2008 Jeep Patriot Electrical System Problems

Water leaks in through the sunroof and top racks and leaks out the dome lights inside of the car

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 ALTERNATORS THROUGHOUT THE PAST 2 MONTHS DUE TO A ELECTRIC PROBLEM. MY BATTERY LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED EACH TIME I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING AROUND 70 MPH. THE BATTERY LIGHT INDICATOR TELLS ME MY BATTERY IS NOT PROPERLY CHARGING DUE TO MY ALTERNATOR. THIS LEADS TO IT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER IN MY CAR AS I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC AND THAT THE PROBLEM WITH KEEP HAPPENING UNTIL I GET ANOTHER COMPUTER WHICH COSTS A GOOD AMOUNT TO HAVE REPLACED OR FIXED.

MY VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES NOT GO WHEN I PRESS THE GAS. THE BRAKES DON'T PROPERLY WORK, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOCK FAILS, THE ESP LIGHT FLASHES, THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILS, AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE OVER 5 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE YET TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I FEAR IT MAY HAPPEN. IT HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE, AND DOESN'T ALWAYS CORRECT ITSELF. I CONTACTED JEEP AND THEY TOLD ME I'M ON MY OWN. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND WONDER WHY THEY HAVEN'T RECALLED THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FEAR I'M STUCK WITH A LEMON VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND I'VE ONLY BEEN IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MONTHS. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS MOVING FORWARD?

TIPM NEEDS REPLACED. RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY, AC DOESN'T BLOW COLD AIR. I HAD THE AC CHECKED, IT'S FINE. IT'S THE TIPM. AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON CONSTANT. THE SYSTEM IS SHUT OFF. ALL THIS B/C OF THE TIPM. IT STARTED TO ACT UP WHILE IN MOTION.

AFTER FILLING MY TANK, EVERYTIME I LEAVE THE GAS STATION THE ENGINE SPUTTERS AND WILL STALL. LUCKILY I'M ABLE TO SOMETIMES GET OVER ON TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, I AM ONLY ABLE TO PUT IN A FEW CENTS AT A TIME. IT CAN TAKE OVER 20 MINUTES TO SLOWLY FILL UP THE GAS TANK. MAX IT WILL FILL IS A FEW CENTS AT A TIME BEFORE YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE HANDLE AND THEN PRESS IT EVER SO LIGHTLY TO FILL UP THE NEXT PART. THE ENGINE WILL OFTEN SPUTTER AS IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO QUIT RUNNING AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU FILL UP YOUR TANK. THE VA THE ONLY TIME THE JEEP IS STATIONARY IS WHEN I'M FILLING IT UP OR AFTER IT DIES AFTER A FUEL PHILIP. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS IN MOTION EITHER IN THE CITY HIGHWAY CITY ROAD WHEN IT KILLS AFTER FILLING UP. WHEN IT SPUTTERS AND PILLS AFTER FILLING UP YOU ARE UNABLE TO USE YOUR WHEEL AS IT LOCKS UP, VERY DANGEROUS. MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY'S LIFE IS AT RISK.

TIPM problems causing problems with wipers, blinkers. Sometimes can't turn wipers on or off. Passenger side blinkers fast blink. Changed all bulbs but didn't fix. When lights are turned on passenger blinkers fail to work.

THE VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHICH STEM MAINLY FROM CORRODING WIRES. I'VE HAD IT AT 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, & 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS ALL FOR THEM TO TELL ME EITHER THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT OR THAT THEY CAN JUST START REPLACING WIRES & HOPE FOR THE BEST BASICALLY EVEN THOUGH IT ISN'T WORTH PUTTING THE MONEY INTO AT THIS POINT. THE ELECTRICAL HAS EFFECTED MY BATTERIE (I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 3 BATTERIES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS), AT THIS POINT I HAVE TO HAVE IT ON A BATTERY CHARGER 24/7 WHEN IT ISN'T RUNNING BECAUSE THE IT JUST DRAINS MY BATTERY & WON'T START, 4WD SOMETIMES IT WORKS BUT SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, AIR CONDITIONING, ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM (WHEN I'D SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF & PULL THE KEY OUT, IT'D STILL BE RUNNING UNTIL IT FINALLY CHOKED ITSELF OUT). I'VE $3,000 INTO THE NEW COMPUTER, $1,000 INTO CORRODING WIRES, & NUMBER NEW BATTERIES AS WELL. AT THIS POINT IT'S A LOST CAUSE. EVERY MACHENIC I'VE SPOKE WITH STATES THAT THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE EXTREMELY COMMON WITH JEEP PATRIOT, COMPAS, & COMMANDERS. THEY RECOMMEND FOR PEOPLE NOT TO PURCHASE THEM.

