from what i know,what you are saying is mechanically impossible.

 

Could the power steering have gone out?

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or low power steering fluid, maybe an air bubble?

 

The steering wheel lock is mechanic so it cant be locked in any position...that problem is so weird and dangerous..

 

Well, if this is NOT a mechanical issue--what else can it be? And Why?

I suppose there could be a mechanical adjustment issue in the steering column, but??

 

You can check that issue this way:

Park it, remove the key and check at which point of turn the steering lock. Then remember if you turn the same way when it locked. If its the same the the steering lock may be a little loose or maybe its damaged...

 

Does our steering wheel lock up when the key is removed? I had a Honda that did that, but I seem to recall it NOT being norm to have that option.

 

It acted exactly as it does when I take the key out and try to turn the wheel. With the key out I can't turn the wheel either way, I was turning left at the time it locked like that, going at idle speed. Had to break, put the car in park, pull key out, back in, start the car and everything was fine.

100% positive the engine was still on when it happened, and there were no indications on the dash or by anything else that any other part of the jeeps systems stopped functioning appropriately.

I take it to the dealer monday morning, and I'm going to type everything up and leave it with them so they can keep referring to the facts, and hopefully figure out what happened.

I will post the results, even if it's "we can't find anything wrong" , I've tried to replicate the problem in a parking lot with no success at all, doing just about every combinations of things that could possibly cause it to do that.

Thank you for your knowledge and suggestions about the similarities to having the key out of the ignition and that feeling of it being locked, that will help me explain the feeling it was when it happened, and relate the issue to that possibly.

 

Did you ever work out what problem was as same thing just happened to my wife with my daughter in back of car.. was at low speed as she was turning at a junction, has obviously freaked her out..

 

Our jeep did the same thing. 2011 patriot. This has happened twice. About to take to dealer too

 

my daughters has done the same thing happened tonight for the second time, locks up while turning engine still running but will not go anywhere. I was thinking security system but her bare bones model does not have one. anyone find out what caused theirs to lock up? hers is a 2011 patriot two wheel drive little to no options.

 

This is frightening! Good think it was at 5mph and not 50mph. I think I sense a recall coming . . .

My guess, and this is only a guess, is something mechanical in the steering column related to the ignition switch. I'm thinking of the Saturn problems.

Thanks for posting and making others aware of this problem. Obviously its happened to several of you. Hopefully the TSA will look into this.

 

Have you had the opportunity to have it diagnosed by a certified dealer? - Kevin T, Social Connect Team

 

^yeah, drop that off at the dealer! before you wreck or worse, get injured.

 

Since we're resurrecting old threads, I'll chime in...it's impossible. The Patriot has rack/pinion steering that doesn't lock. Even when I turn the thing off I can still turn the wheel. It's harder, but it doesn't lock completely, unless there's some option since mine was made.

 

It looks impossible, seems impossible, must be impossible . . . until it happens to you. I had a 1986 Buick Electra with a problem similar to the Toyota problem that got all the publicity a few years ago: the cruise control wouldn't disengage and I found myself traveling at unreasonable speeds and unable to stop.

I was heading down a hill at 65mph (or maybe a tad higher) on I-93N heading into Concord, NH if you know the area. The speed limit drops to 55 so I tapped the brake and figured the car would gradually slow down to the lower speed limit. Of course nothing happened while descending the hill, but on the level ground I felt the pull that told me it was still trying to maintain 65. I tapped the brake again but it only slowed for an instant and the engine continued to keep me at 65. I snapped off the cruise control altogether and still continued to maintain speed at 65 -- the interstate narrowed to two lanes and I was in a fairly tight curve and the first interchange entering the city which is why the speed limit had appropriately dropped. I pegged the brakes really hard and I could hear the engine straining to keep me at 65. I realized this car had no intention of stopping. I could only get it down to about 55 and only while braking hard -- release the pedal and I was right back up there. Yikes! Meanwhile I'm dodging other cars that are doing something closer to the posted limit and drivers who are self-righteously blocking my path in the left lane thinking I'll block the lane and make this idiot slow down. [Not a smart idea -- I could have killed the person with those thoughts. They had no idea why I was traveling at the speed I was]. They probably didn't notice that my brakes were smoking. I hit neutral and the RPMs skyrocketed (a clue?), so I turned off the ignition, but now I was piloting a Buick Electra at a dozen miles over the limit in heavy traffic without power steering or power brakes; in fact the devices that usually helped were battling me. I managed to get it over to the shoulder and stopped. Whew!

I restarted the engine and the RPMs immediately shot skyward, so I shut it off again. I took off the air cleaner and jiggled the throttle mechanism (turned out to be the cure) but couldn't find anything wrong. When I restarted it all seemed normal, but you can bet I didn't use the cruise control again!

I took it to my dealer who could find nothing but some grease on some wires near the throttle and he concluded that those wires had held the throttle in position after the cruise control tried to disengage. At least someone at a GM dealership knew a motorist had a problem. If there ever was a recall it was after I'd parted with the car.

Now if I'd been in an accident no one would have believed me (if I was even around to tell my story).
I can imagine a cynical trooper saying, Just some idiot who thought speed limits are for dummies.
If this happened to a senior who couldn't regain control they'd just say, Too old to be driving.
Or a young kid, Thought he had faster reflexes, huh?
God forbid I'd had a beer with my pizza!

We've gotta pay attention to these things. I wonder if the OP DrMcgillicuty had been driving at night at 70mph and tried to avoid a moose. Would anyone think to examine the steering mechanism while they extracted the dead moose (and man) from the vehicle? The impact might have compromised the steering anyway. Way too easy to make assumptions that turn out to be false. Or maybe its already happened somewhere? Perish the thought!

 

Yeah, I've been through there a couple times, but it was in a 70-foot box....

 

unfortunately she has not taken it in. she has no money to pay for the diagnostics. I am/was a certified mechanic for many years. I cannot seem to identify the problem. it is odd it runs just fine but at idle speed pressing the excellerator makes no gain in RPM and the steering wheel will not turn. I cannot duplicate the problem. I have tried multiple times but no luck. if anyone has any insight at all please do share I am happy to do whatever it takes to try and duplicate the problem so as to at least know what the core cause is and possible solution before someone gets badly hurt or worse.

 

If it happens again maybe she could leave it in that condition and call the dealership right then & there to catch it in the act?

 

Solution, anyone?

Did anybody find the solution to this problem? The exact thing happened to me with my Jeep Patriot 2011. The mechanic can't find anything wrong. I'm losing my mind with this. I've only had this car for a year.