I am the owner of a 2007 Jeep Patriot I bought last year with 55,000 miles on it. It now has 70,000. Last week I took it to the dealer because it was making a funny sound and I had purchased the extended warranty. The took a look at it and said it was the Alternator and replaced it. They sent us off with our paperwork that also shows they did a 15 point inspection on the vehicle. We then went to Big O Tires to have all four tires replaced. When they went to replace them they called us out to show us that our ball joint was basically ready to fall off! We had just driving away from the dealership with a 15 point inspection! They had marked off that they did it but they didn't and got caught. We took it back and they fixed the ball joint and tie rod and said it was good to go. Our trust was very lacking at that point. We drove home (which was 3 hours away) and the next day the car started choking when we pressed on the gas, it would finally start to drive but when we idled it almost died everytime. We called the dealer and they said to take it to the nearest Jeep dealer since they were so far away. The did a diagnostic and said it needed four new spark plugs and then after that the test said that two of the pistons were running on 50 compression. They looked down and said the oil was black and muddy. My husband is a 13 year military mechanic and does his own oil changes. I am really upset at this point. Something somewhere isn't right. I called the dealership I bought it from and they are sending a tow truck on a 3 hour drive to pick up the Jeep. They will tear it down to failure and I am scared to death they are going to try and pin this on us. He said in 15 years he has never seen them not cover an engine but the place up here says it is muddy oil. What are your thoughts???? They screwed up on the 15 point inspection and then our engine goes out the next day!
Help! Major Problems
jeepers07
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I am the owner of a 2007 Jeep Patriot I bought last year with 55,000 miles on it. It now has 70,000. Last week I took it to the dealer because it was making a funny sound and I had purchased the extended warranty. The took a look at it and said it was the Alternator and replaced it. They sent us off with our paperwork that also shows they did a 15 point inspection on the vehicle. We then went to Big O Tires to have all four tires replaced. When they went to replace them they called us out to show us that our ball joint was basically ready to fall off! We had just driving away from the dealership with a 15 point inspection! They had marked off that they did it but they didn't and got caught. We took it back and they fixed the ball joint and tie rod and said it was good to go. Our trust was very lacking at that point. We drove home (which was 3 hours away) and the next day the car started choking when we pressed on the gas, it would finally start to drive but when we idled it almost died everytime. We called the dealer and they said to take it to the nearest Jeep dealer since they were so far away. The did a diagnostic and said it needed four new spark plugs and then after that the test said that two of the pistons were running on 50 compression. They looked down and said the oil was black and muddy. My husband is a 13 year military mechanic and does his own oil changes. I am really upset at this point. Something somewhere isn't right. I called the dealership I bought it from and they are sending a tow truck on a 3 hour drive to pick up the Jeep. They will tear it down to failure and I am scared to death they are going to try and pin this on us. He said in 15 years he has never seen them not cover an engine but the place up here says it is muddy oil. What are your thoughts???? They screwed up on the 15 point inspection and then our engine goes out the next day!
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4,653 Posts
Sorry to hear about the probs,
Don't think muddy oil would blow an engine at 70k miles,
4 bad plugs and muddy oil?
Sounds more like blew a gasket or seal.
Do you have records of last oil change?
Receipts? To prove oil wasn't old.
You can comfortably go quite a distance between changes.is it reccomended over long term, no.
Should it ruin the engine at 70k, no.
I try to change my oil at 3k-5k miles
But have gone 10k-15k between changes, and no engine probs on my 07 with 105k miles on it.
As for starter/alternator? Well *@$#& !!!!
At the dealer now with starter problems, 3rd time in 2 yrs.
Don't think muddy oil would blow an engine at 70k miles,
4 bad plugs and muddy oil?
Sounds more like blew a gasket or seal.
Do you have records of last oil change?
Receipts? To prove oil wasn't old.
You can comfortably go quite a distance between changes.is it reccomended over long term, no.
Should it ruin the engine at 70k, no.
I try to change my oil at 3k-5k miles
But have gone 10k-15k between changes, and no engine probs on my 07 with 105k miles on it.
As for starter/alternator? Well *@$#& !!!!
At the dealer now with starter problems, 3rd time in 2 yrs.
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104 Posts
That must have been the origional factory oil in the motor. If it was the engine pistons would get super heated due to the lack of lube, that in turn will take out spark plugs due to the heat. This would also explain the loss of compression. I would call Chrysler Directly and speak with them about your situation. I worked for Chrysler for 6 years and have never heard of those engine failing unless they were not maintainenced. I have an 07 Pat with 180,000km and it has been absolutly flawless.
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2,714 Posts
"muddy oil" and low compression sounds like a bad head gasket to me. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you though.
But if I'm right, blown head gasket likely not due to anything you did short of over heating the motor. In which case, why did the motor overheat? Either way, should be covered.
