2011 Jeep Patriot: engine overheating

Filed Feb 13, 2019 · Transmission · 116,900 miles · ME

We have had three incidents so far of our 2011 jeep patriot losing significant power and struggling to accelerate. The first involved overheating on a mountain road after a long road trip. Allowing the car to rest allowed us to make it to our destination with no further symptoms during the remainder of our trip. Twice in the last week rpms drop unless burying the accelerator into the floor, at which point there is a loud whining sound with little to show in terms of speed. We have been unable to get the speed over 55 MPH on a highway with a speed limit of 70. We also lose the ability to adjust the gear manually. After exiting the highway the car continues to be slow to gain speed at lights, and worse making it uphill to our home, even at 25 MPH. After resting the issue subsides until returning without warning. Searching google for "jeep CVT failure" yields dozens of results for jeep patriot and compass, as well as other vehicles using the same jatco CVT transmission. This failure makes the vehicle extremely dangerous on the highway, and the "solution" to the problem seems to be to continually replace the transmission at a cost $5000 per incident to the owner with the same flawed product. I shudder to think what would happen if my speed cut out on me while overtaking a freight truck, or making a left across traffic on a busy street. Please look into this matter, and let's get jatco to at least swap out the transmission for a reconditioned one when these failures occur.

Filed Feb 4, 2019 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · NC

There have been numerous complaints of early transmission failure, even with with normal servicing. Issues start with a whining noise, overheat warnings, and an inability to accelerate. The most common solution is replacement of the transmission. Late 2014 model year patriots changed to a non-CVT transmission. After replacing original CVT transmission for $2,500 it failed again within 6 months. The jeep is undrive-able. There should be a recall on the CVT transmission. My jeep is undrive-able and still owe $5900 while it sits in the driveway!! Transmission slips while driving and jeep stalls making it extremely dangerous to drive. Internet forums have countless compalints about these CVT transmissions with same symptoms!!

Filed Jan 3, 2019 · Transmission · 91,000 miles · AZ

I bought the patriot new and it was taken in for regular service and never gave any warning before experiencing critical problems while driving. On 2 occasions the patriot lost power while driving, leaving me in a very dangerous situation in busy traffic. The first time I was told the crankshaft sensor failed and had to be replaced. Yesterday I was driving in on a busy city street when the jeep no longer accelerated accompanied by a loud popping sound. Now I need a new transmission on a care with 91,000 miles. There have also been recurrent overheating problems the repair shop cannot explain. I no longer feel safe driving a jeep patriot.

Filed Sep 9, 2017 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · TX

Numerious CVT transmission failure / overheat at highway speeds, very unsafe due to deceleration. Started in aug 2016 and happens monthly anytime more than 45 minutes of driving.

Filed Aug 1, 2017 · Transmission · 77,000 miles · CA

2nd time my transmission stall while on the interstate due to transmission overheating light comes on and vehicle will stall and not accelerate past 40 MPH. I had to move over three lanes to pull over on the side of i15 n with vehicles coming up to 70 MPH. Happy to be alive and that I was not hit. This is the 2nd time this issue happens to me and it seems like jeep is waiting for someone to get kill to fix their CVT transmission issues. Chrysler/ jeep know that is an ongoing issue and do not care to fix it. Took it both times to dealer and "is nothing" is what I am told every time "is a fluke in a code" "just pull over and let it cool every time it happens" and well "we don't have a fix for it". They only recommended to replace fluid but did not warranty this will fix problem. Obviously there is something wrong when so many people keep on complaining about this issue. And, well nissan who uses the jatco CVT is fixing bearing in the transmission and transmission coolers and fixing the issue. Jeep/ chrysler just does not care about it customers and tell us "is nothing" never ever buying a jeep and/ or chrysler in life! Will gladly trade-in soon as I am not willing to put my life at risk getting hit on an interstate at 70 MPH by another car. What would I tell them sorry I am driving 30 - 40 MPH on the highway but my CVT transmission is faulty and it stall on me. No thank you!!!!

