Ive driven mine in 90-100 deg heat quite often with no problems. I drive 65 mph max, with no extra load and moderate, short grades.

 

We moved down to Las Vegas in May. We haven't made a lot of road trips but every time we have had to drive for more than an hour we get this warning light and the jeep slows down to about 40 MPH. We are in a desert, it does get hot, i've noticed that it will do this above 90 degrees though (we have had plenty of over 100 days also).

It seems to me that the Patriot is not built for heat. I have liked the jeep so far but I'm afraid that might be a problem that will cause us to trade it in. Really, I do need to be able to plan on driving for a sustained period down here. Has anybody else noticed a problem with this?

I know this hasnt been discussed for a while, but this just happened to me FOUR TIMES on one trip. Two on the way up, two on the way back.

This had happened before and you basically loses umph, the pat will drop to 40MPH and nothing higher until you pull over, put it in neutral and sit. I have started waiting at least five minutes after the light goes off before I put it back in gear and head off.

Has anybody else had this happen????

I took it to the dealer twice for this already and they havent found anything, once I left the pat there for almost a week, NOTHING was found.

This is ridiculous, i was going 70-75 The speed limit is 70 on I-5. i just dont get it

I put about 1300 miles on the pat this past week with the trip. This morning when I got in to go to work I had almost no power, and everytime I've driven it since we got back i havent really had that much power.

I am going to take it back, this is crazy!!!! PM ME if this has happened to you, or you know anything to help us!!!!

 

Hi, I have 2007 Trail Rated Jeep Patriot Freedom II with the same problem. Have 88,000 miles on it and have had it since new. Everytime drive from Santa Monica to San Diego it overheats and slows down on the big grade. I have been to Jeep and they replaced the fluid but act like they can't find anything. I see it as an unacceptable safety issue and am going to call Chrysler to see what I can get them to do. Dealer mentioned maybe a transmission cooler would take care of it, but wants me to pay for it even though it is still under extended warranty and has lifetime warranty on top of that.

 

UA WHO drives in AZ, I wonder if he's seen this too??

 

Just seeing this thread for the first time.

I've got 79000 miles on mine... almost all in desert heat. Without ever seeing the transmission warning light even once. This includes some very hot conditions (high speed, towing, 110°F+ temps).

I don't know what to say. Low transmission fluid level? Trapped air in the fluid? Something stuck under the vehicle blocking air flow around the transmission?

 

see this is an old post,
but will add anyway
this is as hot as i've seen it

and never had a problem with tranny temp light,
have also taken long road trips down south,
90 to +100 all day and driving all day/night without a problem
if hes getting overheating in 90 temps, say there a problem somewhere

 

Hehe. 108°F ? Amateur.
We call that a cooling trend.

 

Could be you need to change the transaxle oil? Maybe it will help.

 

This is what happens when the fluid gets old, and starts to foam easily and looses its ability to transfer heat to the cooler.
Keep the fluid at the bottom of the level as well.

 

the transaxle oil may be low or you could have a bad temp sensor

 

Its the long, gradual inclines that get to vehicles.
Or the long, gradual decline...

Just like brakes, don't like to be on for lengthy periods of time, so too with transmissions pulling uphill.
A short, steep incline probably no issue but a long grind over miles...you probably aren't going fast enough to pull enough cooling air over the transmission.

We have the Coquihalla Pass, a newer road into the Interior of BC. Hours of slight uphill, just enough to make a vehicle really work.
It ends at Kamloops, a town with more transmission and radiator shops than anywhere I've ever seen.

Those that drive it regularly are prepped, but tourists, folks pulling a U Haul or those in rental campers and RV's are sheep for the shearing in Kamloops.

 

I overheated my tranny on the coquihalla actually lol

 

the Pat was in the DLR a few days before for regular oil change, I also had them do the 23 point inspection (all fluid levels were fine).

this has even happened driving from orange county to LA (45-60 mins) driving 60-70. makes absolutely no sense, im going to take the Pat to the dealer tomorrow and drop it off and get a rental car until they fix it. Last time they had it for a week and found nothing.

 

I bought a used 2009 Patriot less than 2 months ago that has 96k miles on it. Every time I drove it at highway speeds for more than 30 minutes the transmission overheat light came on. I also purchased the EasyCare extended warranty so I made an appointment and dropped it off at the dealer. Its not a Jeep dealer, but they had a EasyCare mechanic scheduled that is a 3x certified master mechanic for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. I took a test drive with him and explained everything in detail.

Anyway, here are his notes verbatiam from my invoice. Hopefully it helps someone else with this issue.

