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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Jeep Patriot Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Jeep Patriot has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 354 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Jeep dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Jeep Patriot. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2012 Jeep Patriot owner complaints

Owners have filed 354 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Patriot, describing incidents dated August 19, 2011 to August 26, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 119 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 102 complaints
  • Power Train 63 complaints
  • Air Bags 57 complaints
  • Electrical System 44 complaints
  • Seat Belts 37 complaints

Of the 354 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 354 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11759686 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Patriot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the recall repair was not completed. The contact stated that…

  • ODI #11750388 · Filed

    Certified dealership service department omitted structural safety complaints from official service invoices, left vital diagnostic findings and performance metrics off paperwork tracking paths, cleared a compromised front suspension layout as safe, and actively instructed a vehicle operator to…

  • ODI #11717985 · Filed

    I was crossing an intersection with a green light the opposing vehicle ran the northbound red light therefore slammed into my driver rear side going at an unknown speed. The force of the impact caused my glasses to fly off my face landing on the passenger floorboard. No airbags deployed.

Read all 354 complaints

Owner-reported

2012 Jeep Patriot mileage at failure

252 of the 354 complaints on file for the 2012 Jeep Patriot give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
EngineMedian 40,000 milesMiddle half 13,000–70,000 milesBased on 104 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion SystemMedian 55,000 milesMiddle half 30,000–80,000 milesBased on 68 complaints
Power TrainMedian 60,000 milesMiddle half 25,000–80,000 milesBased on 51 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 40,000 milesMiddle half 18,000–80,000 milesBased on 37 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Jeep Patriot in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled

NHTSA #16V668000 · Seat Belts — Pretensioner · NHTSA notice

Reported September 15, 2016 · Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

Potentially affected: 1,435,625 vehicles

Repair completion: 41.1% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign S61 · Owners notified August 15, 2017 · Vehicles built February 14, 2009 – August 13, 2014 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Delayed Deployment or Non-Deployment of Airbags

NHTSA #13V233000 · Air Bags — Side/Window · NHTSA notice

Reported June 4, 2013 · Chrysler Group LLC

Potentially affected: 254,396 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign N01 · Owners notified June 21, 2013 · Vehicles built May 6, 2008 – July 20, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Fuel Tank Transfer Tube may cause Stall

NHTSA #13V120000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported April 3, 2013 · Chrysler Group LLC

Potentially affected: 20,799 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign N17 · Owners notified July 19, 2013 · Vehicles built October 18, 2011 – May 7, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles manufactured October 18, 2011, through May 7, 2012. Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of fuel from the secondary side to the primary side of the fuel tank may be interrupted, causing the engine to stall.

Safety consequence

If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank transfer tube free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 30, 2013. Owners were notified by Chrysler on July 19, 2013, that parts are now available. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N17.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

ROLL-OVER VALVE

NHTSA #12V142000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported April 3, 2012 · CHRYSLER GROUP LLC

Potentially affected: 1,689 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign M11 · Owners notified May 21, 2012 · Vehicles built December 17, 2011 – January 2, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 JEEP PATRIOT AND COMPASS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2012. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY CONTAINING A DAMAGED ROLL-OVER VALVE.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT OR ROLL-OVER, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 25, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Notes

CHRYSLER’S RECALL NUMBER IS M11.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Jeep Patriot model years

Check your 2012 Jeep Patriot VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Jeep Patriot at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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