[Ignatz]

If that was the first time the CVT fluid was changed, that wasn't soon enough. CVT fluid should be changed at least every 50,000 miles. I know that's not what the owners manual says but based on my experience and the experience of many others on this site, the manual is OTL. Still may not be a deal-breaker if the rest of the vehicle is in excellent shape and it would be worth a new tranny if needed.

Check for premature rust on the subframe. Some Patriots have this problem, most don't, but you're in the rust-belt where road salt can be a problem. Mine suvived a dozen New England winters and the frame was still solid when I sold it. A friend has it now and he's gotten another three years out of it without a rust problem.

The price seems high to me. However, used car prices are unreasonably high right now and I don't see that changing until the federal politics change. Two years ago my dealer didn't even want my 2014 Patriot with 150,000 miles on it. Now I'm getting offers from the dealer to come trade it in!

As with any used vehicle, it's a crap shoot. I've seen rust buckets that just kept going and going like the battery rabbit, and I've seen shiny vehicles that turned into mechanical disasters.

If you're buying from a dealer, insist on at least a 1 year warranty on the drive train (and don't let them charge you for the warranty!) If you're buying privately, beware.

In any event, have your own mechanic check it out. Don't take the seller's word for anything. It would be important to pull the tranny pan and check for debris, but the seller might not be keen on that.

Frankly, if you're young and inexperienced, I suggest you go to a reputable dealer and not buy privately. You'll pay more at a franchised dealer, but you're less likely to get shafted. Used car lots come and go for a reason. Franchised dealers are in it for the long haul and can't afford a bad reputation.

 

[Ignatz]

@Sandstone has a good idea about the pressure test. Agree too, that if the fluid was recently changed any debris would have been cleaned out. Every vehicle being sold has clean fluids because the seller knows that's something buyers look for. What you don't know is what shape the fluids were in before they were changed.

On the bright side, the CVT in an FWD vehicle may not be worked as hard as an AWD. Then there's people like me that treat a FWD Patriot like a Jeep and surprisingly it acts like one.

Final note, I liked my '08 Patriot so much we bought a 2014 for my Wife. We've still got the 2014, now at 185,000 miles on nothing more than a wheel bearing and the typical, expected maintenance.

 

[Ignatz]

Then again an ailing transmission can last for a long time. See posts by @MoeBucks #4 in this thread: Pat shudder. (CVT) or #7 in this thread: Transmission replace or not. A problem doesn't mean the end of your Jeep. Anything that's 10 years old with that many miles will probably need something done. It's not new and the previous owner is selling it for a reason. Right now it may only be because the price on used vehicles is high and it's a good time to sell. Me? I'm keeping my Patriot cuz I like it more than the new cars, if you can even get one.

 

[Ignatz]

. . . At 317k it’s running strong and used daily . . .

Original tranny? CVT?