JEEP PATRIOT FWD · model year

2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD

145 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008JEEPPATRIOT FWD carries 145 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 3 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 FWD is suspension with 26 filings, followed by steering (16) and power train (13). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 29 investigation files overlapping the 2008 PATRIOT FWD, 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.

145
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

145 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION26
STEERING16
POWER TRAIN13
STRUCTURE12
STRUCTURE:BODY10
SUSPENSION:FRONT8
ENGINE8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
WHEELS5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3

Recalls (1)

10E04300003/09/2010

EQUIPMENT

MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING S

Recent Complaints

20190417FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

EACH TIME AFTER FUELING UP THE VEHICLE, IT STALLS OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER ON A CITY STREET AFTER LEAVING THE GAS STATION. THE FIRST TIME MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STALLED OUT. THE NEXT TIME THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND STALLED. THIS IS A FRIGHTENING AND COMMONLY CITED ISSUE WITH PATRIOT OWNERS.

Mileage: 115,000

20190401STRUCTURE:BODY

I PURCHASED MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT AND FOUND OUT IT HAS A ROTTED CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. UPON RESEARCH I FOUND OUT JEEP KNEW IT HAD THIS ISSUE IN HIGH SALT AREAS AND WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED AT HARTLEY'S DEALERSHIP IN NEWPORT MAINE AND THEY SAID THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER HONORING THE REPAIR, DEPITE THE INCREDIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THIS CAUSES. THE VEHICLE CAN LITERALLY BREAK IN HALF AND KILL SOMEONE YET THEY HAVEN'T DONE A FULL RECALL? THEY DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR IT THAT HAS EXPIRED BEFORE I WAS INFORMED ABOUT IT. HOW ARE THEY NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING IN SO MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES? I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED.

20190401SUSPENSION

I PURCHASED MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT AND FOUND OUT IT HAS A ROTTED CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. UPON RESEARCH I FOUND OUT JEEP KNEW IT HAD THIS ISSUE IN HIGH SALT AREAS AND WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED AT HARTLEY'S DEALERSHIP IN NEWPORT MAINE AND THEY SAID THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER HONORING THE REPAIR, DEPITE THE INCREDIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THIS CAUSES. THE VEHICLE CAN LITERALLY BREAK IN HALF AND KILL SOMEONE YET THEY HAVEN'T DONE A FULL RECALL? THEY DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR IT THAT HAS EXPIRED BEFORE I WAS INFORMED ABOUT IT. HOW ARE THEY NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING IN SO MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES? I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED.

20190401UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I PURCHASED MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT AND FOUND OUT IT HAS A ROTTED CROSSMEMBER SUBFRAME. UPON RESEARCH I FOUND OUT JEEP KNEW IT HAD THIS ISSUE IN HIGH SALT AREAS AND WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED AT HARTLEY'S DEALERSHIP IN NEWPORT MAINE AND THEY SAID THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER HONORING THE REPAIR, DEPITE THE INCREDIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THIS CAUSES. THE VEHICLE CAN LITERALLY BREAK IN HALF AND KILL SOMEONE YET THEY HAVEN'T DONE A FULL RECALL? THEY DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR IT THAT HAS EXPIRED BEFORE I WAS INFORMED ABOUT IT. HOW ARE THEY NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING IN SO MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES? I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED.

20190124STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SUBFRAME AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. BOB BOYD CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (2810 N COLUMBUS DR, LANCASTER, OH 43130) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20180917STEERING

TERRIBLE CRUNCHY SOUND. THE JEEP DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. LOUD CRUNCH AND CRACKING SOUNDS WHEN CAR IS BARELY EVEN MOVING AND I TRY TO TURN EITHER DIRECTION. A MECHANIC SAID THE CROSSMEMBER IS RUSTED THROUGH. (HE SAID THE JEEP NEEDED TO CO TO THE JUNK YARD)

20180902STRUCTURE:BODY

THE FORWARD 'K' FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND LOWER SUSPENSION HAS TO A POINT THAT IT IS NO LONGER SAFE. I CAN USE A SMALL HAMMER AND KNOCK HOLES IN IT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, BUT WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AROUND IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS COVERED IN A 2007 RECALL, BUT NOT THE 2008. I REPORTED THIS THE DAY I FOUND IT WHILE DOING MAINTENANCE ON MY SON-IN-LAW'S JEEP.

