2008 Jeep Patriot 4x4: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Feb 11, 2019 · Fuel system · 280,000 miles · VA

Our 2008 jeep patriot 4 x 4 has at times cut off completely while driving. When we were getting ready to take it to a local mechanic, we had an even scarier thing happen. Both rear wheels are rubbing wheel wells which means something has rusted through in the sub frame or control arms. We are 25 miles from our mechanic so now vehicle needs to be towed into town to even be checked out. We need to find out if the extended warranty for rust and corrosion will cover our vehicle. There are currently 280,000 miles on the vehicle which has been heavily driven in a "salt belt" state of maryland for work duties.

Filed Apr 19, 2016 · Body, Suspension · 153,300 miles · NY

My front crossmember / sub frame is rotted out . Contacted jeep they are aware of problem because they warranted 2007 models but not 2008 . Front engine cradle has huge holes in it . Design flaw cause the AC drips right on frame causing rust . Dealership said no setrvice bulletin issued but they lied . Finally got a good quote to have fixed gonna cost 775 to fix . I have also changed my front suspension components 3 times . Ball joints , tie rods etc and the other parts . Only saving grace is its paid for and lifetime power train warranty .

Filed Jun 23, 2015 · Electrical, Fuel system · 106,000 miles · MA

I had just filled the tank as usual and drove about 500 yards to a red light. In the past after a fill up, the jeep would stall and "buck" around 30 MPH, as if it couldn't get into gear, even though this is a CVT. I thought this might happen again, but it didn't this time, which was curious. At the light, upon attempting to accelerate there was no response from the throttle, and the car remained in drive, but refused to move. I could not shift out of gear into neutral. A red light in the upper left corner of the dash came on and began to beep, and the entire dashboard lit up, with every light coming on and making noise. Eventually, I lost all power and waited more than an hour for a tow truck in the middle of a three lane avenue. The mechanic told me a relay was entirely blown and blackened, and this had killed the battery. This was replaced at no cost to me, but he said they could not find what had caused the relay to blow. Essentially, what occurred was a symptom, not the cause, and would happen again. The car is currently sitting, deemed unsafe to drive. I also had lower ball joints replaced at 55,000 miles, which is far too early. I love jeep, but I hate the 2007-2010 patriots. Bad buy.

Filed Feb 4, 2015 · Suspension · 54,000 miles · WI

At just over 50,000 miles the lower control arms went out on my 08 jeep patriot, now in 2015 this problems has surfaced again this time it is the control arm and the outer tie rods. Looking this up on the internet this appears to be a consistent problem with the jeep patriots. Where my wife works they had a couple of these jeeps that they used as courtesy vehicles and after only a couple or years and minimal driving around a hospital campus they had the same problems with theirs. While there was not an accident my mechanic just called and said this was really bad and could have lead to an accident if we had not brought it in when we did. These vehicles should not be failing like this and this is an obvious design problem and many customers are being forced to pay for their own repairs. What does it take before these are recalled? Does it take someone getting seriously injured or killed?

Filed Jan 1, 2015 · Suspension, Transmission · 55,000 miles · SD

2008 jeep patriot began making clunking/cracking noises from the front end at approximately 50,000 miles. Took into local jeep dealer and they stated the ball joints were in very poor condition and needed to be replaced via front end lower control arms. After seeing what they were going to charge, took to an alignment shop. While driving to this shop, brakes began grinding. Ball joint failure caused brakes and caliper to be misaligned on the rotor causing the rotors to be damaged. Mechanic pressed in moog ball joints they said would be superior to oem parts and that they replace ball joints on patriot, compass and caliber often. After getting ball joints replaced, the jeep began handling poorly in snow packed road conditions, where the front of the jeep feels uncontrollable and would sway from side to side, all while having total control of the steering wheel. Took back to jeep, they said it was a ball joint issue once again and that the inner tie rods were loose, but didn't think that a slightly loose tie rod would cause the jeep to go from side to side. Purchased new tires, thinking it was aging tires. No luck and vehicle over time has become unsafe to drive on road, even on regular driving conditions. Took to gmc dealer where a well known jeep mechanic works. Confirmed tie rods are loose and strut is leaking. I understand wear and tear on vehicles, but after researching jeep patriot reviews/problems, I came across an even more alarming trends in the front suspension and other http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97871 http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34529 http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41396 http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15863 http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/patriot/2008/SUV/consumer-reviews/ http://www.cars.com/jeep/patriot/2008/consumer-reviews/

Filed May 29, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 39,039 miles · NC

Severe vibration in the steering. Right and left lower control arms bad and had to be replaced.

