for inspection. Could come to a complete stop if it breaks. Confirmed by independent service center. Not inspected yet. Front squeak heard 2021. Rear squeak heard 2022. This is my 2nd jeep patriot & both jeeps front & rear crossmembers are rusted through breaking apart.

20220508FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

UNKNOWN After I fill up on gas at different stations I had the car sputter and die after filling up til the nozzle stopped itself went to go start the car the first time it happened I got maybe half a mile down the road and stopped at a light and the car died. The second time I was at another gas station and I forgot to shut the car off because it was freezing cold felt like a negative 10 I went to go leave and thought oh crap let me shut it off for a second so the gas would register faster of what I had then if I left it on. I went to go drive away then and the car wouldn’t move I thought great what could it be well I looked down and I wasn’t “on” so I restarted the car and I could tell the car started and I sat for a few and it died. I waited a few seconds and started it again and sat for a few and then was able to go about my business. The third time I filled up and didn't think anything of it because it had been awhile since it happened but I pulled out on the street and i

20220508ENGINE

UNKNOWN After I fill up on gas at different stations I had the car sputter and die after filling up til the nozzle stopped itself went to go start the car the first time it happened I got maybe half a mile down the road and stopped at a light and the car died. The second time I was at another gas station and I forgot to shut the car off because it was freezing cold felt like a negative 10 I went to go leave and thought oh crap let me shut it off for a second so the gas would register faster of what I had then if I left it on. I went to go drive away then and the car wouldn’t move I thought great what could it be well I looked down and I wasn’t “on” so I restarted the car and I could tell the car started and I sat for a few and it died. I waited a few seconds and started it again and sat for a few and then was able to go about my business. The third time I filled up and didn't think anything of it because it had been awhile since it happened but I pulled out on the street and i

20211123AIR BAGS

My airbag light on the dash board comes on and will not go away. I have had it twice reset and it does NOT go away. I was told that Jeep recalled their models but I cannot find a recall for the Patriot model. Why would all of their other models be recalled and not the Patriot? Does not make sense. 2008 Jeep Patriot.

20210712ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TIPM problems causing problems with wipers, blinkers. Sometimes can't turn wipers on or off. Passenger side blinkers fast blink. Changed all bulbs but didn't fix. When lights are turned on passenger blinkers fail to work.

20210427ENGINE

CAR STALLS WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE OR SO OF DRIVING AFTER FILLING GAS TANK TO SHUTOFF. WHEN THE ENGINE DIES, SO DOES THE POWER STEERING, CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT I LIVED WITH IT BY NOT FILLING TANK TO FULL. NOW MY SON DRIVES THE CAR, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY HAPPEN WHEN HE IS DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, AND NHTSA MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND HOLD CHRYSLTER/JEEP RESPONSIBLE

Mileage: 55,000

20210427FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR STALLS WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE OR SO OF DRIVING AFTER FILLING GAS TANK TO SHUTOFF. WHEN THE ENGINE DIES, SO DOES THE POWER STEERING, CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT I LIVED WITH IT BY NOT FILLING TANK TO FULL. NOW MY SON DRIVES THE CAR, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY HAPPEN WHEN HE IS DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, AND NHTSA MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND HOLD CHRYSLTER/JEEP RESPONSIBLE

Mileage: 55,000

20210427STEERING

CAR STALLS WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE OR SO OF DRIVING AFTER FILLING GAS TANK TO SHUTOFF. WHEN THE ENGINE DIES, SO DOES THE POWER STEERING, CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT I LIVED WITH IT BY NOT FILLING TANK TO FULL. NOW MY SON DRIVES THE CAR, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY HAPPEN WHEN HE IS DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, AND NHTSA MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND HOLD CHRYSLTER/JEEP RESPONSIBLE

Mileage: 55,000

20210316STRUCTURE:BODY

THE K FRAME IS ROTTED OUT, THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL BUT WHEN I TOOK IT UP I CAN'T FIND ONE.

20210102ENGINE

EVERY TIME I REFILL MY TANK WITH FUEL, THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL HESITATE AND ALMOST STALL (OR WILL STALL IF DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS). WHILE STOPPED IN IDLE, ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY STALL. ONCE SOME FUEL IS BURNED, THE ENGINE WILL NO LONGER STALL. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS.

Mileage: 178,000

20210102FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

EVERY TIME I REFILL MY TANK WITH FUEL, THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL HESITATE AND ALMOST STALL (OR WILL STALL IF DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS). WHILE STOPPED IN IDLE, ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY STALL. ONCE SOME FUEL IS BURNED, THE ENGINE WILL NO LONGER STALL. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS.

Mileage: 178,000

20201217SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECREASE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE WHEELS TO LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

Mileage: 51,000

20201120FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

APPROXIMATELY 12/2018 I HAD TO HAVE MY GAS TANK REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY ROLLOVER VALVE/FLAPPER/INLET CHECK VALVE LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK. I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NEW GAS TANK. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS WELL OVER $1400 AND TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME REPAIR TWICE IS UNTHINKABLE. THIS HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, BECAUSE IF THESE VALVES/FLAPPERS ARE SUPPOSED TO EXPEL AIR FROM THE SYSTEM, COULDN'T THIS BE HARMING MY VEHICLE MORE AND/OR CAUSE PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE TANK? THERE WAS TSB 14-001-09 REV A ISSUED. CHRYSLER ADMITS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND HAS RECALLED A BUNCH OF JEEPS, DODGES, AND SOME CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VANS. HOWEVER, MY MAKE AND MODEL (08 PATRIOT) IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY ISSUED FOR THE GAS TANKS.

Mileage: 190,000

Compare 2008JEEPPATRIOT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 3 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT have?
The 2008 JEEP PATRIOT has 273 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 7 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT?
The most-complained component for the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 38 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and ENGINE.
Is the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.