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Nate8833

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello all!

My wife and I are looking to buy a car this weekend. It will probably be the Patriot (Altitude 4x2)! For now, I'm definitely curious about something. Has your Patriot been a reliable ride for you? Any issues that seem to be typical among Patriot users that I should be aware of?

After reading all of the negative "professional" reviews, and then reading so many positive consumer reviews, I had to go to a dealer to check one out for myself. I could see some of the points that the professional reviewers were making about the Patriot not being quite as refined as some of it's competition... but isn't that kind of the point? It seemed like a great car to me.

Thanks!

Nathan
 
#2 ·
Yep, I think you get it! That's why it's cheaper. Most Patriot owners are very satisfied (or more..I'm in the more category).
It all depends on what you expect from your car. I'm 61 years old and it's overall the best vehicle I've ever had. The only thing for me that could be better is if it had the 6 speed instead of the cvt. (Sorry Rossoracer, I'm just not a fan of it like you are).
Mines a 2012 and they didn't offer the 6 speed until 2014.

I'f you're happy with it, don't worry about what any reviewer says, enjoy your new Jeep!
 
#3 ·
Welcome! and I agree. I've been very happy with the Pat, the mileage is decent compared to what I was driving before, it has just as much get-up-and-go as any other compact SUV ( I also have the 6sp ), and knock on wood, no problems. :pepper:
 
#4 ·
I have a FD2 patriot and just got back from a 5k+ road trip from phoenix az to rochester ny. Got about 20-23 mpg on highway pulling a 1800 lb trailer. It still has less then 30k miles on it and i still love it. Just remember that its not a wrangler and your fine.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Hello all,

I'm officially on board! Thanks for the replies!! Now I'm just in the process or rounding up some accessories... some rubber mats for the interior and cross bars and possibly a kayak hauler for the roof rails. Any suggestions?

My only concern is the CVTII...I've seen a lot of complaints about the CVT online, lots of failures. It's hard to tell how prevalent of an issue it is. Does anyone know anything about this? Have they mostly cleared up these issues since the CVT has been in these vehicles for quite some time now?

Thanks again all!!

Nathan
 
#7 ·
Nate8833 said:
Hello all,

I'm officially on board! Thanks for the replies!! Now I'm just in the process or rounding up some accessories... some rubber mats for the interior and cross bars and possibly a kayak hauler for the roof rails. Any suggestions?

My only concern is the CVTII...I've seen a lot of complaints about the CVT online, lots of failures. It's hard to tell how prevalent of an issue it is. Does anyone know anything about this? Have they mostly cleared up these issues since the CVT has been in these vehicles for quite some time now?

Thanks again all!!

Nathan
Click to expand...
If you bought your Patriot new it's under 100,000 mile warranty. Any issues, if there are any, will surface within the warranty period and won't cost you anything. There a quite a few of us that push our Patriots well past what they're supposed to do and don't have any real issues. Suspension is the main weak point and it's very cheap and easy to fix yourself. The CVT may take time getting used to but it is generally the smoothest operating transmission you will own. The CVT hasn't been changed since 2007 so it is a bit outdated but the knowledge to work on them is out there, once you go past your warranty a nissan mechanic will be able to do any non-standard maintenance easily.
 
#8 ·
rcguymike said:
The CVT hasn't been changed since 2007 so it is a bit outdated but the knowledge to work on them is out there, once you go past your warranty a nissan mechanic will be able to do any non-standard maintenance easily.
Click to expand...

The only thing I have heard that changed for the CVT is around 2010-2011 the factory CVT cooler went from being an internal design to an external design.
 
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#9 ·
Change you CVT fluid on the shorter change time frame - 60k miles. 90% of the issues I've seen on here and on the internet all seem to be related to fluid issues (too low, burnt, or just worn out) A CVT is more fluid sensitive than most automatic transmissions (the same goes for the CVT in my ford freestyle) since the fluid does so much more than it does in other systems. So keeping up to date on your fluid changes I think is so important.
 