But if I'm right, blown head gasket likely not due to anything you did short of over heating the motor. In which case, why did the motor overheat? Either way, should be covered.
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35 Posts
When my 2008 Patriot overheated for the third time, I noticed there was coolant in the oil, it turned out that the head was warped, and needed to be replaced, which was fortunately covered under warranty. But I remember they did charge me to replace the thermostat
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$25? oh noes!!!!!!When my 2008 Patriot overheated for the third time, I noticed there was coolant in the oil, it turned out that the head was warped, and needed to be replaced, which was fortunately covered under warranty. But I remember they did charge me to replace the thermostat
I would have thought a thermostat would be covered by the drive train warranty. Or are they considered a wear item?
Never overheated
The strange this is that the car NEVER once overheated. The dealership called me a couple of days ago and said they were sending a tow truck (3hour drive) to come pick up my jeep and take it back to them since the Jeep dealership here is a joke. They also called Enterprise and got us a rental for a week while they tear down the engine to see what happened. I still won't believe they will cover it until I hear the words come out of there mouth when it is tore down to failure. I did find out though that the dealership owns the extended warranty company so maybe that will help. Maybe they are being so nice because they screwed up when they sent us on our way with a signed 15 point inspection from the technician that was never done and the ball joint was so bad that they didn't catch and we about drove 3 hours on the highway at 80 mph. Wouldnt' you think they should have caught all this when it was in there shop the day before??
The strange this is that the car NEVER once overheated. The dealership called me a couple of days ago and said they were sending a tow truck (3hour drive) to come pick up my jeep and take it back to them since the Jeep dealership here is a joke. They also called Enterprise and got us a rental for a week while they tear down the engine to see what happened. I still won't believe they will cover it until I hear the words come out of there mouth when it is tore down to failure. I did find out though that the dealership owns the extended warranty company so maybe that will help. Maybe they are being so nice because they screwed up when they sent us on our way with a signed 15 point inspection from the technician that was never done and the ball joint was so bad that they didn't catch and we about drove 3 hours on the highway at 80 mph. Wouldnt' you think they should have caught all this when it was in there shop the day before??
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35 Posts
$25? oh noes!!!!!!
I would have thought a thermostat would be covered by the drive train warranty. Or are they considered a wear item?
They told me the thermostat was not covered because it was caused by the engine overheating three times. (go figure)
I have since given up on that dealership, I believe they are unable to get reimbursed by Chrysler Canada for warranty work they do, as they owe lots of money to Chrysler Canada, so getting any warranty work done was an uphill battle.
I called them and they said they will know in about 20 minutes. It is almost completely tore down. It has taken them 9 hours. They are now trying to determine why it failed so they can call the warranty company. I am so nervous I can hardly stand it. I hear all these horror stories of how they won't cover engine repair. They are going to see if they can fix it or if a new engine will have to be ordered. I can't afford either one out of my pocket. Wish me luck.
FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS!
Great news today. They called and said after tearing down the engine they took out the pistons and the pistons were bad! They order a BRAND NEW FACTORY ENGINE (with a new 100,000 mile warranty) that will be delivered tomorrow to the dealership and it should be done by Wednesday! ALL covered under the warranty, all we have to pay is the $100 deductible. They are paying for the rental car (NICE VAN) for the whole week. SO happy and very impressed on how they handled it. Phew! Pistons bad at 70,000 miles, wow.
Great news today. They called and said after tearing down the engine they took out the pistons and the pistons were bad! They order a BRAND NEW FACTORY ENGINE (with a new 100,000 mile warranty) that will be delivered tomorrow to the dealership and it should be done by Wednesday! ALL covered under the warranty, all we have to pay is the $100 deductible. They are paying for the rental car (NICE VAN) for the whole week. SO happy and very impressed on how they handled it. Phew! Pistons bad at 70,000 miles, wow.
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35 Posts
I just found out my Jeep with 118,000 km (73,000 miles) broke a connecting rod on the fourth piston, and the engine is full of metal shavings. So I guess these engines are only good for 70,000 miles or so. I am searching for a used engine as Chrysler will not warrant my repair as my warranty ended at 100,000 km
Sorry to hear that. I just got lucky to have it happen before my warranty ended. I was so worried they were not going to cover it. I have heard so many stories. Do you do alot of off roading?
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35 Posts
I have an 1989 ford ranger 4x4 for my offroading experience. The Patriot was pampered from day one. Never off road, in for service every 5,000 km. Just a poorly designed and built automobile from the suspension to the drive train to the leaky body works.
I bought the 07 Patriot at 55,000 and didn't have one problem until it hit 70,000 and then within two days found out the ball joint was about to fall off, the sparks plugs replaced, alternator went out, and the pistons went bad. I practically have a new car now! There are others on here that have never had one problem. Guess you just never know what you are going to get. I'm just glad I got the extended warranty and it all went bad before it ended. Sorry to hear about your engine.
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