Mileage: 127,000

20180604ENGINE

MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT HESITATES, SPUTTERS, AND STALLS A FEW MINUTE AFTER I FILL IT UP. IF I DON'T FILL IT ALL THE WAY, IT DOES NOT STALL (AND I NEVER TOP-OFF WHEN FILLING). I HAVE STARTED THE PRACTICE OF ONLY FILLING 3/4 OR PULLING OVER IN THE GAS STATION TO LET THE CAR STALL AT IDLE BEFORE PROCEEDING. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT STALLED ON ME IN TRAFFIC AFTER LEAVING THE FUELING STATION. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. MY MECHANIC AT THE DEALER TOLD ME TODAY HE BELIEVES THERE IS A BAD LIQUID/VAPOR VALVE ON THE GAS TANK CAUSING GAS TO ENTER AN EXHAUST LINE LEADING TO THE CARBON CANISTER, AND THAT A FULL GAS TANK REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED TO REPLACE THIS BAD VALVE. HE ALSO OFFERED, THAT I COULD JUST CONTINUE TO ONLY FILL THE TANK 3/4 AND SHOULD BE FINE. AT $2,000 TO REPLACED THE TANK, I MAY NEED TO CONSIDER HAVING THIS WORK DONE BY A NON-CHRYSLER SHOP? I FOUND THIS DISCUSSION ONLINE TODAY, AND EVERYONE IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS ME (WITH SOME HAVING DETAILED ACCO

Mileage: 75,000

20180604FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT HESITATES, SPUTTERS, AND STALLS A FEW MINUTE AFTER I FILL IT UP. IF I DON'T FILL IT ALL THE WAY, IT DOES NOT STALL (AND I NEVER TOP-OFF WHEN FILLING). I HAVE STARTED THE PRACTICE OF ONLY FILLING 3/4 OR PULLING OVER IN THE GAS STATION TO LET THE CAR STALL AT IDLE BEFORE PROCEEDING. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT STALLED ON ME IN TRAFFIC AFTER LEAVING THE FUELING STATION. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. MY MECHANIC AT THE DEALER TOLD ME TODAY HE BELIEVES THERE IS A BAD LIQUID/VAPOR VALVE ON THE GAS TANK CAUSING GAS TO ENTER AN EXHAUST LINE LEADING TO THE CARBON CANISTER, AND THAT A FULL GAS TANK REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED TO REPLACE THIS BAD VALVE. HE ALSO OFFERED, THAT I COULD JUST CONTINUE TO ONLY FILL THE TANK 3/4 AND SHOULD BE FINE. AT $2,000 TO REPLACED THE TANK, I MAY NEED TO CONSIDER HAVING THIS WORK DONE BY A NON-CHRYSLER SHOP? I FOUND THIS DISCUSSION ONLINE TODAY, AND EVERYONE IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS ME (WITH SOME HAVING DETAILED ACCO

Mileage: 75,000

20180430STEERING

FRONT END CROSS MEMBER COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND AXLE NUTS AND LUG NUTS FROZEN IN PLACE. M JUST TOTAL RUST IN FRONT END RESULTING IN FRAILER TO BE DERIVABLE. I WAS ON THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END WOBBLED AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME

Mileage: 157,000

20180430SUSPENSION

FRONT END CROSS MEMBER COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND AXLE NUTS AND LUG NUTS FROZEN IN PLACE. M JUST TOTAL RUST IN FRONT END RESULTING IN FRAILER TO BE DERIVABLE. I WAS ON THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END WOBBLED AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME

