Welcome! There are few vehicles as cost effective as a Patriot. My Wife and I have had two Patriots with a total of 400,000 miles on them. The Patriot's strong points are what you're looking for. My Wife commutes on a stretch of paved road that's really rough for maybe 25 miles. Our old Saturn Ion simply couldn't handle it. No way it would even approach the speed limit. Frost heaves and pot holes were just too much. The Patriots handle that road just fine. (Thankfully the DOT got around to resurfacing it this year). Both our Patriots are FWD that get about 30MPG. Wife's is a 2.0 5-spd and does consistently over 30MPG, mine was the 2.4 CVT and got about 2MPG less. Both have been reliable vehicles. Even with FWD they are great in the snow and we get plenty here.

Problems:
1) Some Patriots (not mine) have had ball-joint problems. I'd think mine would have considering the roads I travel, but so far so good.
2) Early years of the Patriots were known for leaky sunroofs. There are several threads on here about that. I didn't have a sunroof.
3) My CVT failed twice. Once at 110,000, the second time at 270,000 miles. Both were covered under warranty. I suggest if you get the CVT that you ignore the owners manual and change the fluid every 50,000 miles. You'll be glad you did.
4) Rust. Most Patriots are rock solid but some have had rusty subframes. Get under there and look before you buy, or better yet have a trusted mechanic check for you. FCA extended the warranty to 10 years but only for the original owner! You won't be covered.

Would I buy another? Absolutely. In fact we did. We liked the 2008 so much we bought a 2014. If they were still making them I'd have bought another, but alas, I had to get a Jeep Compass instead. At 300,000 miles I had doubts about its reliability, but in all honesty it never let me down in the 10 years I owned it.

 

I used to own a 2007 Toyota Yaris, compared to that the Patriot handles the bumps much better in terms of comfort. I also feel like no matter what bump I encounter, the Patriot is going to drive away unscathed. That being said the Jeep Patriot doesn't ride like a luxury vehicle, in terms of durability over potholes it's a safe bet, in terms of ride comfort I find the suspension to be a little stiff, but that's just my opinion. It will be noticeably different over a car, but in the small SUV class the Jeep Patriot was built leaning more towards durability vs ride comfort. Even though I would choose the Patriot time and again because it's a great vehicle built to suit a lot of needs, and the ride comfort is in no way bad. It's just if you have a medical condition like car sickness you might want to test drive the Patriot alongside a Honda CRV or maybe a Subaru Forester or even a Toyota Rav 4 depending on your budget. I've never rode in them but from my research they seem more comfort orientated. That being said I think the Patriot is the best bang for your buck, will feel a lot better over bumps than a car, but it might be wise to test drive it and then try a few of the other options I mentioned to see what suits you best. It's not fun to get car sick and it would be a shame if you purchased a vehicle that didn't help mitigate that. Best of luck!

 

I just got a 2015 sport 5-speed about a month ago. My previous vehicle was a 2005 CR-V automatic.

I really like the stiff ride. It's fun to drive and surprisingly solid.

The gas mileage is better than the CR-V (likely because of the manual trans).

 

If you can stand the looks, maybe consider a Kia Soul? My adult son has one. It is affordable and it is noticeably better in build quality and has a stellar reliability record. It has a slightly softer suspension for decent ride quality in this size class. A larger sedan or light duty pickup truck is (almost) always going to handle bad roads more comfortably.

My Patriot is going on 6 years old, 80,000 miles, and has been relatively trouble free. I enjoy it as a farm vehicle. The engine is pretty bullet proof as is the newer 6 speed transmission. I would not describe it as especially rugged. The suspension parts look rather small compared to a sedan or pick up truck. It is built on the Caliber platform, after all. It is affordable because it is built as an entry level vehicle regarding trim and amenities. Don't buy one if you cannot accept that.

Go for a good long test drive to see if it meets your comfort demands. Good luck!!

 

We live in a rural area and he has an hour long commute to work on a poorly maintained highway that has lots of cracks, bumps, and potholes, and often even has debris that has fallen off the back of trucks.