96803 ROAMING SCANNED FOR CODES. HAD CODE IN PCM FOR TRANSMISSION
OVERHEATING. FOUND TSB RELATING TO CVT OVERHEATING. SAID TO CHANGE
FLUID IF VECHILE HAD OVER 50K MILES & FLUID WAS ORIGINAL. CHANGED FLUID
& FILTER. ALSO FLASHED PCM FOR TRANSMISSION DRIVABILITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Picked up the Patriot and drove it home today. I have noticed a few things better already.

1. Overall the transmission is quieter. I attribute that to the fluid and filter change.
2. I no longer notice the artificial 'shift points'. The RPMs are much smoother and consistant. Based on things I have read, I believe the PCM flash is responsible for this improvement.
3. (Pending) Need to take a long drive to see if the overheating issue is resolved.

-Doug

 

I bought a used 2009 Patriot less than 2 months ago that has 96k miles on it. Every time I drove it at highway speeds for more than 30 minutes the transmission overheat light came on. I also purchased the EasyCare extended warranty so I made an appointment and dropped it off at the dealer. Its not a Jeep dealer, but they had a EasyCare mechanic scheduled that is a 3x certified master mechanic for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. I took a test drive with him and explained everything in detail.

Anyway, here are his notes verbatiam from my invoice. Hopefully it helps someone else with this issue.

Picked up the Patriot and drove it home today. I have noticed a few things better already.

1. Overall the transmission is quieter. I attribute that to the fluid and filter change.
2. I no longer notice the artificial 'shift points'. The RPMs are much smoother and consistant. Based on things I have read, I believe the PCM flash is responsible for this improvement.
3. (Pending) Need to take a long drive to see if the overheating issue is resolved.

-Doug

Welcome Doug.

I just have to say that is a heck of a first post!
Informative and contributes and...we need more now, intro, the story of your ride, pictures of your dog, you know...

 

We moved down to Las Vegas in May. We haven't made a lot of road trips but every time we have had to drive for more than an hour we get this warning light and the jeep slows down to about 40 MPH. We are in a desert, it does get hot, i've noticed that it will do this above 90 degrees though (we have had plenty of over 100 days also).

It seems to me that the Patriot is not built for heat. I have liked the jeep so far but I'm afraid that might be a problem that will cause us to trade it in. Really, I do need to be able to plan on driving for a sustained period down here. Has anybody else noticed a problem with this?

Hello! I am new in this forum... I just wanted to know if you could find the problem, because I have the EXACT same situation with my Jeep Compass 07.. Please, help!

 

transmission heat light coming on



I too have the same problem--I live in Az and first noticed it when the outside temps got to about 90--now I have to pull over all the time and let it cool off-- is there a FIX?

 

I have driven mine over 14,000 miles in the Las Vegas area no problem. Trips to St George, Utah and back, and a trip to the beach in California with no overheating issue. Even in 112* heat with a/c at 75mph+ loaded with people and a full tank of gas. I have never seen my coolant temp gauge go above half way.

Glad to know the fluid change refreshed your ride's power and capability.

 

Just had this happen to me. Driving from San Diego to Phoenix this week. I was at about 83 mph for 2 hours in 106F temperature. It came on right before my exit. I drove at 55 for about 15 minutes and it went away.

 

Make sure your AC is on recirculate. Had this problem once and I believe it was due to the wife driving with the normal ac rather than recirculate.

 

I also live in Vegas and on Memorial day weekend I went to Great Basin National Park (Baker, NV) and my temp light came on after 120 miles and it was 80 degrees outside. Turns out that the Transmission Cooler was faulty and they replaced it for me under warranty (I have the max care lifetime coverage) and topped off the tranny fluid. They also noticed that the alternator was making noises and replaced it too...$100 Deductible and I was on the way

If you still have the problem Prestige Jeep in the NW treated me very well. The only problem is that they are a little backed up.

 

I found my Jeep at Prestige, they aren't bad. I wouldn't go to the dealer unless I had to though. Their service department seems small/crowded/backed up most of the time.

 

Yes their service department is indeed small/backed up, but I don't feel like driving all the way down to Chapman for service. This time I need to have it looked at as the Jeep was stuttering bad (thought it was tranny slipping). Turns out it was a bad spark plug that I changed on my own, but they were able to fix the other issues listed above :smiley_thumbs_up:

 

It's been in the low 100's this past week and my tranny temp warning light came on today for the first time since owning my jeep. (coolant temp was just fine) At the dealership now awaiting diagnosis. I have 45k miles on the odo & hope its covered

 

My Pat want go over 45, whines, and the temp light comes on when this happen. Can't get the dealer to understand, they only tell me nothing is happening with them.

