2009 Jeep Patriot

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

66/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 275 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Jeep Patriot, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Structure	41	15%
Suspension	34	12%
Power train	24	9%
Fuel/propulsion system	24	9%
Engine	16	6%
Unknown or other	13	5%
Tires	8	3%
Electrical system	6	2%
Engine	5	2%
Air bags	5	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

Engine stalls only after filling up gas, resulting in check engine light or oil light turning on. I have taken it to numerous mechanics, who have all given me different answers, with anywhere from issues with EVAP hoses
NHTSA complaint: Engine

I am submitting this complaint regarding the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) failure in our Jeep vehicle. We have experienced intermittent transmission issues throughout our entire period of ownership. The CVT h
NHTSA complaint: Power train

My whole front end of my jeep when I stop feels like it's coming out from underneath me
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

After refueling the vehicle at a gas station, I drive about a 1/4 of a mile and the engine will stall and die. It will immediately restart and when I step on the gas pedal the engine has no power and will stall again. I
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

Faulty gas tank. Doesn’t fill and gas shoots out during the fill process.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the rear end of the vehicle was swaying from side to side. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to a tire repair s
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Subframe front and rear are completely rusted out and unsafe to drive
NHTSA complaint: Structure

I report reveral times issuess with my gear box, but each time they said the car is fine. The problems start after the car was serviced years ago to Jeep Desources rep (3400 Sources Blvd, Dollard-des-Ormeaux QC H9B 1Z9,
NHTSA complaint: Power train

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Jeep Patriot. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) 08V528000

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO BREAK.

Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	65	good
Longevity est.	70	good
Maintenance	77	good
Depreciation	68	good
Performance	59	average
Efficiency	46	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 24% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 26% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 64% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 70% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 65: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 70: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2009 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 77: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2009 Jeep Patriot?

Owners have filed 275 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 41 of them (15%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2009 Jeep Patriot reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 65/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2009 Jeep Patriot last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2009 Jeep Patriot?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.