I BOUGHT THIS JEEP USED AND THE FIRST TIME IT RAINED, WATER CAME IN FROM THE SUNROOF INTO THE CAR, THERE WAS WATER IN THE DOME LIGHTS, RUNNING OUT OF THE HEADLINER, RUNNING THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. NOW I SEE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL BUT CHRYSLER HAS NOT RECALLED OR DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT IN THE CURRENT MODEL YEAR. I AM AFRAID FO RMY SAFETY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH WATER COMING IN CONTACT WITH ELECTRONICS OR WATER COMING INTO MY FACE, ON MY STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A DISTRACTION. I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL HELP AND FORCE THE MFR TO FIX THIS FOR ALL OF US JEEP OWNERS. *TR

MY MOTHER OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT. I WAS DRIVING HER CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. APPARENTLY, THE CAR WANTED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED. DUE TO AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS ABLE TO REDUCED THE SPEED SAFELY. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE LANES TO THE RIGHT, THE SIGNAL SPARK AND/OR CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO GO ON. THE A/C CANNOT BE ON WHILE DRIVING EITHER. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT IS CAUSING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS TO HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE. I'M AFRAID TO HAVE MY MOTHER CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR. SHE ONLY DRIVES ON LOCAL STREETS, BUT THIS TOO CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK HER CAR 2 YEARS AGO TO A JEEP DEALER TO REPAIR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT ON THE HATCH DOOR DUE TO IT GETTING WET. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RUBBER MOLDINGS AROUND THE HATCH DOOR, BUT IT HAS RETURNED. AND AGAIN THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ALL OF THESES PROBLEMS KEEP PERSISTING AND SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE.

SUMMARY: WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL STILL IN THE ENGINE DIES THE CAR LOTS OF IOWA CITY IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'RE GOING AFTER YOU PUT GAS IN THE CAR HE USUALLY DOESN'T START BUT NOW IT HAS STARTED NOT LETTING YOU FILL UP WITH GAS AT STOPPING THE FUEL PUMP LIKE YOUR TANK IS FULL AND IT DIDN'T PUT ANY GAS IN IT BUT IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND YOUR ENGINE SHUTS OFF IN THE CAR STALLS AND LOCKS UP. THE TRACTION CONTROL WILL COME ON AND IT'S AN ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF AFTER IT LOCKS UP AND STALLS AND SHUTS OFF WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING IT ANY SPEED IT DOESN'T RESTART REQUEST RESEARCH HELP VERY SCARY IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENING THIS PROBLEM CANNOT GET FIXED

THE CAR CUYS IN AN OUT ALMOST LIMEIT GOING TO SHUT OFF. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AN FLASH AN DING . SHORTLY AFTER WHILE DRIVI G THE ESP COMES ON CUTS OUT LIME GOI G TO DIE THEN ENGINE DIES DRIVING OR PARKED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG AND SUSPECTED A SENSOR FAILURE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN SUDDENLY ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP, THE DIALS WENT CRAZY, THE CAR BUCKED LIKE IT WAS STALLING AND THEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. I HAD THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY A PROFESSIONAL AUTO MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE TOTAL INTEGRATION POWER MODULE WHICH IS COMMON IN MOST JEEPS/CHRYSLERS AND HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF ISSUES IN RECENT YEARS. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TIPM, BUT NOT DOING SO MEANS DRIVING THE CAR IS UNRELIABLE AND INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO MAY NOT EXPECT THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM TO SUDDENLY STOP.