#10 ·
I have an 2008 (FWD 2.4 CVT) and liked it so much we got a 2014 (FWD 2.0 manual). The 2008 has 187,000 miles on it and its just starting to give me trouble. No complaints with that kind of mileage. Brakes lasted over 100,000 miles which I think is fantastic. Fuel economy for the '08 runs a little under 30mpg, but it will get into the low 30s on a long trip. The 2014 is a commuter for Wifey who takes it 80 miles/day and averages 31-32 mpg.

They are comfortable on the highway, capable for light off-roading (not so good on gravelly hills -- maybe I'd do better with an AT tire), and awesome in the snow (with FWD and good snow tires) -- to me, the Patriot makes 4wd unnecessary if your winter driving is on the road. My driveway is the toughest part because its not plowed until after I get home. I've had no problems in 6-8" of snow, even climbing a hill on a curve. More than 8" it usually takes me a second shot up the driveway, or sometimes I'll back it in. Typical road conditions are half that deep so no problems ever.

In terms of capability, maybe the thing I like best is the Patriots' ability to handle rough roads. We have pot holes galore during the winter months, and frost heaves persist year round. There are a lot of roads that will torment a car, but the Patriots handle them quite comfortably.

Problems: some with sunroofs complain that they leak, and some complain of premature front-end problems. I've had no leaks in the '08 and the front end has been solid until just recently. The 2014 had a drip after the first slushy snowstorm and the dealer fixed it; no problem since. The 2008 is at the miles where things will start wearing out, but nothing premature here.

I must admit my CVT was replaced under warranty, but otherwise I am definitely with RossoRacer--I prefer the CVT to a conventional automatic. iIs got the convenience of an automatic and the control of a manual. Don't sweat the reliability of the CVT, Nissan has been using the same tranny for years, and most Jeeps haven't had problems. I've had automatic transmissions die at half the miles the CVT died at. You can consider me a huge Patriot fan. :smiley_thumbs_up:

Final note: the professional reviewer aren't real world people. They sit behind desks and rate a vehicle by how well the driver can feel the road. Idiots. If they saw the roads I drive on, the last thing they'd want to feel is the road. They're also used to driving vehicles that cost 2 or 3 times more than a Patriot. Are those vehicles 2 or 3 times better? Of course not. So the Patriot isn't a luxury-mobile. Its priced +/- $20,000, a bargain by SUV standards and competitive with most cars that are far less capable.
 
#11 ·
Love it! Of course, it's been a little over a week since I got it. I have so many plans for it someone has to hold me back! (That's what the wife is for, lol.)

I have a manual 2008 Patriot Sport, stripped down version (manual everything). I test drove an automatic and really didn't like the power. Manual makes the 4-banger seem so much better!
 
#12 ·
BleepinJeep said:
Love it! Of course, it's been a little over a week since I got it. I have so many plans for it someone has to hold me back! (That's what the wife is for, lol.)

I have a manual 2008 Patriot Sport, stripped down version (manual everything). I test drove an automatic and really didn't like the power. Manual makes the 4-banger seem so much better!
Click to expand...
Both our Patriots (2008 & 2014) are pretty basic, except the 08 is a CVT. Hey, its a Jeep not a Buick! :doh:
We have 3 vehicles in the stable and they all have wind-down windows. :smiley_thumbs_up: I'm kinda proud of that.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Unfortunately, I have reason for concern already. 500 miles in, and the Malfunction Warning Indicator went off on the way home today. It's not blinking, so of course it could just be a gas cap issue (I checked, didn't seem to be an issue). Has anyone else had this happen right away after purchase?

Thanks!
 
#18 ·
Doesn't seem urgent, I personally would clear them and see if they come back. I only found info on one of them the c123.2, and it looks like a speed sensor maybe? so anyways, clear it, see if it comes back.

It is a new car, which means that they sometimes get a bad part at the factory, hence the warranty.
 
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Nate8833
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