2016 Jeep Patriot Sport Engine

Two Open Investigations Indicate 2016 Patriot Has Serious Airbag Problems Including Systems That May Not Activate In A Crash

Due to many owner complaints, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened two investigations over the 2016 Patriots airbag problems.

The first investigation pertains to a flawed airbag sensor that determines whether or not deployment is required in a crash.

The second investigation concerns models equipped with Takata airbags that have inflators that could degrade after prolonged exposure to humidity and significant temperature change.

In case of deployment, airbag inflators could rupture and strike passengers with metal pieces, leading to severe injuries.

Many Owners Have Complained About Malfunctioning Brakes And Power Steering

In addition to numerous complaints about engine stalls that led to a recall, owners have complained to the NHTSA about other alarming problems, such as the power steering assist going out intermittently at various speeds.

Owners note that when the power steering goes out without warning, it requires excessive strength to maneuver the SUV. Also, several drivers mention that their 2016 Patriot swerves to the right when trying to keep it in a straight line at highway speeds.

There are also many complaints registered with the NHTSA about the brakes not functioning properly. According to reports, despite depressing the brake pedal, owners were unable to stop the car even at speeds as low as five mph. Two of the 16 complaints about the brakes mention the issue led to a crash.

Some owners have also mentioned that the gas pedal intermittently goes out and fails to send engine power to the wheels. Reports on Car Complaints indicate that owners have dealt with malfunctioning gas pedals after only 27,200 miles of driving.

For Those Who Prioritize The Latest Safety Features The Patriot Isn’t The Way To Go

The 2016 Jeep Patriot is built on a structure that’s now 10 years old, and during that time crash standards have changed.

So it’s not surprising that the Patriot doesn’t do well in either of the two U.S. crash-test programs.

In federal testing, the Patriot received four out of five stars for overall safety, and that includes an especially worrisome three-star score in frontal crash and rollover safety. In testing by the IIHS, the Patriot earns top “Good” results in most categories, yet it has a “Poor” rating in that agency’s tougher new small-overlap frontal test.

In all fairness, considering the age of the Patriot means, it wasn’t designed with this test in mind but it serves to underscore how some of the other models in its class will be safer in certain kinds of accidents.

Outward visibility is excellent in the Patriota function of its boxy body and plenty of glassand a rearview camera system is now available on both trim levels.

Safety equipment includes electronic stability control with roll mitigation, front side airbags, and side-curtain bags, as well as off-road brake traction control and hill descent control for models with four-wheel drive. What’s missing here, however, is any sort of front crash prevention system, or any other systems to help with blind spot vision or lane markings.

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Available Equipment In The 2016 Jeep Patriot Will Take You Where Other Small Crossovers Won’t But Its Dated Cabin Design Keeps It From Feeling As Smart As It Could Be

The 2016 Jeep Patriot may be somewhat overshadowed by the larger Cherokee and smaller Renegade modelsboth of far newer, with far superior packagingbut it’s worth considering if cost-conscious transportation is one of your top priorities.

The Patriot lands in an intriguing middle ground between mainstream compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, and some of the smaller models such as the Kia Soul, Honda HR-V, Nissan Juke, or Chevrolet Trax.

While the original Patriot was something of a disasterthink loud, sluggish, and austereJeep has found ways to make this vehicle a far better, more appealing vehicle. Today, it offers a sensibly sized package that combines macho Jeep lines with enough softness and civility to make it practical family transport. It may not be the newest or best-equipped, but there’s a lot to like regardless.

From a design standpoint, it offers what the Subaru Forester has in its past iterations. The boxy, trim, bold exterior yields a tremendously useful interior, with good cargo space, and rear seatbacks that flip forward easily to make more room. Weve found entry and exit very easy, thanks to the tall roofline, with plenty of headroom front and backalthough the one surprise is that the seating position is lower than expected, with the dash rather high and enveloping.

Jeep Patriots Recalls Are Few But Some Serious Problems Affect Its Overall Reliability

Based on real owner reviews on Vehicle History, the 2016 Jeep Patriot scores 4.3 out of five stars.

Car and Driver tested the 2016 Patriot and said it cant really be called fun to drive due to CVT issues, engine noises, and poor interior quality.

Like previous model years, the 2016 Patriot suffers from serious problems like engine stalls and defective brake pedals, making it fall short of its rivals.

According to Kelley Blue Book, a used 2016 Jeep Patriot has a price range of $14,700 to $21,053.

Within the same price range, a 2016 Subaru Forester offers a more potent powertrain, better standard tech, and more impressive fuel economy with up to 32 mpg on the highway.