I get motion sickness very easily, so when I am riding with him the bumps really get to me, and this road has really beaten up the car we currently have, and lead to costly repairs.

We're not looking to go off-road or make any modifications, we don't need a lot of power. We just want something that will be reliable, durable, and comfortable in our situation. Well... I also honestly really love the retro look of it, but practicality is much more important for us. We're a young couple and we don't have a lot of money.

I would say NO, make sure you search here for the most issues experienced with members. I live in the city which I have access to a mechanic in case anything goes wrong or the dealer (last resort) I got my Patriot at 30k, and there was some things I had to change out CVT fluid (whining) , plugs, etc Some regular and some preventative. It sounds like you would subjecting the Patriot to some roads that will take its toll on it. You have to remember the Patriot is a lower end vehicle and the suspension amongst other things will cost money if you have to get it repaired. I am chasing sounds when I make left and right hand turns that I cant seem to find the cause of, and I was just under the vehicle. I also think I have dreaded CVT whine again....Just make sure you research the Patriot and especially years as some are have the sub-frame falling apart due to rust and Chrysler is aware of this issue...

 

I say yes. As long as you drive safely is what matters. Those potholes, roadrail bumps and such , make sure you go slower over them. Im a delivery driver and put on maybe 500 miles a week and have been doing this over a year, no issues. Of course youve got to keep it maintaince. CVt fluid/filter change is important and more like at 60 k and not waiting to 120 k miles.

 

My 2014 Altitude is not a smooth ride and the OEM tires did not help as being noisy and too thin (being replaced this week). Very touchy braking/steering and the suspension is rough with the cabin being pretty noisy from the outside. I don't mind it as I like to feel the road (including most every crack, bump, and pothole) so do not expect to get the smooth quiet ride of a Mercedes!

There was a reason I bought this low end budget friendly grocery getter for the wife

 

Wow, lots of hate here. But these are facts that you will need to decide on. My '15 Pat and my previous '13 Pat were stiff, bucked and not the greatest on gas. But you know what, I knew all that going in because that is what a Jeep is all about. ??

 

One comment on the rough roads. While Ive subjected our Patriots to some rough roads I've had no premature front-end problems. If you should, the wisdom on here is to get some good aftermarket parts and not the OEMs.

 

Reality is not hate
My Patriot however gets great gas mileage in the 33MPG range on road trips.

 

Agreed! If anything, our biased attraction to our Pats results in us holding back a bit and carefully choosing our words. Most other sites pummel Chrysler/FCA and judge the Patriot on its early woes before the 2011+ refresh and improvements. I quietly smirk as I enjoy my Patriot and unspent $$$ accumulate wealth in my 401K (always followed by the required "knock on wood", LOL).

On the other hand, blind Toyota/Honda loyalists are reluctant to admit truth about their beloved vehicles. A VERY expensive recall was just announced for Subaru - Toyota to remedy breaking engine valve springs: https://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2018/11/toyota_subaru_recall_more_than.html OUCH!

 

I see someone is upset at FCA over the CVT/Subframe issues (I've not experienced either).

Also my luxury German SUV is holding is value great ..... about $3,000 as of today while my Patriot is still valued at almost the same exact price of what I paid 4 years ago new! lol

Haa - edit, just looked at CL and found 2 near similar cars like mine, sight differences but very close as well as my price estimate from KBB. Got my Patriot in 2014 for $14,000 exact.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/d/mercedes-benz-ml320/6731806611.html
https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/d/2014-jeep-patriot/6714210280.html

 

You're comparing a 2001 Benz to a 2014? Wow your logic is all there, I guess you expect $14k for a 2001 Benz? CVT issues are known fact, no wonder FCA offered a lifetime warranty on the self grinding trans....The members that took up that special, I would say they are lucky

 

@ AZJeepGuy ^^^^ Please open my links that support my facts.


I am commenting on other brand loyalists/consumers, not on the manufacturers themselves. But I will reply to some of your comments.

