YearToAvoid

2011 Jeep Patriot Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

57/100

#4 most-complained of 8 Patriot years

The 2011 Jeep Patriot ranks 4th worst out of 8 model years, with a Complaint Index of 57 and a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 326 complaints, 4 recalls, 20 crashes and 1 death, with Engine problems being the top complaint area at 27% of reports.

Complaints
326
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
20 / 3
Injuries / deaths
12 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
22 city / 27 hwy

Top 2011 Jeep Patriot problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine88 (27%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires62 (19%)
  3. Structure & Body53 (16%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain53 (16%)
  5. Airbags43 (13%)
  6. Electrical System36 (11%)
  7. Other36 (11%)
  8. Fuel System32 (10%)
  9. Seat Belts25 (8%)
  10. Steering19 (6%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power suddenly while driving, sometimes at highway speed, leaving the vehicle stalled in traffic.
  • Front tires reportedly blow out during turns, leading to loss of control and rollover crashes.
  • Exhaust or muffler components have detached or dropped low enough to melt or burn through the rear bumper.
  • Side airbags reportedly fail to deploy in crashes, including rollovers and frontal impacts into fixed objects.
  • Brake pedal reportedly goes to the floor with little to no deceleration, resulting in rear-end collisions.
  • Anti-lock brake and anti-skid warning lights activate before a rear wheel locks up and the vehicle swerves off the road.
2011 Jeep Patriot complaints: complaints filed per quarter242011 Q12013 Q12015 Q12017 Q12019 Q12021 Q12023 Q12025 Q3
472 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q3 (24).

2011 Jeep Patriot recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V824000Dec 21, 2017Other61,791 vehicles

    Equipment

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

    Risk: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.

  2. NHTSA 16V668000Sep 15, 2016Airbags1,435,625 vehicles

    Air bags

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

    Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

  3. NHTSA 13V233000Jun 4, 2013Electrical System254,396 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012. The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags.

    Risk: In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the side curtain airbag and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners. As a result, vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall number is N01.

See all 4 recalls for the 2011 Jeep Patriot →

2011 Jeep Patriot fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Patriot years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Good29136225
2011Caution57326424
2012Good43354424
2013Best14120124

All Jeep Patriot years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Jeep Patriot reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Patriot carries a Caution verdict with a Complaint Index of 57, ranking 4th worst among the 8 model years with data.
What problems does the 2011 Jeep Patriot have?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints lead at 27% of the 326 total complaints, followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 19%, and Structure & Body and Transmission & Powertrain each at 16%.
Does the 2011 Jeep Patriot have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2011 Patriot covering airbags, electrical software, steering column, and a fire extinguisher issue, with none marked do-not-drive.
At what mileage do 2011 Patriot problems typically show up?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 72,550 for the 2011 Patriot overall, with Engine issues reported around a median of 51,000 miles.
How does the 2011 Patriot compare to other years?
The 2011 model's Complaint Index of 57 is worse than 2010 (29), 2012 (43), and 2013 (14), but better than 2014 (100) and 2016 (86), which are rated Avoid.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.