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The Patriot’s Design Still Looks Rugged And Restrained In All The Right Ways But With The Renegade In The Stable It’s A Little More Dated

The 2016 Jeep Patriot is a boxy, city-sized crossover that’s thick in Jeep design heritage, borrowing some design cues from the Wrangler in front, as well as some of the slab-sided side styling of the old Cherokee and Wagoneer models.

Up until now it’s been the most traditional model in Jeep’s lineup to some eyes, while others see it as more stylishit’s all in the eye of the beholder. Yet there’s no denying that the boxy exterior creates lots of usable interior space.

From the outside, there’s a lot to like in the Patriot, with proportions and sheet metal that are squared-off but not too refrigerator-like, as well as detailing that keeps it simple but purposeful. With details like the Jeep seven-slot grille and chunky door handles, there’s just enough softness and civility blended in with the right amount of macho.

For this year, there’s a bit of an elephant in the room, and that’s the Jeep Renegade, which starts at a price not much higher than the Patriot. Also boxy, and in some respects nearly the same size as the Patriot, the Renegade seems to make a bit better use of the same space and the Renegade does away with any of the Patriot’s niggling cheapness in the details and buttons.

There’s one other visual change for 2016: a new exterior color, Mojave Sand.

Maneuverability Is Excellent And So Is The Patriot’s True Trail Rated Ability But The Rest Of It Is Unremarkable

The 2016 Jeep Patriot drives a bit more like a budget-conscious small sedan or hatchback than you might expect and there’s a good and bad side to that from a performance standpoint.

The base engine for the Patriot is a 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-4, while top Latitude modelsand any version equipped with all-wheel drivecome standard with a 172-hp, 2.4-liter version. A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard on the Sport, while the 6-speed automatic is offered across the lineup and a continuously variable transmission is bundled with Freedom Drive II.

The 2016 Jeep Patriot was made a much better vehicle a couple of years back, when for most of the model line its mediocre CVT was replaced by a responsive, smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission for most of the model line.

There are three different drive systems for the Patriot, which helps explain why the CVT is still on board. If you have snowy winters to navigate or plan to do some light off-roading, youll want the available Freedom Drive I system, which is pretty standard, but includes a locking center differential. There you get the 6-speed automatic . But the Freedom Drive II system is hardier and includes low range for real off-road conditions. It’s the only Patriot that earns a Trail Rated badge, and is accompanied by other upgrades like additional skid plates.

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Jeep Patriots Single Recall Is Over Defective Crankshaft Sensors That May Cause Engine Stall

Jeeps affordable compact SUV, the Patriot, had a rough time proving to be reliable since its debut in 2007. Although most of the sport utility vehicles problematic years are behind it, the 2016 Jeep Patriot is accompanied by some concerning safety issues.

Not so long after entering the market, the 2016 Patriot was recalled for a faulty crankshaft sensor that reportedly works intermittently, leading to engine stalls. Dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor in affected vehicles for free.

The 2016 Jeep Patriot Is A Good Value For The Money Although You’ll Pay A Lot Of Extra Money To Get The Trail Rated Badge

The 2016 Patriot is offered in a reduced number of trims than before. It’s now only available in Sport and Latitude models, but with a reasonably wide range of options and packages instead of multiple trims with varying features.

At the base Sport level, the Patriot includes cruise control, roof rails, fog lamps, illuminated cupholders, rear-seat heater ducts, tilt steering, cruise control, tinted glass, and an auxiliary input for audio. Air conditioning remains optional, which is likely part of the reason why the base price lands around $18,000.

The Jeep Patriot Sport now, for 2016, also offers telematics, satellite radio, and automatic headlamps as standard features.

The Altitude package is mostly cosmetic, adding a blacked-out exterior and wheels, as well as cloth/vinyl upholstery. Latitude models step up to air conditioning, power windows and locks, power heated mirrors, keyless entry, front heated cloth seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat, a 115-volt power plug, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls.

The High Altitude package nets some of what was included with the top Limited modelincluding leather seats, a power driver’s seat, a sunroof, and Granite Crystal painted 17-inch wheels. Or separately, a Power Value Group adds to the base Sport some convenience items such as keyless entry, power heated mirrors, power windows and locks, and automatic headlamps.

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Cabin Ambience Is Mediocre But The Patriot Otherwise Delivers The Package It Advertises On The Outside

The 2016 Jeep Patriot is, inside, much as it hints from the outsidetremendously useful and versatile, with good cargo space and decent space for rear passengers.

The trim, boxy, bold look indeed yields good passenger space for four, with rear seat backs that flip forward easily, and the tall roofline makes entry and exit easy. You could potentially wedge a third into the middle position in back, but you’ll be reminded that this is a compact vehicle.

