2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4 Electrical System Problems

MY VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES NOT GO WHEN I PRESS THE GAS. THE BRAKES DON'T PROPERLY WORK, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOCK FAILS, THE ESP LIGHT FLASHES, THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILS, AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE OVER 5 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE YET TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I FEAR IT MAY HAPPEN. IT HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE, AND DOESN'T ALWAYS CORRECT ITSELF. I CONTACTED JEEP AND THEY TOLD ME I'M ON MY OWN. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND WONDER WHY THEY HAVEN'T RECALLED THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FEAR I'M STUCK WITH A LEMON VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND I'VE ONLY BEEN IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MONTHS. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS MOVING FORWARD?

Mileage: 74,850

THE CAR CUYS IN AN OUT ALMOST LIMEIT GOING TO SHUT OFF. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AN FLASH AN DING . SHORTLY AFTER WHILE DRIVI G THE ESP COMES ON CUTS OUT LIME GOI G TO DIE THEN ENGINE DIES DRIVING OR PARKED

Mileage: 120,000

SUNROOF LEAKS BADLY CAUSING WATER TO POUR OUT OF DOME LIGHT AND OTHER PLACES. LEAVING EVERYTHING WATER SOAKED AND MUSTY SMELLING. CAN NOT BE GOOD FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING. THEIR HAS TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS TOO MANY COMPLAINTS AND ON MANY DIFFERENT YEARS OF JEEPS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY JUST KEEP MAKING THEM AND GETTING BY WITH SO MANY VEHICLES STILL ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMEONE COULD GET HURT REALLY BAD IF IT CAUSES A FIRE. SOMETHING NEEDS DONE.

I HAD JUST FILLED THE TANK AS USUAL AND DROVE ABOUT 500 YARDS TO A RED LIGHT. IN THE PAST AFTER A FILL UP, THE JEEP WOULD STALL AND "BUCK" AROUND 30 MPH, AS IF IT COULDN'T GET INTO GEAR, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A CVT. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT IT DIDN'T THIS TIME, WHICH WAS CURIOUS. AT THE LIGHT, UPON ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE THROTTLE, AND THE CAR REMAINED IN DRIVE, BUT REFUSED TO MOVE. I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. A RED LIGHT IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH CAME ON AND BEGAN TO BEEP, AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIT UP, WITH EVERY LIGHT COMING ON AND MAKING NOISE. EVENTUALLY, I LOST ALL POWER AND WAITED MORE THAN AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A THREE LANE AVENUE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME A RELAY WAS ENTIRELY BLOWN AND BLACKENED, AND THIS HAD KILLED THE BATTERY. THIS WAS REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME, BUT HE SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT HAD CAUSED THE RELAY TO BLOW. ESSENTIALLY, WHAT OCCURRED WAS A SYMPTOM, NOT THE CAUSE, AND WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING, DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ALSO HAD LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 55,000 MILES, WHICH IS FAR TOO EARLY. I LOVE JEEP, BUT I HATE THE 2007-2010 PATRIOTS. BAD BUY.

Mileage: 106,000

THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSES MY AIRBAG LIGHT TO INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNS DIRECTION AND/OR ACCELERATES FROM A DEAD-STOP TO CRUISING SPEED. THE PART NUMBER IS 05156106AD. THE CUTTER DODGE/JEEP DEALERSHIP IN PEARL CITY, HAWAII INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, NOR UNDER MANUFACTURER RECALL DESPITE [JEEP] HAVING RECEIVED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, SO CUTTER WANTED $600 FOR PARTS AND SERVICE. THE PART IS ALSO USED IN THE COMPASS, WRANGLER, AND LIBERTY MODELS FOR THE SAME PRODUCTION-YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 74,566

OVER THE PAST YEAR MY JEEP HAS BEEN VERY SLUGGISH, ACCELERATES AT HIGHER RPM'S THAN NORMAL, "SHIFTS" ROUGH ( EVEN THOUGH IT IS A CVT AND DOESN'T HAVE GEARS). FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AND THEN PROCEED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE TURN, MY JEEP HESITATES TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM'S PLUMMET AND THEN REACH TO OVER 3000 RPM'S BEFORE IT SLAMS/JERKS INTO GEAR TO RETURN TO AROUND 2000 RPM'S. TWICE MY JEEP HAS SHUTTERED AND STALLED WHILE AT RED LIGHTS. LAST WEEK AFTER BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN DRIVE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND DINGING AT ME. MY JEEP WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TRAVEL 8 FEET FROM MY DRIVEWAY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY JEEP 3 TIMES, AND EVERY TIME I HAD THE SAME "LIMP MODE"/ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AT ALL. THE MANUAL STATES THAT "IF THE LIGHT IS FLASHING WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING YOU MAY EXPERIENCE POWER LOSS, AN ELEVATED/ROUGH IDLE, AND INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT, AND YOUR VEHICLE MAY REQUIRE TOWING. IMMEDIATE SERVICE IS REQUIRED.". THIS DOES NOT SOUND SAFE. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED AUTO MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER/JEEP HAS 1,500-2,000 THROTTLE BODIES ON BACK ORDER AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO EVEN RECEIVE THE PART. I'M GLAD THAT MY JEEP DID NOT STALL OR GO INTO "LIMP MODE" WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AS THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY, EVEN THOUGH I AM NOW MAKING CAR PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT RUN. THIS IS ALSO MY ONLY VEHICLE. THERE MUST BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE BODY TO HAVE 1,500-2,000 ON BACK ORDER AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