Filed Aug 2, 2013 · Engine, Lights · 60,000 miles · PA

We bought the jeep used with about 50k miles on it. After a short time the check engine light came on for a valve to be replaced. Also, when we use the turn signal the dome lights come on. Of course even though we bought the warranty none of these problems are covered. I don't know how the lighting system failing could possible be wear or tear or misuse, but they say its not their fault and it's not covered. So in the 3 day period where we were waiting to have those problems fixed we had another problem. My wife and I were driving down the highway at about 50mph and the tire completely and instantly went flat almost causing us to wreck! With my 4 year old son in the back! We take the tire to a tire shop and they say it was the valve and it's a known problem with our vehicle for that year and explains everything about it. I call 2 other tire shops to verify what he said and they both automatically knew about the problem and said it happens all the time and I also need to have the others replaced costing over $350!!! We tell the jeep dealership about it and they say we hit a rock driving down the road and they know of no such problems. I google the problem of TPMS and sure enough tons of websites talking about everyone's ball joints going bad, and TPMS problems. Not only are they acting like it's not a known problem when it clearly is...they put me and my families' lives at risk by acting like nothing is wrong and not letting us know that the problem will likely continue happening to the other tires!!!! This is an outrage and something needs to be done!

Filed Jul 15, 2013 · Suspension · 116,000 miles · VT

Front ball joints have been replaced many times, but wear out repeatedly.

Filed Jul 12, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 47,172 miles · MI

Had to have front lower control arms and outer tie rods replaced at 47k miles because they had become excessively worn. As a result, the front wheels had developed a wobble and were noisy when driving. This problem was diagnosed during a routine oil change/tire rotation.

Filed May 21, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 70,000 miles · NJ

I have read many other people on here with the same issue and my mechanic said my model jeep was known for this, but after hitting a curb my wheel and suspension parts holding it on let the front right tire, rim and all fall completely off. After getting it to the mechanic and having him putting it on the lift he told me I couldn't drive the car even after the front right was fixed b/c the car was a danger to myself and others. I was told the front ball joints which hold the suspension together and keep the wheels on the tires were completely worn out and the tires could fall off at any moment. He told me he had this issue many times with my model car and didn't understand it. I bought the car used a year and half ago with 45,000 miles or so. Once the mechanic did change the ball joints, he told me something even worse... He could tell since they were not factory ball joints, that they had already been replaced by the previous owner. Therefore, the factory set needed to be replaced sometime before I bought the car, and a year or so after the replacement ball joints (the parts that hold you tires on so they don't fall off driving 60 MPH down the highway and kill you and others) were put on, a new replacement set had to be added. This is a serious and scary issue that needs to be addressed!

Filed May 4, 2013 · Suspension · IN

I had been hearing grinding noises from the front of my jeep; still under 3/yr warranty- I brought it in to the dealership. At first they did not hear or see any concerns and stated the noise was my tires. Of course it was suggested to get my tires replaced especially my front right due to the uneven wear. So I did, sound continued to become more consistent- I took it back to the dealer and they found my control arms, and ball joints to be bad. Same problem is occurring again- took it back to dealer- they did not see/hear any problems and now I have a clunking noise louder than the grinding noise. I'm concerned this is a safety problem and I do not have the money to take to dealership again- not to mention I feel I've already paid for this problem once to be fixed.

Filed Apr 16, 2013 · Suspension · 57,048 miles · MD

I took my car to the shop to replace the tires. Mechanics from 2 different shops told me that the lower ball joints on this vehicle were completely worn on both sides, that the car was unsafe to drive and that the ball joints should not have been shot for the age and mileage of the car. I had them replaced immediately. I then checked online to see if other owners of this vehicle had the same problem and was astonished to see that many many people had complained of ball joints going prematurely bad on this vehicle. Had I not been replacing my tires, I might never have discovered the problem and it clearly was not something that would have been expected. My daughter is the primary driver and does a lot of highway driving. Had the ball joints failed, she might easily have been killed. This is an accident waiting to happen. I contacted jeep and they said there had been a recall for ball joint failure for the 2005-2006 model years. I strongly feel a recall should be issued for the 2008 model year as well before someone dies.