The feel of the interior is utilitarian. It’s not beautifully trimmed, by any means, and although Jeep might have applied a very light spruce-up to this vehicle a few model years ago, someone seems to have lost the memo wiring funds for the sort of cabin rehab afforded to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as the latest Cherokee and Renegade.

Despite some improvement, this model’s Achilles’ heelwhich some will find hard to acceptis the amount of noise and vibration that enters the cabin, as well as the hard, hollow plastic panels that line the cabin with an econo-car cheapness.

Seating comfort is lackluster, with somewhat uncomfortable front seats and rather stiff, unpadded back-seat accommodations. And ride quality, while not bad, can be a little more active than in newer small-crossover models.

Water Leaking From The Sunroof Into The Cabin Has Caused Trouble For Many 2016 Patriot Owners

Another widespread issue with the 2016 Jeep Patriot is water leakage from the sunroof, which is a recurring problem mentioned on Car Complaints. According to reports, water leaks could appear even before putting 1,000 miles on the odometer.

Owners on the popular Jeep Patriot forum and Reddit echo dealing with leakage problems.

After a heavy rain, when I get in and shut the door, a couple drops of water drip out from the edges of the buttons that turn on the cabin lights or sometimes out of the clear lamp housings themselves, said one owner on Reddit.

In most cases, the problem comes from rubber tubes from the sunroof drain pan getting clogged up, forcing water to collect in the pan, and ultimately reaching the cabin through dome lights or an A-pillar.

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Jeep Patriot Review For Sale Specs Models & News In Australia

The Jeep Patriot was a mid-size SUV that previously sold alongside the Compass.

Although it competed in a highly contested segment, the Patriot did not sell in similar volumes to its rivals and was not renewed when the new-generation Jeep Compass arrived in Australia in late 2017.

Unlike some contemporary SUVs, the Patriot had a few systems to support off-road driving, despite being predominantly front-drive. This design choice was continued through to the Compass.

The Jeep Patriot could be had from POA for the Patriot Limited to POA for the Patriot Limited .

Jeep fans looking for something in a similar size-bracket can also choose from the larger mid-size Cherokee or smaller Renegade.

For Its Size The 2016 Jeep Patriot Isn’t All That Fuel

The 2016 Jeep Patriot may strike you as compact and frugal, yet it’s not necessarily any more fuel-efficient than much larger SUVs.

EPA fuel-economy ratings remain as high as 30 mpg on the highway, but they’re down near the 20-mpg mark if you get that Freedom Drive II packageand yes, at that point it might make sense to go with the more capable Wrangler.

In some ways, the Patriot still makes sense. Stick with one of the simpler front-wheel-drive models, and you’ll get a economical, city-friendly vehicle with a low sticker price. Take a good look at the mileage on the window sticker before making a decision.

It might also pay off to look across the showroom. Jeep Renegade models are virtually the same size inside, and they’re rated betterfor the most partin EPA mileage.

In base configuration with front-drive and a 5-speed manual transmission, the Patriot returns 23/30/26 mpg. With all-wheel drive, the larger 2.4-liter, and an automatic, those numbers dip significantly to 20/26/22 mpg.

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Compare Jeep Patriot Model Years

Curious how the 2016 Patriot compares to other years?Check out our Jeep Patriot overview to see the most problematic years, worst problems and most recently reported complaints with the Patriot.

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Jeep Patriot Used Price Estimates

Estimates based on a driving average of 12,000 miles per year

Aside from its low price tag, there’s little reason to consider the 2016 Jeep Patriot given the excellence of its competitors.

The Jeep Patriot is among the last vestiges of the Bad Old Days at Chrysler, and yet it continues to be a surprisingly strong seller. Why? We imagine it’s because the Jeep name is popular with consumers, and the Patriot is the least expensive way to put a new Jeep in your driveway, especially if you’re willing to live without things like power windows and air-conditioning.

The 2016 Patriot is quite affordable. But there are better options for a subcompact crossover SUV.

We can’t help but admire the 2016 Jeep Patriot’s off-road ability when equipped with the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Group. Unfortunately, this package makes the Patriot considerably less affordable, and it also comes with the power-sapping continuously variable automatic transmission . CVTs have come a long way in the past few years, but the Patriot’s has not, as it continues to rob both power and fuel economy from whichever engine it’s hooked to. The upgraded 2.4-liter engine with the six-speed automatic is a more satisfying pairing, and the Patriot is one of a dwindling number of SUVs to offer a manual transmission — but if you want the off-road ability of Freedom Drive II, you’re stuck with the CVT.

Properly equipped, the Patriot can tow up to 2,000 pounds.

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