I WAS LEAVING WORK AND THE CAR STARTED JUST FINE BUT THEN AS I WAS STARTING TO DRIVE IT STALLED OUT. IT STARTED BACK UP JUST FINE AND THEN DID THE SAME THING. THIS WENT ON SEVERAL TIMES. AND WHEN IT STALLS OUT, MY POWER STEERING IS GONE AND IT IS HARD TO GET IT TO A SAFE STOP. I AM WORRIED IF I TAKE IT OUT ON THE ROAD IT WILL STALL OUT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL REVIEWS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH RECALLS ON THE 2009 MODEL BUT NOT THE 2008. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. AFTER TESTING IT HE SAID THE ERROR WAS FROM TOO MUCH VOLTAGE GOING TO THE O2 SENSOR HEATER. HE RECOMMENDED TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. HE ALSO NOTICE THE SAFETY COVER OVER THE REAR BRAKE LINES & FUEL LINE HAD CAME LOOSE AND USED WIRE TIES TO FASTEN IT BACK IN PLACE. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

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

Mileage: 151,000

AFTER SNOW HAS MELTED, THE MAPLIGHT LEAKS WATER ALL OVER THE INSIDE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE WIRING ISSUES FOR THE SUNROOF AND THE LIGHT AS WELL AS ANYTHING IN THE DASH DUE TO THE WATER GOING EVERYWHERE. PRIOR ISSUES W/WATER LEAKING IN THE FIREWALL AND LEAVING AN INCH OF WATER ON THE DRIVERS FLOOR (3 ATTEMPTS TO GET IT FIXED) RESULTED IN CHRYSLER PAYING A PORTION DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. WATER SHORTED OUT WIRES RUNNING UNDER THE FLOOR FOR DASH LIGHTS, ANTI LOCK BRAKES WANTED TO KICK IN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, 4WHEEL DRIVE WOUDL NOT WORK AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. NOW BACK TO DEALING W/WATER AGAIN LEAKING OUT THE MAP LIGHT, VERY FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY! *TR

Mileage: 47,000

WATER LEAKS THROUGH DOME LIGHTS, SHORTING OUT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ALTERNATORS BEARINGS WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED TO WORSEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Mileage: 27,000

ON MY 2008 JEEP PATRTIOT, ON BRAKING, USUALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, MOST OF THE DASH LIGHTS, INCLUDING 4WD, ABS AND ESP, COME ON BRIEFLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BEGINNING AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES. USUALLY, THE ONLY SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM IS THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME, BUT THE ENGINE REMAINS RUNNING. RECENTLY, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, AND EVEN MORE WORRISOME, IS THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE SOMETIMES DIES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS MORNING, THE LIGHTS CAME ON, THE WARNING CHIME SOUNDED AND THE ENGINE DIED WHEN I WAS TURNING A CORNER, CAUSING ME TO LOSE FORWARD PROGRESS, POWER STEERING, ETC. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO A JEEP DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE, AND NEITHER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE PROBLEM.*CW

Mileage: 47,923

SENTRY KEY RECEIVER FAILED IN STEERING COLUMN. THERE IS NO WAY TO START ENGINE WHEN COMPONENT FAILS, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIR. FULL REPAIR AND TOW COVERED BY WARRANTY, HOWEVER THIS RUNS OUT AT 36K MILES. AFTER THAT CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TOW COSTS AND REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY PART, WHICH IS NOT A COMPONENT SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR OF USE. *TR

Mileage: 31,500

4WD! DEFAULT LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AS ACCORDING TO MANUAL. FOUR TRIPS TO FIRST DEALERSHIP FOR THE INITIAL REPAIRS. PROBLEM RESOLVED TOLD WAS FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. SINCE THEN, 4WD! AND ESP/BAS DEFAULT LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. WAITING FOR RESULTS. WHEN DEFAULT OCCURS THE 4WD IS DISABLED W/O WARNING, THUS, CAUSING A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 10,000