2016 Jeep Patriot: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 2, 2025 · Engine · LA · fire

My son was driving his vehicle on the interstate in Florida when all of the sudden engine stopped working. He was able to navigate to the side and eventually it started up and made back to campus. Codes had came up so took to Firestone and changed spark plugs. We checked the federal safety agency website for engine recalls and showed had some but not for his specific vehicle per VIN. Only sounded a little better so took to Jeep dealership and paid for diagnostic evaluation and told “alternator falling apart” but nothing wrong with engine or transmission. They changed a belt Dealership also said no recall for his particular vehicle. Problem continued so took to local mechanism who replaced alternator and a good bit better. So between 8/20/25-8/26/25, he took car to 3 repair shops that couldn’t find the problem completely. Then on [XXX] while driving on interstate, son saw smoke then fire coming from under hood. Car caught on fire. Was able to pull over and call 911 who had fire department put out fire. He survived fire but emotionally a wreak. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 22, 2025 · Brakes · NE · fire

I changed my brakes, and caliper myself because it was time for my brakes, and the caliper was hard to get off, so I replaced it. It felt like my brakes were still sticking, I took it to three repair shops and they couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Finally I took it to a repair shop because my brakes were making noise by this time. They replaced the pads, rotors, and caliper. When I picked it up from the shop and was driving home I smelled a burning smell and pulled over and my car was on fire. I had to put it out before it spread to the rest of my car. They had to replace the brake line and now it’s okay. I didn’t have any warning lights on my dash go off, I have receipts for the repair shops and parts. This is definitely a safety concern because if I would have associated that smell with the new brakes and didn’t pull over, it could have been a lot worse. Ignore the receipt for the ford brakes, I couldn’t delete it.

Filed Jul 23, 2020 · 40,000 miles · IL · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2016 jeep patriot. The contact stated while driving at unknown speed she noticed smoke from the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated she pulled over the vehicle and exited the vehicle. The contact stated the vehicle was on fire and she could not breathe. The fire department came to the scene and was able extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to towing lot. The vehicle was not taken to local dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Jan 7, 2020 · Acceleration, Engine · 18,000 miles · KY

Bought jeep in 2018 since then it has had intermittent cruise control problems. Sometimes it works sometimes it dont. Sometimes it works then quits working. Drivers seat belt will be buckled and come unbuckled have to rebuckle intermittently. Burning smell intermittently dont know if its oil, coolant or what was supposed to be fixed by jeep who said it was leaky coolant still occurs. All of this has occurred while on the road.

Filed Sep 5, 2019 · 67,000 miles · LA · fire

I drove 30 minutes to work. Stopped for 10 minutes to get breakfast. And as I was parking my car, 2016 jeep patriot, it began to smoke. No lights came on. I turned it off and got out. Then the car just caught a fire. A regularly maintenance jeep patriot just caught fire and is destroyed.

Filed Jun 6, 2018 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 20,000 miles · TX

I was driving down the road and barely touched the shifter and when I touch the shifter it slipped over into where you shift your gears I feel like it's a could catch the car on fire because it is revved up so high and you don't even realize it because you cant hear it unless you you got radio off and windows up and you can never tell I definitely think they should have made it more safe when from some kind of a lock on the shifter for when you want to go over into where you shift the gears yourself not to mention how expensive cars are and that you could very easily tear up your car by it being in the manual shifting area rather than the automatic shift

Filed Dec 14, 2017 · 18,000 miles · CA · fire

Car smoking then lost complete power and glided down freeway stopped car completely on fire see also 11053940

Filed May 2, 2017 · Body, Electrical · 11,000 miles · AZ · fire

On 4/12/17 at approximately 5:30 pm I was driving my jeep of 11,000 miles on it. Still a new car. It started running as if loosing power. I pulled off of highway to see what was happening. I pulled hood release it did not open. I looked under jeep to attempt to get hood open as an police officer pulled up beside car to see if I was ok. As he began to ask this and I turned to reply. Car burst into flames. Officer attempted to use fire extinguisher but it did not help and by the time fire department arrived it was a total loss. Fire raged so hot it melted the front seat head rests and the entire front of jeep is gone. Perhaps by pulling over is the only reason I am still alive. I have a lot of documents and pictures. In these documents I have word for word of chrysler jeep refusing to do an investigation on why this car burned..

Filed Sep 16, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 5,000 miles · OR · fire

I was driving on a city street around 2:30 pm when I notice smoke coming out from under my hood. I pulled off to a safe spot and by this time ii could see the fire coming out of the front of my jeep. Three fire inspectors looked at it and are unable to determine the cause of the fire. However, a jeep mechanic also looked at it and believes the fire started behind the battery. The jeep is totaled. Still waiting on reports from the insurance company. Cynthia I just wanted to give you an update. We did hire some people who went out and also were not able to fully determine the fire. I am having a hard time getting in contact with chrysler. I will keep trying and let you know what they tell me. Depending on what they tell me we might move forward with more investigation. I will keep you updated. From progressive claim #161737586 agent amy etta ph. 503‑495‑4507

Filed Apr 27, 2016 · Airbags · 300 miles · ID · crash · fire · 2 injuries

My wife and I were hit head on by a drunk driver, we were both rendered unconscious when we awoke the air bags were on fire. The vehicle was stationary