Filed May 15, 2017 · Transmission · 72,100 miles · CA

On a road trip the transmission overheating light came on. It was not hot outside and the engine temperate gauge did not indicate overheating. As soon as the transmission light came on the vehicle began to lose power and stall. It was very scary as we were on the highway with vehicles traveling 70 MPH or more. We could of been hit because the vehicle would not accelerate. I feel jeep/ chrysler should look into this since my passenger and I could have been seriously hurt. The vehicle only has 72,000 miles and this is already the second times it does this and also the actuators are in need of replacement. I am at the point of just considering a trade in and dodging all these issues with a vehicle that does not even have 75k on it. I can only imagine what it would do at 100,000 miles.

Filed Mar 21, 2017 · Transmission · AZ

Transmission overheats without warning until it already has happened. Transmission slips and makes noise. Because there are no codes dealers cannot properly diagnose this issue.. While on the freeway car will overheat and completely shut down leaving ypu at risk of possible collisions. Always told it needs a transmission flush. These flushes are already expensive but do not fix the problem on hot days (I live in arizona) its more susceptible to overheating and shutting

Filed Jul 17, 2016 · Transmission · 30,000 miles · SD

Driving down the interstate on a cool fall day my transmission overheat light came on. After sitting for 20 minutes I restarted the engine and the light went off. The same incident has happened several other times. I took it in to have it looked at and the dealership said that is common and the jeep patriot wasn't made to go on long trips. This is not normal for any vehicle and I still haven't gotten it fixed and now my warranty is up.

Filed Dec 7, 2015 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · MO

The transmission frequently overheats on trips over 1 hours or where highway speed limits are higher than 70 MPH. There is a field for the date of when this happened below; however, it has happened several times. I have to pull off of the road and let it set for about 15 to 20 minutes before I can continue the trip.

Filed Sep 25, 2015 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · CT

While driving up a long highway hill on a very hot day, the transmission started making a high pitched whining sound. I pulled over to the shoulder to see if I could see anything leaking etc. After finding nothing obvious I reentered traffic and it was fine until we hit the next hill, and the whining started again. On the downside of the hill the sound went away. Once I got to my destination I looked online and saw complaints of transmission fluid overheating causing the same issue. The ride home was at night and after I dropped off my passengers and there were no problems. Since that time I've noticed occasional "bucking" when driving on flat smooth highway. I made an appointment at my local dealer to check this out. I explained both the bucking and the whining, but they didn't seem too concerned. They updated the software and sent me on my way. I'm very concerned that there is a design or manufacturing problem with this transmission and jeep is not admitting to it. There are many indications online and on this site... I am very concerned about driving this vehicle, especially on warm days.

Filed Aug 17, 2015 · Transmission · 45,440 miles · CA

Good morning, I was traveling on my 2011 jeep patriot for the first time on our way from san diego, california to peoria, arizona when about 100 miles my car had transmission oil hot warning light on my dash.(was not pulling anything) I pulled over cause that is what the owners manual says to do, I did exactly what it instructed to do. The light turned off, and I continued with my trip. This happened twice, but 45 min later my engine turned off when I was on the freeway. I did not get any warning on my dash, I just could not speed up. All electrical was still working as if the car engine was still running. I had to stir the car from the third outside lane to the emergency right emergency lane with no power steering. Once I managed to do that. My car engine would not turn on. I had to call for road side assistance and stay on the 116 degree weather for two hours for a tow tuck. Once all that happened, they dropped the car to a jeep dealer. But the dealer was closed. The next day, the looked at the car, and they said nothing was wrong with the car. They could not figure out what happened. This happened for two days. I got my car back from the dealer with nothing done to it. I looked the problem up in many jeep blogs and it seems this car cant be used on long trips cause the transmission overheats. Im in the military and my wife drives this car. I wish I knew this when I bought the car from the dealer. I'm going to trade this car in for a different make today cause I don't feel safe driving this car. Hope you can look at this issue and help all jeep patriots drivers. Thanks for your help in them matter.

Filed Aug 17, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 56,200 miles · AZ

While going about 75 MPH, coming back from california, the engine seemed to start making a different whining type sound and then the light telling me the transmission was overheating came on. I immediately pulled over and let it sit for 10 minutes while idling , which the owner manual suggested,. The light then went off and we proceeded home with no further incident. It was really strange though when you are in a large group of vehicle's and you suddenly lose all ability to accelerate; definitely a potential safety issue out on the road..