 

I have an 2008. Transmission replaced at 85K miles. This was almost two years ago. Ever since then if it is 80 degrees and I drive over 55 that light comes on and shuts me down to a roadside stop. Not safe at all. I took it back to the dealership and they said they would have to keep it several days. And then I do not know how many thousands of dollars it would be. So I just make sure I leave for work in time to stop somewhere along the way. I was on here reading and hoping I could put a cooler or something on it. I read it has one??? I hate this. I will never own another one.

 

We moved down to Las Vegas in May. We haven't made a lot of road trips but every time we have had to drive for more than an hour we get this warning light and the jeep slows down to about 40 MPH. We are in a desert, it does get hot, i've noticed that it will do this above 90 degrees though (we have had plenty of over 100 days also).

It seems to me that the Patriot is not built for heat. I have liked the jeep so far but I'm afraid that might be a problem that will cause us to trade it in. Really, I do need to be able to plan on driving for a sustained period down here. Has anybody else noticed a problem with this?

Tel your dealer to clean the thermostat which is right next to the driver side headlight, this I a mechanical thermostat which opens and closes to control transmission fluid cooling flow in the hoses between the oil to air cooler and your trans. Instead of using stainless steel for some reason they used aluminum and the sliding piston when it gets gritty it sticks in the soft aluminum bore and blocks all flow to your cooler. you can do this yourself in 30min f your familiar with basic maint. and if your cvt fluid is no longer a pretty green color change it out with a new filter and you will stop your veh from going to limp mode.

 

Diagram or pic



You got a diagram or pic of the thermostat??

 

Reviving this post 'cause this is new problem for me...I've got 135k on mine (trail rated package with different CVT and transmission cooler).

My light has now came on twice in the past 2 months on freeway trips across flat desert land between AZ and SoCal...air temperature was around 80 degrees...cruise control was set around 84mph.

After trial and error I've found that it doesn't like sustained speeds over 80mph. Dropping my speed down to 78mph seems to have stopped the overheating issues. At this lower speed it won't even overheat when it gets into the mountain areas where the rpms kick up to maintain speed.

The interesting thing is I have a daily freeway commute of 30 miles (one way) in Phoenix where I maintain speeds around 73mph in all levels of heat with no problems (I've been doing that since I bought it new).

Also, I just had the transmission fluid and filter changed at 120,000 miles (through the dealer).

 

Junk

Bought new off lot with all options. Have had the same temp light, loss of mph , high rpm on hot (80+) days, starnded on side of road until cool down. Loss of power to about 40 mph. Checked with 5 jeep service departments and other mechanics, no known issues to cause this. Heard that this vehicle has these problems and sometimes replacement engine/trans. is needed to resolve. Will trade in as the same faulty parts/system will replace old. Have stutter when "shift gears" and ignition sticking at times when turned over. Junker.

 

2011 Jeep Patriot 4x4 trans overheating

I bought my jeep with 33k miles. We noticed the overheating problem when we had the jeep loaded down. The jeep has lived in KY and NC with us so no crazy high temps. It is at the dealership now and they can't find anything wrong with it. When it's just me and my child or with the addition of my husband, it's fine. Only happens with weight like several hundred extra pounds in the vehicle. It usually happens shortly after traveling with the weight but the last time, it went an hour and a half before it occurred. I'd love an answer or my jeep back. It's at 52k miles now.

 

Our 2008 Jeep Patriot recently lost power on the freeway, very dangerous, and we were able to limp off and park. After a few hours it started up and we slowly drove home. We didn't realize what was happening, and shortly after that it started shuddering in first gear. Dealer told us the transmission was shot with other gears damaged and quoted over $3,000 to replace. Is this a reasonable cost for transmission replacement, or should we try somewhere else. I've found there was a recall on some 2008s for transmission problems, would this be covered at all? We are in a serious pickle over this, thanks for any help.

 

I've had this happen on my 2011 compass 4 times now....all on long trips, hot days and AC on. Jeep keeps telling me they see nothing. I'll try changing transmission fluid but I think this is ridiculous that this forum is out here they (Jeep) have no clue that this is even happening. I have 3,000 miles left on my transmission warranty. Why do I have a feeling they will find a major problem at 3,001 miles

 

I have had this problem as well hope some one is still on this forum. Temp light comes on some times it stays on sometimes not when it does the jeep will not go faster than 15 or so. This one is a sealed transmission no dip stick ( 2009 Jeep Patriot) what should i do less spend $$$$ on transmission work

Hey jsgrossk & jleetwq1,

Sorry to hear about your vehicle experience. I’ve looked into your concern a little further, but was unable to find any relevant service bulletins. Have you had your Jeep dealership check the vehicle for any stored Diagnostic Trouble Codes? If you would like me to dig deeper into this concern please private message me your VIN and dealership.

Thank you!