Improvements to the Patriot platform actually began the year after Chrysler was acquired by Fiat. My source is a professional mechanic friend that works at a Jeep dealer and attends annual manufacturer training at various locations across the country. He commented that he noticed a huge improvement in general quality control post Fiat takeover. The very first changes were to the GEMA engine when Chrylser bought out the manufacturing rights from Hyundai/Mitsubishi in 2009 (https://www.revolvy.com/page/Global-Engine-Alliance). I don't remember the exact details, but he told me that FCA made needed improvements to various systems (block, head) that couldn't be done during the GEMA world engine alliance days. The 2011 refresh went beyond cosmetics. Suspension changes are noted by looking at new part numbers pre vs. post 2011 (i.e. check out the strut assemblies). In 2014 the Hyundai 6F24 automatic transmission was added to the platform. I postponed my Patriot purchase for the new transmission and would have not bought one with the JATCO unit.

I cannot agree more with you that the JATCO CVT debacle of Nissan and Jeep is unforgiveable: https://www.google.com/search?clien...0.131.1175.9j4......0....1..gws-wiz.......0j0i71j0i67j33i160j33i299.a4xkQMj3-vQ

The subframe issue? I agree that Jeep and MANY other mfg. (Toyota, GM,...) need to own up to these problems: https://www.google.com/search?clien...0790.11404..11866...0.0..0.92.258.3......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71.0YCASzYhezY
A Ford example: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/04/07/ford-recall-fusion-escape/7427299/


"a biased opinion of a company that isn't fixing issues" - On this comment I need to call you out for apparently having your head in the sand (no insult intended). If you spend some time on other forums of vehicles experiencing serious recalls, you will note that ALL of the companies do not easily roll over to expose their soft underbellies when a vehicle defect is brought up.

The examples are too numerous to list, but here are just a few:

- Subaru fiercely fought the accusations that their new 2011 engine was an oil burner. They initially blamed consumers. https://jalopnik.com/subaru-settles-lawsuit-over-oil-burning-cars-1752805682
- Toyota's defense goes way back to sludged engines of the 1990's and continues. https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/toyo.../Blotter/toyota-pay-12b-hiding-deadly-unintended-acceleration/story?id=22972214
- Do you forget how GM fought the ignition switch accusations?
- Honda's serious engine VCM problem denial: https://www.google.com/search?q=Honda+denies+vcm+problem&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1
- Euro reliability???? You are not aware of Volkswagon's denial of tampering with diesel engine regulations: https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...lkswagen-denied-deception-epa-for-nearly-year/PvO8P2rQnPDdeFkBxBgI0J/story.html
- BMW ...https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/bmw-headquarters-raided-over-alleged-diesel-emissions-cheating/ This one is still in the early allegation stage...

That Jeep/FCA does the same thing as all other companies does not mean I condone it. I agree with you that ALL companies need to take responsibility of their mistakes. I disagree with your comments that imply that FCA is worse than others.

 

Geez how many members have stated the pushback they have received from having the lifetime warranty and wanting repairs done ? You bring up issues that are not related to a dangerous subframe rotting or how the CVT slows down at any given speed if it overheats, which some of the members have experienced. Every manufacture is going to have some sort of defect that they will need to be recalled, the difference is knowing that there are serious issues and recalling "expensive" repairs, or sitting back and just letting the public rot...FCA is bad as Chevy...Both do a dis-service to their consumer base when items need to be repaired. The OP asked if they should buy a Patriot and they have little money, opinion stated, maybe he will take your diesel emission fraud into thoughts on other manufactures....Maybe he will check out the subframe thread that keeps growing everyday....

 

Trying to keep on track, I use my Patriot as a daily driver, and as a weekend offroader. I have yet to have any major issues, just minor annoyances (broken window handles, yay manual windows) etc... Is it the greatest, most efficient, most comfortable vehicle? Not by a long stretch. It's like a faithful horse, it does what I ask it to do, with minimal fuss. You're going to have goods and bads, lovers and haters with any vehicle ever made, it's the name of the game. I like the Patriot because it looks like a Jeep, it does what I need it to do, and it is extremely versatile. I can drive to work and back Friday, go camping deep in the woods that weekend, and drive back to work on Monday. And it'll do that just as easily as going on a 500 mile road trip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

What a p*ssing contest this turned into

 

Couldn't agree more. Before anyone listens to someone else's opinion they should do a little research for themselves. This forum is a great place for that.
One would quickly realize that AzJeepGuy purchased a Patriot on a reconstructed title, had some issues, and blames Chrysler/Fiat for his issues.
Others here will give glowing reviews regardless of issues they may have experienced simply do to the human need to confirm that they themselves "got the best deal" or whatever.

