YearToAvoid

2012 Jeep Patriot Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 133 engine complaints for the 2012 Jeep Patriot, 38% of its 354 total complaints for the year. No related recall covers this engine issue. Median mileage at failure is 42,100 miles, and the pattern is sudden stalling at highway speed.

Engine complaints
133
38% of 354
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
42,100 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls suddenly at highway speeds around 65-75 mph without warning lights.
  • After stalling, the engine sometimes will not restart immediately and requires towing to a dealer.
  • Some owners report the engine cranks but fails to fire, then restarts on its own after sitting for hours.
  • One owner described loss of power steering and brake assist accompanying an engine stall, leading to a crash.
  • Dealers have replaced parts such as the crankshaft sensor and fuel pump module, but stalling recurred for some owners.
  • One complaint describes the throttle revving unexpectedly to 4500 rpm with cruise control engaged, followed by a loss of power.

When 2012 Jeep Patriot engine complaints were filed

First complaint May 23, 2012, latest Jul 5, 2023.

2012 Jeep Patriot engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter122012 Q22013 Q32015 Q12016 Q22017 Q32019 Q12020 Q32022 Q4
133 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q2 to 2023 Q3; peak 2012 Q4 (12).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Jeep Patriot

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Patriot model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201022 (16%)
  2. 201188 (27%)
  3. 2012133 (38%)
  4. 201331 (26%)
  5. 2014189 (34%)
  6. 2015133 (42%)
  7. 2016265 (58%)
  8. 201713 (22%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2012 Jeep Patriot?
NHTSA lists 133 engine complaints for the 2012 Patriot, which makes up 38% of the 354 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Jeep Patriot engine stalling issue?
No. The JSON data shows no related recalls listed for this engine problem area.
At what mileage do these engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine issue is 42,100 miles.
Did the engine stalling cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 2 crashes and 2 injuries linked to these engine complaints, with no fires reported.
Is the engine problem worse in 2012 than other Patriot years?
Among the years listed, 2012 complaints made up 38% of that year's total, higher than 2010 (16%), 2011 (27%), and 2013 (26%), though lower than 2016 (58%).

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.