We purchased a new Patriot (4X2 Sport) on June 26 and June 29 we began experiencing trouble with the washer fluid spontaneously spraying with no way of shutting it off. In addition, sometimes our headlights don't work properly. Sometimes they don't go on at all and sometimes they are stuck in high beam. Anyone having similar problems?

Our Patriot has been with the dealer since July 1, and despite four attempts to fix it, they have not been able to locate the problem. They have recently replaced the multifunction switch in the steering column, but when we picked it up today the washer fluid didn't work at all!

The vehicle has been with the dealer for 10 out of the 13 days that we've owned it.

that sucks! I hope they get it straightened out soon and hopefully comp you a bunch of free oil changes. Have them do the daytime running light recall, if they haven't already, maybe that'll straighten out the headlight issue. that is weird about the windshield washer fluid - i have no clue...

Hmmmm... Only electrical problem I've had is a nut missing from the factory on the cable from the battery to the power distribution block (not sure which end, probably block). May not sound similar, but when it freaked out on me it was firing the ABS, activating cruise control, and making all sorts of lights go on and off.
I can gaurantee you that they won't do anything for you. I suggested to my dealer that I get a hat or shirt or something for the 2.5 hours of work I missed, and my Jeep almost killing me in rush hour traffic. Haven't seen anything yet! Hell, I haven't even gotten the manual they promised me since mine didn't come with one??!
I guess just be glad when the problems are fixed for good, and you didn't have to pay directly for it.

Not having this problem, but sounds like wires pinched in the steering column. You have wires in close proximity to a moving part (the steering wheel and shaft). Any wire rubbing or pinched between the steering column housing and the shaft could short to ground and cause problems with anything that is controlled from the steering column. You may need to have them check the harness as well.

Turns out that the service department at the dealership called Chrysler's tech help line and were advised that it may be a bad sensor. I guess the part is hard to come by, so it will be a few days before we know if that was the fix.

I can't even remember what our Pat looks like!

This is dissettling. How many people are experiencing problems? Is it first model year shakedown stuff? I have always been leary of a first year vehicle since my bad luck with a Camaro back in the 70s with the new 305 engine of the time.

Not really first year stuff. Really just new car stuff. Some of this is rush as many out the door to make the quarter stuff. Some supplier or Chrysler changing specs and not communicating it stuff. Some accountant trying to save a dime per part stuff. Some bored worker stuff.

My point is there is so much stuff that can go wrong it amazes me we have come to expect zero defects and usually get close to it. Right now I would say of the cars I have purchased in the past twenty years the Patriot is running better than average. Better than any of the American, Australian, and German cars and equal to the Japanese cars.

More on Q.C. ...Just as a follow on since I received an almost new 2004 Ford Focus from my father I have experienced 3 random incidents where while stopping the engine has revved to about 3000-3500 rpm and the brakes have experienced partial failure similar to a master cylinder going bad. These have all ended without incident.

I so far have the dealer who under the warranty cannot find or duplicate the problem and chalks it up to me mistaking the brake pedal for the itsy bitsy little gas pedal.

After traveling for 3 weeks where the car was parked it did it again to a lesser degree this week. TELL ME ABOUT DEFECTS.

Now my son has reached the point of being legally able to obtain a learners permit and this is the car he will use and eventually be given. I suppose one learns to drive carefully when they don't know if or when the brakes will fail.

Anyone have any ideas on this minor mechanical defect?

:hijacked:
Mike, remember the Audi 5000 had this problem, and DOT investigated and decided the brake and gas pedals were of too similar size, and on the same plane in relation to the driver. 100% of the Audi incidents were driver pedal confusion.

Also, this would involve the simultaneous failure of two completed mechanically unrelated systems, with no crossover components. The only common component is the driver and their feet, stomping on a pedal.

But, to your Focus: as the engine revs up, the increase in power against the torque converter will want to move the vehicle, even though the brakes are on (like a brake torque/burnout--right, in a Focus:p). The power brake booster is vacuum powered--vacuum drops as the throttle is opened wide (not a mechanical connection, but related) so the brake pedal will come up against the driver's foot reducing braking force.

So, I am thinking something is opening the throttle: when it happens, can your right foot feel the gas pedal being depressed (going down away from your foot-like when cruise control is speeding up the car) on its own? Does the Focus have a throttle cable connected to the gas pedal, or is it drive by wire? If dbw, maybe the electric motor(?) which opens the throttle butterfly is going bad? Or the Throttle Position Sensor? The engine control computer, and oxygen sensors, etc. will (should) only inject enough gas to maintain a/f ratio for the air being admitted. Somehow, the throttle is being opened to flow more air into the motor.

Sounds like your son should be real familiar with operation of the Ebrake (hard), and also how to quickly toss trans into Neutral/Park, until this is solved.

dougep, Yup I know I hijacked this thread but to prove a point. Most new cars have problems. As long as there are not a bunch of little ones or a major one it is good to keep things in perspective.

To be honest I don't know if the Focus is fly-by-wire but doubt it. I was off the gas completely with my foot vertical just to the right of dead center on the brakes this last time (yes I had the time to observe). Not sure if the throttle cable is sticking but a good idea. But would vacuum drop off that much? I used to left foot brake when I wanted to keep the revs up on an automatic and could keep a small block in place at 4000+ rpm with my left foot standing on the brake. Now I know a Focus is a true performance car but not being able to stop while I try to bench press 500 lbs. on the pedal?

The last two times this happened I had my hand on the transmission and would've thrown it into neutral if necessary. The first time I was surprised. This most recent incident I was more curious as it was a safe situation. I wonder if the engine rocks on it's mount and simultaneously kinks the throttle and pinches the brake line?

I once had a Volkswagen Rabbit that I wanted to shoot! EVERY week something else went wrong! My daughter was using it to drive to college and she was in tears! On the other hand Our Subarus have been almost trouble free for years. I did have a wiring harness problem with my 90 Legacy. Hitting city potholes everyday caused the wiring harness to rub under the dash and short out. MAJOR problem getting that fixed.My trouble free 97 Outback just turned 11 years old and I'm giving it to my son-in-law when I get the Patriot. Of course this washer problem does give me pause. Sensor or wiring short? You'll have to tell us when you find out the cause. I still think the Patriot is an excellent choice, but I am basing my choice on the quality of the dealership. Out here the Subaru dealer has a poor reputation and the Jeep dealer has an excellent reputation. So I'm opting for the Jeep. If the dealership reputation were reversed, I'd be getting a new Outback.

When I got my Pat a few weeks ago the rear wiper didn't work. Took it to the dealer and it was fixed in an hour. As someone else mentioned, it was a pinched wire in the motor. So far so good on everything else, knock on wood.

Sorry to hear about your troubles, hope you get yours back soon!

Hope things get resolved for you! I haven't had any issues (knock on wood) though the whole "first year" thing does bother me a bit.

Just got mine today, but I'm really hoping I don't have to deal with any of these odd issues anytime soon... *knock on wood*