2008 Jeep Patriot: steering wheel locks up

5 of the 186 complaints about the 2008 Jeep Patriot describe steering wheel locks up.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 3%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 1 service bulletin covers this area of the car. See below

Steering wheel locks up by model year

2016
6
2015
3
2014
1
2012
1
2011
6
2010
2
2009
2
2008
5
2007
10

What owners say

Filed Jul 19, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

Car stalls after fill up. NUMEROUS online Jeep forums have noted this issue for years. There seems to be an issue with the “vapor canister”. Recall was apparently issued for 2011 model - but not older models. It is intermittent yet consistent problem over past few months. Please note that an Engine stall leaves steering wheel LOCKED and unable to maneuver car for a period until can restart. Can leave driver on a VERY DANGEROUS situation traveling at speed !

Filed Oct 8, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 112,000 miles · MI

When the gas tank is full the service lights come on engine stalls out about half a mile down the road. The steering wheel locks up when the engine goes out so you cant even coast over to the side of the road.

Filed Jul 21, 2020 · Fuel system · 188,000 miles · OR

Filled up gas tank and car stalled at stop light shortly after. Pulled into driveway after a 5-minute drive and steering wheel locked and car had stalled.

Filed Oct 28, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 160,570 miles · IN

After filling up my gas tank this morning, my car sputtered and stalled in the middle of an intersection immediately after I left gas station. I was yielding to turn left to enter the northbound lanes of I-69. I have had this issue for quite awhile now and my mechanic hasn't been able to find an issue since it only happens when I fill up the gas tank. I decided this morning to look for other jeep owners with the same problem and found a forum that dates back to over 3 years ago with people having the same problem. Apparently, their findings have LED to the gas tank needing to be replaced in part to a faulty part that sits on/in the gas tank. In the past, I've had to time traffic lights in order to make it through without stalling but obviously that didn't work today. Typically, this is only an issue when I'm driving at slower speeds or in stop/go traffic. Also, the steering wheel locks up and is very hard to turn to get out of the way of traffic. Often times, the jeep doesn't start right away. You have to rev the engine and then put in drive quickly and take off or it stalls again. In the forum, several people have tried to replace parts for quick fixes without any success. This should obviously be something the car makers should fix without passing the cost along to the owner.

Filed Jun 12, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 85,000 miles · MA

Anytime I fill my gas tank completely, the engine stalls while I am driving, within less than a mile from the gas station. Steering wheel locks and I have to turn off the car, wait 10-20 seconds, then restart the car in order to continue driving.