I must say, I scored big having grabbed my 2016 5 speed 4x2 Patriot with 140k for $500 with the dreaded auto shutdown activated. The relay in the fender was corroded and the relay connector needed re-pinned. Once that was done, car started right up. All in, with a clockspring, air filter, throttle body and other small parts I am in $1000 and she runs like a top. Feels like a new car. I love my little Patriot.

 

Like @Treegrower I have a 2014, and like @originyc, I have a 4x2 5-speed. I agree, mine feels like a new car, too. I just got new tires over the summer and just last night I was thinking how good it feels. At 200,000 I had the tranny replaced. I've had a the front wheel bearings replaced. That's about it for repairs other than routine maintenance. We got it because we liked our 2008 Patriot so much. This Patriot has proven to be as good. If they were still making them, I'd buy another.

@originyc, I like your story of the bargain Patriot. Some people give up on a vehicle far too soon. You did fabulously well on that purchase! Sadly, someone else gave up on a vehicle that had a lot of miles left in it.

 

@Ignatz agreed. So many people are not able to dig too deep when an issue shows up for whatever reason, and they just give up. The guy I bought it from said in the winter it just quit starting and he had no choice, he had small children and needed a car instantly, he went and got another one.

A quick OBD scan, got the ASD code, and a youtube video pointed me in the right direction. After 2 hours I had it repinned.

The Patriot gets a bad rep, but no car is without faults. Even lately Toyota is dropping the ball. The Patriot lived up here in the rust belt all its life, and after 8 yrs barely shows any rust. They were made decently for the price point.

 

The big reason for the Patriot's bad reputation is the CVT. The owners manual said to change the fluid and filters at 120,000 miles, but in fact half that would still be too long. That was the only significant problem with my '08 Patriot.

A rebuilt 5-spd in my 2014 at 200,000 miles seems to me to be about the life of any transmission. I've had some go longer and some fail at half that. I'm OK with those miles for a tranny.

 

Mine has something wrong in the suspension and needs the CVT fluid and filters changed, but once that's done it should be good for awhile. Could use some bodywork too, but $$$$ and it does still run.

 

I'm still loving my 2008 and also take great care of it. I'd say it's been normal maintenance items with only a few annoying problems like the abs control module and a troublesome few months of runner control valve issues due to bad aftermarket parts quality. I also still have my lifetime power train warranty intact, so I plan on keeping it as long as possible.

 

I bought my 2012 4x4 Latitude new. It's been the most reliable, trouble free vehicle I've ever had. I replaced the rear wheel bearings, and a brake caliper, then just the usual maintenance. Still looks great and drives like new. I showed it off at the Jeep Experience cruise in at Youngs Dairy Farm in August. It was the only Patriot there. My wife won't give it up. It was definitely the best for the price suv in my opinion. I wish they still made them. I'd buy another.

 

Have had my 2016 for over 4 years and have put around 90K more miles on it. No shortage of weird issues, the worst was needing motor mounts, of all things. But, a lot of it was just maintenance type stuff too. All told, anyone who is willing to watch online videos and turn a wrench can probably keep their Patriot running well for many years.