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2012 Jeep Patriot reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Jeep Patriot — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source ↗
NHTSA complaints
550
61 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
ENGINE
114 complaints
Recalls on record
4
see below
Reported harm
16 reported crashes · 9 injuries · 7 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#923

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Jeep median

+42

median 508 across 163 Jeep records

Vs 2010-2014

+258

median 292 complaints in 613 records

Top component share

21%

Engine: 114 complaints

What owners report fails — 2012 Jeep Patriot

  • ENGINE 114
  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 86
  • POWER TRAIN 61
  • AIR BAGS 56
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 44

4 recalls on record for the 2012 Jeep Patriot

  • NHTSA 16V668000 · 2017 · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury t
  • NHTSA 13V120000 · 2013 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
  • NHTSA 13V233000 · 2013 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or non-d
  • NHTSA 12V142000 · 2012 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEM IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT OR ROLL-OVER, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Jeep Patriot

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Jeep Patriot units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Jeep Patriot reliable?

NHTSA has 550 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Jeep Patriot and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (114 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Jeep Patriot units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Jeep Patriot?

Owners most often report problems with: engine (114), fuel/propulsion system (86), power train (61), air bags (56). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2012 Jeep Patriot?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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