So in all honesty, I have a 2014 Patriot with 188 thousand miles on it. In that time, I had to take it to a dealership at around the 50K mark for the trans overheat issue. The dealership replaced the fluid and filters and sent me on my way. IT cost me 300 bucks, but it fixed my issue. Since then I have changed the fluid two more times myself at a cost of around 60 bucks.
Just last week I had the check engine light illuminate and the code reader gave me the P2004 and P2014 codes. These are known issues regarding the intake runner "shudders". Most new vehicles have them and most newer vehicles experience similar issues. I removed the "sensor" cleaned it and the manifold and reinstalled it. Check engine light is out and the vehicle is running great again.
I have replaced front and rear brake pads and rotors, the right rear wheel hub/bearings, and stayed up to date on preventive maintenance. I expect another 100K miles out of my Patriot.
The ride is not as smooth as a sedan or higher priced vehicle. You will feel every bump in the road. It is also not a quiet vehicle. There is a fair amount more road noise in the Patriot than it's competitors. It is a well balanced vehicle, that when equipped with Jeep's all wheel drive programming makes it astonishingly capable in light off road and foul weather circumstances. It gets better gas mileage than a larger 4x4 but less than some of it's competitors like the RAV-4 or CR-V.
I would estimate that a good combination of RAV-4/CR-V vs Patriot decisions could find a happy middle ground in the Subaru Forester. Depending on the year it may still have a CVT trans. It will ride better and quieter than a Patriot, but do better in foul weather than the toyota or honda offerings. It will be more economical than a Patriot, but not as economical as a RAV-4 or CR-V. It really all boils down to your intended use, budget, and personal preferences.
If I were in the same situation I was in in July of 2013 and looking for a CUV, I would make the same decision I did back then and purchase my Patriot all over again. I guess that makes me a satisfied customer.

 

To answer OP's question.

1) engine is very reliable.
2) CVT is debatable, and an aquired taste. Fluid changes are a must if you want it to last. But because they are more common, more shops should be willing to work on them. Part of the hate is jeep never serviced them, just had a replace only contract with jatco. But they are A LOT less complicated than a typical transmission, so costs should come down. If i were to buy one again? I would buy the 6 speed auto (found on the 2014 and later 2.4l engines... for the most part). just because its made by hyundai, and will be easy to get serviced down the road.
3) off road comfort. The patriot is still a CAR! based suv. Its a car with a boxy roof, it has a bit more travel in the suspension, and having real independent suspension helps a ton. I would HIGHLY recommend getting rid of the 16" or 17" wheels and putting on 15" wheels and getting some 235/65-75r15 tires. This will give you a lot more sidewall than the factor sized tires and will improve poor road conditions being translated into the cabin (plus there are a lot more all terrain tire/truck tires in that size with typically handle more abuse, and will be less likely to be damaged by pot holes and road debris.
4) ground clearance. Yup patriot has this in spades. especially if you go with a bit of an oversized tire. I found the patriot to be easy to get in and out of, had a nice high seating position vs a typical sedan, and good visibility.



If the road you're driving is truly that bad... Have you thought about getting an old beater? like a 96-01 jeep cherokee XJ? Its more of a canvas that you make your own (I had a metal cloak lift kit, that made mine ride better than a Cadillac). what ever car you buy is going to be trashed anyways? I used to buy $2000 oldsmobile aleros, and drive the nuts off them on dirt roads and then swap them out every 6mo-year and sell them for what I paid for them, and buy another one.