Mileage: 157,000

20180430WHEELS

FRONT END CROSS MEMBER COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND AXLE NUTS AND LUG NUTS FROZEN IN PLACE. M JUST TOTAL RUST IN FRONT END RESULTING IN FRAILER TO BE DERIVABLE. I WAS ON THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END WOBBLED AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME

Mileage: 157,000

20180226UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, SO I TOOK IT TO A JEEP MECHANIC. THE FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBERS ARE ROTTED TO HELL ON MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE JEEP DEALERSHIPS THAT HAVE RECOMMENDED IT BE REPLACED, AND JEEP WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE EVEN WORSE. NOW I BELIEVE MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND IT LOOKS AS IF IT IS GOING TO CRUMBLE ANY DAY NOW. I REALLY WISH JEEP WOULD HAVE JUST DID THE RIGHT THING AND SWAPPED IT OUT. IT REALLY MAKES ME NERVOUS AND I AM GOING TO MOST LIKELY HAVE IT REPLACED OUT OF MY POCKET JUST TO REST ASSURED. IT ONLY HAS 93,000 MILES ON IT, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR FALL APART SO FAST.

Mileage: 88,000

20170830UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IT WAS DRIVING FINE NOW MY JEEP DOESNT HAVE REVERSE AND IT ONLY GOES FORWARD BUT SLOWLY. MY JEEP ONLY HAS 40000 MILES ON IT, WHY HAS THE TRANSMISSION BROKEN SO FAST.

Mileage: 40,000

20170402ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL BATTERY LIGHT/ ALTINATOR

20160802UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AIR CONDITION LACKS HOSE. WATER DRIPS DIRECTLY ON THE FRAME. FRAME IS VERY RUSTED. CHRYSLER DEALER AND LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THE ENGINE COULD DROP OUT IF NOT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. CALLED CHRYSLER GIVER CLAIM 297-76-309,NOW DENIED. RECALL ON 2007 MODEL BUT NOT 2008 FOR SAME PROBLEM. CANNOT DRIVE, NEED NEW SUB FRAME.VERY EXPENSIVE.PLEASE HELP, OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW OF DANGER. ,

Mileage: 90,242

20160731ENGINE

RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK MY CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE GAS STATION

Mileage: 68,000

20160731FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK MY CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE GAS STATION

Mileage: 68,000

20160722STRUCTURE:BODY

ON JULY 13, 2016, I TOOK MY JEEP IN TO OUR LOCAL DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHEN PICKING UP MY JEEP, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE WRITER THAT THEY DISCOVERED THE K FRAME (CROSSOVER IN FRONT OF VEHICLE) WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WOULD VERY SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED. IF IT WAS NOT REPLACED, IT WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD! I AM AWARE THAT CHRYSLER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE 2007 JEEP PATRIOT TO 10 YEARS FOR THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE 2007 AND 2008 MODELS USE THE SAME FRAME AND DESIGN. THEY DID NOT EXTEND THE COVERAGE FOR THE 2008 MODEL. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES ON MY JEEP.

Mileage: 105,000

20160722STEERING

ON JULY 13, 2016, I TOOK MY JEEP IN TO OUR LOCAL DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHEN PICKING UP MY JEEP, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE WRITER THAT THEY DISCOVERED THE K FRAME (CROSSOVER IN FRONT OF VEHICLE) WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WOULD VERY SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED. IF IT WAS NOT REPLACED, IT WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD! I AM AWARE THAT CHRYSLER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE 2007 JEEP PATRIOT TO 10 YEARS FOR THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE 2007 AND 2008 MODELS USE THE SAME FRAME AND DESIGN. THEY DID NOT EXTEND THE COVERAGE FOR THE 2008 MODEL. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES ON MY JEEP.

Mileage: 105,000

Compare 2008JEEPPATRIOT FWD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 3 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD have?
The 2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD has 145 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD?
Yes, the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD?
The most-complained component for the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD is SUSPENSION with 26 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2008 JEEP PATRIOT FWD 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.