2012 Jeep Patriot: sudden loss of power

Filed Jul 14, 2026 · Suspension, Transmission · IN

Certified dealership service department omitted structural safety complaints from official service invoices, left vital diagnostic findings and performance metrics off paperwork tracking paths, cleared a compromised front suspension layout as safe, and actively instructed a vehicle operator to execute a driving pattern that induces sudden power loss on public roadway infrastructure. TIMELINE SUMMARY OF DEALERSHIP SERVICE (see uploaded PDF for details): March 26, 2026: Diagnostic service and fees for front right tire and new spark plugs. Left bay with immediate new serious issue. March 30, 2026: Follow up on new issue. No alerts. Given clearance. Zero charge invoice. May 19, 2026: Follow up AGAIN on same issue. Scheduled eventually after multiple tries to reach Supervisor. RPM alert reading. Technician gave negligent advice causing further damage to my vehicle and putting me in danger. The technician noted an unprecedented 3,000 to 4,000 RPM calculation anomaly on his computer screen yet dismissed the hazard by blaming my driving habits as "too gentle." He instructed me to find a ramp or an open stretch of road to "rev up" the acceleration and seek out cleaner fuel brands. Incomplete records. Zero charge invoice. I followed the advice and caused further damage and put myself and others at risk on the roads. June 22, 2026: Second opinion. Failing transmission and front arm controls damage. Reputable business reported: "Found front control arm bushings damaged and inop. Transmission fluid sample is dark and has a clutch odor. Test drove monitoring misfire and transmission: misfire 0. Trans slip during test drive even shows abnormal transmission slip. Recommend replacement of transmission and torque converter assembly." June 26, 2026: called management for full accountability. I request full repairs immediately. This situation created serious interruptions to my schedule and a threat to my personal safety. July 14, 2026: Certified letters to dealership.

Filed Oct 4, 2019 · Transmission · 80,500 miles · SC

Repeated problems with the CVT transmission overheating during normal driving, loss of power and suddenly unable to accelerate after stopping at intersection. This is an ongoing problem with the jeep CVT's, and is a safety concern regarding the sudden nature of the problem occuring while driving normally.

Filed Sep 16, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 64,500 miles · CA

Car wouldn't start one month ago. It wouldn't even turn after 3 attempts. After 10 minutes it started right up and had been normal. Today, 9/15/19, my car started up fine but 2 minutes into driving at 20mph my car lost all power. I was driving through my work parking lot driving in a forward motion. Several lights lit up in my dashboard prior to losing power. I was fortunate enough to not be on the freeway. I put my car in brake and restarted it. It started right up, but now has check engine light displayed. My battery is a few months old. I've tested it and it's charged. I'm afraid to drive my car and consider it not in a drivable state. If my car were to die on the freeway that would be a very dangerous situation. Car defect that caused this is unknown. .

Filed Aug 20, 2019 · Fuel system · 5 miles · TX

'tamara recall' while driving engine will just die losing power steering, once stopped it may or may not restart causing traffic jam

Filed Mar 17, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 50,000 miles · PA

Around 50000 miles the engine started to stop accelerating during operation. During driving on a highway or city street (at all speeds) the engine would begin to malfunction without warning and the maximum speed that could be met was about 10mph with gas fully engaged. Pullingnover and restarting the vehicle would override this for a short time. It started to occur more frequently to the point I would have to restart my car a approximately 15 times to make a 9 mile trip to work. Happened several times driving on a highway at speeds of up to 65mph and almost caused accidents several times before I could pull off on to the shoulder. Eventually after months of this occurring at random intervals the car shut off while driving resulting in total loss of engine power and steering ability of the vehicle thankfully on a quiet back street where I was able to leave it after pushing it in neutral and have it towed. After several months of being in the shop and thousands of dollars later its running with a new engine. Multiple friends and family members with the same vehicle model make and year have this issue all around 50k miles.

Filed Mar 4, 2019 · 90,000 miles · PA

I was driving on a highway when I lost power to the vehicle. Fortunately, traffic was not heavy and I was able to drift off to the side of the road. I had two passengers and we were able to push it off to the side so we were as far off the road as possible. Time was approximately 8pm on march 2, 2019. This is at least the 3rd incident we have had with this vehicle with this same problem. I believe there was a 4th but I will have to verify that with my wife who is out of town and I have not talked to her yet this morning. It is her car and I was using it. I believe the first incident occurred in the summer of 2015 when my son was driving it. While my son was waiting to be towed he tried starting the car after 20 minutes and it did start. He let the tow truck and dealership know that and proceeded on his way without incident. The dealership has looked at the incident when it happened again and they say their computer is not registering the problem so therefore it must not exist. Our mechanic has looked at it and he believes it is a throttle body sensor and for some reason the vehicle shuts down when it thinks it's too hot and upon sitting it cools down and thus starts. However, we sat for about an hour before the tow truck arrived on march 2, 2019 and I was unable to start the vehicle. I had it towed to the dealership and that is where it is now. I am not a mechanic so my explanation of what is causing the problem may not be totally accurate. What I do know is that had this happened when traffic was heavy I may not be alive today to be reporting this recurring problem.

Filed Jan 12, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · 95,000 miles · WV

The vehicle shuts off while driving. The battery is fine however I lose all power. It is as if there is no fuel even though I have a ful tank. The traction light comes on along with the check engine light. I roll to a stop and let the jeep sit then turn the key and it starts right up. There is no warning or indication when it will ovcur. The check engine light will disappear after driving for a time and so I am told there is no code to be pulled. Im stuck driving a machine that may or may not try to end me. Tons of people have had a similar issue however my VIN does not seem to be included in the recall.

Filed Dec 31, 2018 · Engine · 77,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep patriot. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power and stalled while driving. An unknown warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was pushed to the contact's home. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would call the contact back. The failure mileage was 77,000. The VIN was unknown.

Filed Sep 10, 2018 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · NY

The transmission temperature gauge has come on when traveling at normal highway speeds, causing an immediate loss of power and requiring me to pull over and let the engine cool down. 2 jeep dealerships have assessed the vehicle in the days after the incidents, neither of which could offer any remedy. Both dealerships' service managers mentioned that these vehicles' transmissions are often problematic and do not handle high temperatures well, but with no active recall, neither could offer any recourse or even a remedy. This is clearly a case of a poorly engineered product (the jatco CVT) that the manufacturer is avoiding dealing with, at the expense and safety of its consumers. In fact, jeep no longer uses this transmission - they replaced it in 2014 - clearly they knew there was a problem. This issue is a blatant safety hazard and needs to be investigated more thoroughly and the manufacturer held to account for the unsafe conditions they know their consumers are in. Unacceptable!!!

Filed Jan 10, 2018 · 134,000 miles · ME

Jeep stalls randomly, has happened while stopped, and while driving. This has happened on 4 different occasions. On another occasion vehicle lost power driving, as if it were going to stall, but after about a minute regained power

Filed Oct 16, 2015 · Electrical, Transmission · 70,846 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep patriot. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power and decelerated. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as an abnormal noise came from the front of the vehicle and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after a while. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the totally integrated power module (tipm), and brake light switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,846.

Filed Aug 26, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 22,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep patriot. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle started to lose power and failed to accelerate. The electric throttle control warning light illuminated right before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,000. The VIN was not available.