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2016 Jeep Patriot problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
69%
289 of 416 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

69% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Jeep Patriot are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 42 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 63%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2016 Jeep Patriot have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 289 of 416 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Patriot concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (69%), and the largest group is filed under engine (224). For comparison, the 2015 scores 54% and the 2017 scores 51%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
289
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
458
this model year
Fires reported
8
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
24 crashes · 19 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE224 · 49%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM99 · 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER75 · 16%
POWER TRAIN74 · 16%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL49 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM41 · 9%

The years either side

2010
49%
77 of 188
2011
49%
134 of 326
2012
77%
226 of 354
2013
60%
50 of 120
2014
61%
235 of 548
2015
54%
155 of 315
2016
69%
289 of 458
2017
51%
23 of 59
2018
no data
2019
no data
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2016 compares with other Jeep Patriot years

Of the 8 Jeep Patriot years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (69%). The worst is the 2012 (77%), the best the 2010 (49%). By volume, the 2016 drew 458 complaints (289 drivetrain), against 315 for the 2015 and 59 for the 2017.

Jeep Patriot years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2016 Jeep Patriot

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Jeep Patriot said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE06/02/2018CRASH1 INJURED
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY (~10 MPH) SB I PREPARED TO MAKE A RIGHT-TURN (WB), IN THE ONLY LANE THAT TURNS RIGHT. AS I NEARED THE INTERSECTION THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, ENABLING ME AND THE (1) LANE ON MY LEFT TO GO (IT GOES SB). NO CAR WAS AHEAD OF ME (TO TURN). THE STREET I WAS TURNING ONTO HAD ONE (WB) LANE, AND TWO LANES (ST…

One of 289 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2016 Jeep Patriot engine recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Jeep Patriot involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

engine and engine cooling: engine16V907000 · Dec 2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016. The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.

Risk: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2016 Jeep Patriot? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2016 Jeep Patriot

Does the 2016 Jeep Patriot have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 289 of 416 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Patriot concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (69%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Jeep Patriot?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Jeep Patriot is engine: 224 of 458 complaints (49%) name it, followed by electrical system (99) and power train (74). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2016 Jeep Patriot reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 69% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Jeep Patriot years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Jeep Patriot?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Jeep Patriot involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 16V907000 (engine and engine cooling: engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Jeep Patriot years are better?

Among the Jeep Patriot years we track, the 2010 (49%), the 2011 (49%) and the 2017 (51%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (69%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/jeep-patriot

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.