Jeep Patriot fire or smoke problems

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · MO · crash · fire · 1 injury

On a fateful day, I, [XXX] , found myself in a harrowing situation on the interstate. While driving, my car unexpectedly flipped over, tumbling four times before coming to a jarring stop. The chaos began when my engine backfired violently, which was followed by the alarming sight of smoke rising from under the hood as flames erupted. To make matters worse, my four-wheel drive system malfunctioned, leaving me helpless and unable to regain control. Despite my efforts, the seatbelt that is supposed to ensure safety failed to hold me securely, and the airbag system did not deploy, adding to the sense of dread I experienced during the crash. As I tried to process the unfolding nightmare, I found myself unable to unbuckle my seatbelt due to the shock and disorientation of the accident. The dashboard's sensors were unresponsive, and my speed monitor flickered as though mocking my plight. In that moment, the overwhelming fear and confusion turned into a painful reality as I was left with a broken left shoulder blade and a fractured left forearm, the break occurring in the upper arm, just adding to the turmoil of the incident. This life-altering experience not only left me physically injured but also sparked a deep reflection on my life and the importance of safety measures in vehicles. On a fateful day, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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 Jun 15, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · GA

My car has caught on fire with smoke at least 4 times, 3 times with my minor child inside of it. I have video to show you just how dangerous it is. All components of the vehicle have failed. I have put thousands of dollars into the vehicle and it only has 80,000 miles on it. My safety and my son and elderly mother's safety has been at extreme risk and my car is NOT SAFE TO OWN OR DRIVE. Carl Gregory, the dealer, never informed me EVER of a 2015 Jeep Patriot recall only three months after I purchased the vehicle while pregnant. The vehicle has been inspected/ worked on by Carl Gregory and now Southern Motors Jeep several times over the last 8 years located on Middleground Road at the corner of Abercorn Street in Savannah, Georgia. My insurance company has charged me to tow my vehicle at least six times as my son and I have been stranded all over the city waiting hours for a tow truck. There were no warning lamps on the vehicle prior to it catching fire and I have my car tuned regularly at Wal-Mart Automotive and cleaned at Montgomery Cross Roads Car Wash once a month. Today the engine stalled and I barely made it out of of the street which is highly dangerous for pedestrians and other drivers on the road. This is probably the 3rd time it has done that. The steering wheel stalls leaving me at the whim of an open road as my car goes out of control. The radio's electrical unit shut down two years ago and the back door does not open. I can't afford to fix those.The brakes were replaced approximately two years after owning it as the vehicle would not slow down during a red light (at the cost of $2,000). I had to veer right. Last November, the car was worked on and the clutch was replaced because it stopped working. One month ago we paid $600 for a new power steering hose to be replaced as it apparently was and continues to leak fluid. This has now been indicated on the dashboard as "hot oil". Currently, I love my car but my family and I are PETRIFIED AND TRAUMATIZED.

Filed Oct 20, 2020 · Body · 176,000 miles · NM

The muffler melted the body of the vehicle. It almost caught fire after 2 hours on the road with no indication. We managed to push muffler down and it stopped melting the plastic. We stopped for gas and saw the damage. I did not notice the muffler was stuck in the upward position before the trip so it was not a concern until we stopped. We were on interstate 25 southbound right out of albuquerque, nm.

Filed Oct 12, 2020 · Electrical · 119,000 miles · PA · fire

The dashboard starting on the passenger side all the way over to the steering column caught fire and melted the entire dashboard.I parked my car around 9pm and went back out around 11:30pm to get something out and found my dashboard completely melted. I was told by the fire company that because the windows were all closed tightly the fire smothered itself. I had to have it towed to the body shop and they called and told me it was an electrical fire. My car was totaled.

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 Dec 27, 2019 · 125,000 miles · TX · fire

I drove. Th jeep to the back of my property on my way back to the house I got stuck. I knew I couldnt get unstuck without help so I went to my house. Upon my return the next morn I rralized th jeep caught fire and burned compltely up. I got stuck about 930/10 pm returned back to jeep at 6 am

Filed Oct 10, 2019 · Engine · 125,000 miles · FL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 jeep patriot. While driving 45-50 MPH, smoke was detected and the vehicle spontaneously caught fire. There were no warning indicators illuminated. There were no injuries. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The insurance company declined to assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000.