I PURCHASED MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT IN SUMMER 2010. IN SPRING 2011 (WHEN IT ACTUALLY RAINS IN TEXAS) I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF WATER INSIDE THE FLOORBOARD OF MY CAR. I IGNORED IT, BUT THE NEXT TIME IT RAINED AND I WAS IN MY CAR I LEARNED HOW THE MYSTERIOUS PUDDLE OF WATER GOT INTO MY CAR, THROUGH THE DOME LIGHT THAT WAS FULL OF WATER. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW THE WATER GOT IN. WHEN I TRIED EXPLAINING TO THEM MY WITNESS OF THE WATER LEAKING THROUGH THE DOME LIGHT, THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK ANYWHERE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE LEAKS IN MY CAR COMING FROM THE LIGHT INSIDE MY CAR AND THE PIECE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ANYTIME I TRY TO EXPLAIN IT TO A JEEP DEALERSHIP/TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT, THEY "CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM". HONESTLY, AFTER SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE TO TELL ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING I HAVE GIVEN UP. OVER TIME, LIGHTS IN THE BUTTONS OF MY RADIO HAVE BURNED OUT, LIGHTS IN MY AC HAVE BURNED OUT, BUT TODAY I AM LETTING MY VOICE BE HEARD... WE HAD A DOWNPOUR LAST THURSDAY IN NORTH TEXAS AND I TURNED MY CAR ON FRIDAY TO ONCE AGAIN THE DOME LIGHT LEAKING WATER (NOT A SHOCKER FOR ME ANYMORE BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE NORM) AND MY RADIO COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. I CANNOT TURN IT ON, SEE THE TIME, NOTHING. IT'S GONE. I CALLED THE JEEP DEALERSHIP FRIDAY MORNING AND HE MENTIONED HE JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH 2 OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR JEEPS. IT'S NOW MONDAY AND IT HAS RAINED ALL NIGHT. I GOT INTO MY JEEP THIS MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND MY CAR WONT EVEN TURN ON NOW. IT WAS WORKING FINE YESTERDAY BEFORE THE RAIN AND NOW I AM PRETTY SURE IT HAS COMPLETELY SHORTED MY CARS ELECTRICAL OUT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. THERE IS NO REASON I SHOULD BE PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR SOMEONE TO TELL ME THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WHEN THERE CLEARLY IS. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2008 JEEP PATRIOT IN SUMMER 2010. IN SPRING 2011 (WHEN IT ACTUALLY RAINS IN TEXAS) I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF WATER INSIDE THE FLOORBOARD OF MY CAR. I IGNORED IT, BUT THE NEXT TIME IT RAINED AND I WAS IN MY CAR I LEARNED HOW THE MYSTERIOUS PUDDLE OF WATER GOT INTO MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW THE WATER GOT IN. WHEN I TRIED EXPLAINING TO THEM MY WITNESS OF THE WATER LEAKING THROUGH THE DOME LIGHT, THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK ANYWHERE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE LEAKS IN MY CAR COMING FROM THE LIGHT INSIDE MY CAR AND THE PIECE TO THE LEFT OF MY STEERING WHEEL. ANYTIME I TRY TO EXPLAIN IT TO A JEEP DEALERSHIP/TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT, THEY "CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM". HONESTLY, AFTER SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE TO TELL ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING, I HAVE GIVEN UP. OVER TIME, LIGHTS IN THE BUTTONS OF MY RADIO HAVE BURNED OUT, LIGHTS IN MY AC HAVE BURNED OUT, BUT TODAY I AM LETTING MY VOICE BE HEARD... WE HAD A DOWNPOUR YESTERDAY IN TEXAS AND I TURNED MY CAR ON THIS MORNING TO ONCE AGAIN THE DOME LIGHT LEAKING WATER (NOT A SHOCKER FOR ME ANYMORE BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE NORM) AND MY RADIO COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. I CANNOT TURN IT ON, SEE THE TIME, NOTHING. IT'S GONE. I CALLED THE JEEP DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND HE MENTIONED HE JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH 2 OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR JEEPS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. THERE IS NO REASON I SHOULD BE PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR SOMEONE TO TELL ME THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WHEN THERE CLEARLY IS. *TR

BOUGHT A USED JEEP PATRIOT 2008. MY JEEP IS GARAGE KEPT, BUT WHEN I AM AT WORK, AND IT RAINS, THE SUNROOF LEAKS. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND I SEE THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. JUST WANTED MY VEHICLE ADDED TO LET THEM KNOW MY SUNROOF LEAKS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP PATRIOT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED TO FLASH, THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

1. MY DAUGHTER TOOK HER CAR IN BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING. HE FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND SHE LIMPED IT HOME. JULY 22ND 2. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE WEEK LATER AND HER CAR LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY, I CALLED AAA AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. AUGUST 2ND. HE KEPT IT FOR A WEEK TESTING FOR ISSUES. 3. I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK AND WHEN I TRIED TO GO HOME IT WOULD NOT START. I TOWED IT TO A JEEP DEALER WHO FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM AND CHARGED ME $390.00 TO FIX IT. AUGUST 15. *TR

THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSES MY AIRBAG LIGHT TO INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNS DIRECTION AND/OR ACCELERATES FROM A DEAD-STOP TO CRUISING SPEED. THE PART NUMBER IS 05156106AD. THE CUTTER DODGE/JEEP DEALERSHIP IN PEARL CITY, HAWAII INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, NOR UNDER MANUFACTURER RECALL DESPITE [JEEP] HAVING RECEIVED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, SO CUTTER WANTED $600 FOR PARTS AND SERVICE. THE PART IS ALSO USED IN THE COMPASS, WRANGLER, AND LIBERTY MODELS FOR THE SAME PRODUCTION-YEAR. *TR

SUNROOF LEAKS BADLY CAUSING WATER TO POUR OUT OF DOME LIGHT AND OTHER PLACES. LEAVING EVERYTHING WATER SOAKED AND MUSTY SMELLING. CAN NOT BE GOOD FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING. THEIR HAS TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS TOO MANY COMPLAINTS AND ON MANY DIFFERENT YEARS OF JEEPS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY JUST KEEP MAKING THEM AND GETTING BY WITH SO MANY VEHICLES STILL ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMEONE COULD GET HURT REALLY BAD IF IT CAUSES A FIRE. SOMETHING NEEDS DONE.