ON A SATURDAY, MY WIFE WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING ABOUT 70MPH, AWAY FROM HOME, HEAVY TRAFFIC AND 3 KIDS IN THE PATRIOT. THE JEEP LOST ALL POWER (SAW THE RED LIGHTENING BOLT INDICATOR ON THE DASH), THEN STALLED AND SHE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TRANSITION TO THE EDGE OF THE FREEWAY, WHICH HAD A VERY NARROW SHOULDER. SHE ATTEMPTED FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TO START THE JEEP. A STATE TROOPER SHOWED UP ADVISED IT WAS UNSAFE FOR THE KIDS. THE TROOPER TOOK THE KIDS TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER/JEEP DEALER. THE JEEP WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER. THE SALES MANAGER, AFTER THE JEEP CAME OFF THE TOW TRUCK WAS ABLE TO START THE JEEP. HE SAID MAYBE SHE ACCIDENTALLY ACTIVATED THE 4WD, THEN PROCEEDED TO TAPE IT DOWN AND TOLD HER IF IT RUNS OK ON SUNDAY SHE SHOULD BE OK TO DRIVE HOME. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE PATRIOT SUNDAY AND STARTED HOME ON MONDAY. ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HOME IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE LIGHTENING BOLT, LOST ALL POWER AND IT STALLED. SHE WAS ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH AND HAD TO MERGE TO THE SHOULDER WITH MEDIUM TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. SHE TRIED TO START THE PATRIOT FOR 40 MINUTES, IT DID NOT START. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK A CHP OFFICER STOPPED, STATED AS THE TROOPER HAD PREVIOUSLY, IT WAS UNSAFE FOR THE KIDS TO BE ON THE FREEWAY. HE TOOK THEM TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER/JEEP DEALER SO THEY WOULD BE SAFE. BOTTOM LINE "THE JEEP LOST ALL POWER (SAW THE RED LIGHTENING BOLT INDICATOR ON THE DASH), THEN STALLED" TWICE IN 3 DAYS. CHRYSLER/JEEP TO DATE HAS STATED, IF THERE ARE NO CODES THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS INDICATED BY MY WIFE'S EXPERIENCE AND 7 OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE CONDITION BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. *TR
2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2009, WATER CAME IN THROUGH THE MAP LIGHT AND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE PILLAR AFTER FIRST RAIN. RETURNED TO DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SEAL BUT PROBLEM RE-SURFACED DURING NEXT RAIN. WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO CLEARED THE DRAIN LINES WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH, FOR A NEW VEHICLE, IT SEEMS ODD THE DRAINS WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOGGED. DID NOT OBSERVE ANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS OTHERS HAVE INDICATED EXCEPT FOR THE LED FLASHLIGHT IN THE CARGO AREA DYING. THIS WAS REPLACED BY DIED AGAIN (POSSIBLY THE RE-CHARGING MECHANISM HAD BEEN CORRUPTED BY THE LEAK?) BUT I DO NOT USE THE LIGHT SO DID NOT PURSUE FURTHER. WINTER OF 2012-13 (AFTER 3 YEAR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED), SAME LEAK RE-APPEARED WHENEVER WOULD HAVE PRECIPITATION AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOLLOWED BY A THAW. SINCE IT DIDN'T OCCUR DURING "NORMAL" PRECIPITATION AND BEING IN THE SOUTH WHERE WE DON'T HAVE FREEZES VERY OFTEN, DID NOT SEEK REPAIR. QUOTED $100-$300 FROM ALL DEALERS IN AREA SAYING THE DRAIN LINES CANNOT SIMPLY BE BLOWN OUT WITH COMPRESSED AIR SINCE THE PRESSURE CAN DISCONNECT THEM AND INSTEAD THEY MUST REMOVE THE HEAD LINER AND CLEAR THEM MANUALLY. WHILE TRAVELING IN JULY OF 2013, EXPERIENCED HEAVY RAIN WHILE VEHICLE PARKED LEVEL OR FACING UP ON AN INCLINE (AT HOME, NORMALLY PARK SLIGHTLY FACING DOWN ON AN INCLINE) AND LEAKS WERE MUCH WORSE WITH DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD LINER BECOMING WET. THIS INDICATED THE REAR DRAINS WERE THE ONES CLOGGED. I RARELY USE THE SUNROOF, HAVE NEVER LEFT IT OPEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD AND ESPECIALLY AVOID OPENING IT DURING THE HEAVY POLLEN SEASONS OF THE SOUTH, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE DRAINS CAN GET CLOGGED AND WHY THEY CANNOT EASILY BE CLEARED (THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW). *TR