 

Thank you all for your advice and opinions. We ended up getting a 2017 Jeep Compass. I actually had decided that what I wanted was a 2012 or earlier Ford Escape, but my boyfriend was convinced by his parents that was "too old", and his father was getting super impatient about us finding a used car that we wanted, and we needed him to cosign for us to get financing, so... unfortunately we didn't really have the time to research and discuss things as much as we would have liked to... We happened to come across the Compass at a nearby preowned dealership, I suggested to him that we check it out. He liked it, and I liked it too well enough, so it was what we got. He is the one who will be using the car 90% of the time for his commute, so I told him ultimately it was his choice, though he did ask me to help him to decide.

Hopefully the Compass will serve us well for a long time. I like that it's got plenty of room for groceries, and cargo space for going on trips. And I do very much like the aesthetic and ruggedness of this Jeep compared to a typical sedan. The straight lines in the interior are really nice, the height has me feeling a bit more confident that it's is not going to get mangled by debris on the road, and also gives peace of mind since we live in an area prone to flooding.

It is already having a problem where it pulls to the right when the steering wheel is released, but we got a warranty on it and the dealership said they will perform an alignment and take care of it, I'm really hoping that's all it needs and is not a sign of any worse underlying issues.

As for my motion sickness, that was honestly only a secondary concern for me, since my time riding will be nothing compared to the use it will get for my boyfriend to get to work, but I want to say thank you to those of you who were concerned for my comfort. For me the motion sickness really is just a headache that goes away within an hour of arriving at our destination, and no matter what type of vehicle I'm riding it, I will get it regardless. The only vehicles I've been in that significantly reduced the headache were luxury cars, and those are too far out of our budget to even consider. That all in consideration, The Compass is pretty good; it's a hell of a lot more comfortable to ride in than our old car. I do still feel the bumps but it's more of "bounce" compared to the "thunk" I'm used to, if that makes sense, which is a lot more tolerable.



Would you recommend that same type of tire change on a Compass as well?

 

To Original Poster:

NO NO NO NO NO! Run, run like the wind - away from the Patriot. Just read some of my posts and signature. They are the worst piece of ungodly cheap mechanical crap that any automaker has ever foisted upon mankind!

 

Who pee'd in your jeep!

 

I bought a 2012 JP in 2012 and still have it to this day. It's two wheel drive and does alright on dirt roads, even when it's raining. The problems I have had are the engine starting to over heat when going along the freeway. The radiator is too small for the vehicle. I have also had problems with the chassis making very loud noises, especially when hot. My brake lights have gone out on me and I've had to replace the radiator fluid which cost a fortune. Two recalls for safety issues; seat belt and airbag.

It does have a smooth ride. The take off is a little slow and I recommend not having the AC on when climbing hills.

Overall I would say don't buy a Jeep Patriot. Idk about other Jeeps out there but I wouldn't get a JP.

 

Besides a tranny cooler, we need a thread cooler . . .

 

Nope, don't change the wheels and tires yet, Just drive that compass the way it is until you have a reason not to.
What trim/options did your compass come with? 4x4? Trailhawk?

 

It's 4x4, other than that, I'm not sure how to determine the trim or options.

 

Yep! Trailhawk has red hooks that are hard to miss. Past which 4x4 system, catskinz leather? Heated seats? Smart cruise; where it keeps distance from the car in front of you?
The updated Compass has lots of fun options that weren't available on the 1st Gen platform shared with the Patriot. Even though the new version is targeted at the same market, Fiat is really bringing their A-game with the optional equipment.

 

It's FD1 then, and it doesn't have any of the options REDONE has mentioned, but I don't need any of those things. Uh... it has lighted cup holders, which is not something I would have ever even thought to ask for, but looks pretty cool, I guess?

Here's a photo

 

I don't think you need FD1 to get lighted cup holders. Our FWD 2014 has them. One of the few things that can actually improve a bare-bones Patriot.

We have a 2018 Compass and that has a little tiny light that shines down on the cup holder area -- its even on a rheostat! Isn't technology wonderful!?!?

 

Driving several for over 5 years. It wouldnt be my first choice. Alot of Mexican made percentages in the units but not reflected in price.
Small gas tank not best mileage mediocre handling and not the safest as per Govt tests. If it is strickly price then cant argue there. Hope this helps.