2012 Jeep Patriot: CVT failure

Filed May 29, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · CO

I submitted a form yesterday and forgot to mention that there have been a few other odd things about the jeep which I'm not sure how to explain. 1. There has, since day 1 of my purchase, test drive, etc, always been some weird whistling sound when driving. Very light, like the kind of whistle made with just your tongue at the roof of the mouth. Not a "full" whistle sound. 2. When going uphill, the engine squeals. And honestly has poor acceleration uphill in general. Very poor. But I thought it was how this make and model is. 4 cylinders aren't known for their awesome power and speed, after all. 3. Occasionally, the jeep "tugs"? Seemingly like how manuals switch between gears, but mine is an automatic. It does so unprovoked, not by my using the cvt option, randomly, at any speed. 4. Occasionally there would be a "dropping" kind of sound. Can't remember any particular details about that, but I think it may have happened more in the summer months. Again. All of these things, other than the last, had always been happening. I attributed it to make and model idiosyncrasies. I have noticed other recall issues listed with this jeep that I glanced over, did not read them. Just so you know. But, after my engine went out, it made me reconsider all of these "odd" things that are probably connected. Oh yeah... Also... 5. I had to replace my engine throttle, supposedly brakes plus says it's also "normal" for this model. 6. My engine blew very shortly after an oil pan gasket fix, which I put off for a while. Makes me think there's a pressure problem with the engine in general, when combined with the other "symptoms", on hindsight. Like I said, I was an oil tech for Jiffy Lube, i am not a mechanic. But this experience may have taught me a thing or two about suspicious auto mechanisms.

Filed Dec 3, 2019 · Transmission · 79,000 miles · CT

My 2012 jeep patriot while driving on the highway started to decelerate from 65 MPH to 30 MPH very quickly. I had to cross three lanes of traffic to pull off the highway. The temperature light for the transmission came on but went out after a few minutes of having the car idle. This was the only warning light on. This happened twice more after driving for more than an hour. I brought the car to the dealer along with a picture of the warning light and was told they were unable to say what the problem was because there was no code stored on the computer. I then took it to a local mechanic who also said there was no code to work from but had experience in dealing with what I described and said it was the transmission and that this was a common problem with the CVT transmissions that jeep had used. He said this was pretty common knowledge among mechanics and they are waiting to se if jeep will do a recall or fix the problem. As of now a new transmission is $4500.00 plus cost of a rental car for more than a week since the dealership can't seem to have them delivered in less than 7 business days. Not only is this basically fraud for knowingly selling defective products but a safety hazard to all drivers on our highways with the sudden deceleration of the vehicle taking chances with all of our lives when it could be prevented.

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 Aug 18, 2019 · Transmission · NC

Vehicle loses acceleration. This tends to happen more when on a hill or small incline but does happen repeatedly when just accelerating on flat surfaces as well. This feels like a stutter or loss of acceleration. I have had the throttle body replaced, spark plugs & coils & TCM but the issue is still there. This is a CVT transmission.

Filed Jun 15, 2019 · Transmission · 81,500 miles · CA

The CVT transmission of this vehicle (2012 jeep patriot) is prone to overheating. This occurs when traveling for a few hours at high speeds. I have found this to occur twice when traveling around 70 miles per hour over a period of 2-3 hours. The car's overheat light comes on, followed by a steady decrease in speed and inability to accelerate, presumably to protect the transmission from further damage. It appears that this is a common problem for this vehicle, as cited by numerous customers on forums.

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 Aug 8, 2018 · Acceleration, Transmission · 60,000 miles · MO

Interstate 44 st. Roberts missouri speed limit 70 miles an hour amber transmission warning light indicates overheating karzan reduce the speed to 40 miles an hour on the interstate. Jeep is aware of this due to a defect and the design of the CVT transmission. Will not be repair tell recall ordered by government

Filed Jun 9, 2018 · Transmission · 96,986 miles · DE

The vehicle was in motion, rear driver side tire would not roll correctly and was making a noise under the hood. It was towed to a repair shop and after running diagnostic testing found that the CVT transmission, drive shaft joint and transmission cooler had to be replaced. Per the repair shop "the transmission had catastrophic failure" at 96,986k miles and without any advanced warning I had no choice but to agree to have a rebuilt transmission, drive shaft and cooler be installed because mine could not be repaired. The only thing they could salvage was the transfer case which was thought to have been the issue but the diagnostic testing found that was ok. Three weeks it is finally fixed and appears to be working fine.

Filed Sep 7, 2017 · Engine, Transmission · 97,000 miles · ME

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 jeep patriot. The contact stated that the temperature warning indicator kept randomly illuminating and the engine overheated. The failure caused the contact to have to wait a brief moment and place the vehicle in neutral in order for it to cool down to be able to drive the vehicle. The dealer (bill dodge, 118 pleasant st, brunswick, me 04011, (207) 721-8300) from where the vehicle was purchased provided no owner's manual and replaced the CVT transmission; however, the warning indicator kept flashing. The dealer stated that the part needed to be replaced again. In addition, the dealer refused to provide an owner's manual; therefore, the contact had to research a solution and obtain information on his own. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, opened a case, and then closed the case with no solution other than replacing the same part. The vehicle was unsafe to drive because the temperature warning indicator could illuminate at any time. In addition, the vehicle failed to shift properly and was slow to pick up speed. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

Filed Sep 1, 2017 · Transmission · ND

The CVT transmission for this vehicle was not designed to drive such a heavy car. As a result the transmission began slipping at 35,000 miles. This is a major safety issue in that pulling into or crossing traffic is dangerous when power can't be transferred predictably to the wheels. I'm not sure of the amount of complaints about this issue, however, doing cursory search will find many instances of these transmissions slipping, overheating and failing well within the service life of the oil (100,000 miles). There are probably many other chrysler products that have this small car transmission placed in an SUV and not suitable for weight and vehicle load. Although no accident has happen as a result there have been many close calls, and I'm sure that there are others that have experienced the same. Thanks for your consideration of this issue

Filed Aug 12, 2017 · Acceleration, Transmission · 500 miles · FL

Cvt transmission overheats and acceleration computer needs adjusted because its sporatic. It overheats on highway and accelerates funny in town.

Filed Jul 24, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 38,000 miles · TN

While driving 75mph for 25miles the transmission overheat light came on and the patriot started slowing itself down, on the interstate in heavy traffic, I read in the manual to pull over put in neutral till it cools off or just drive slow, I have had this happen 10 times since reaching 38,000 I contacted chrysler and they advised I have a diagnostic done at dealer, I did and the dealer said it showed nothing. The dealer said there isn't anything I can do because it is doing what it is designed to do. They also added that they have had several similar CVT complaints from patriot owners. Driving 75 MPH should not overheat a transmission. It is very dangerous to be driving on the interstate when the patriot slows itself down, I have almost got run over several times..I need chrysler to acknowledge this problem and find a solution before I have an accident from it.