Used 2008 Jeep Patriot Consumer Reviews
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The little Jeep That Could
RWFORD, 09/12/2015
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
66 of 67 people found this review helpful
I bought this car new in 2008 when they offered the lifetime warranty. I also purchased an extended lifetime warranty to cover the non powertrain components. 1st brake job at 95,000 miles. 2nd brake job at 179,000 miles. Runs great nd is a little work horse. 80 foot tree fell on house and this little jeep pulled it off the roof and down the driveway to be cut up. Gas mileage has been as high as 30 mpg in summer months on the highway but always in the 25 mpg combined unless towing. Right now the issue is who's lifetime is going to be the longest the Jeep or mine. The only complaint that I have ever had is the noise during acceleration. As far a being sluggish, I think being able to hit 90 + mph on a freeway entrance is more than acceptable. The real problem is the driver's that think you should enter at 45mph. At this writing I have185,000 + miles and does not use any between oil changes. I have used synthetic since the 1st 1000 miles.
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143,143 miles to date
west_lawn_mark, 06/20/2011
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
24 of 24 people found this review helpful
We purchased our Patriot new in 2008 and I have put on quite a few miles in that time. I enjoy the car. It is fun to drive, and good in snow. I have heard people complain about FWD Compasses in the snow but I have no similar complaints. I do not worry about driving in the snow at all (except for other drivers). With the electronic traction control I rarely need 4 x 4. I have even taken the Patriot off road on the beach in Corolla, NC and it performed pretty well. I that situation it benefited from being light and not getting bogged down in the sand. The adjustable seat works from my 5' 2" wife and my 6' 4" son in law.
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Got Lucky I Guess
dandt1, 08/19/2014
updated 02/27/2025
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
55 of 57 people found this review helpful
Why won't Edmunds let me select a Patriot Sport 4x4 CVT? After reading all the bad reviews on this car I thought I'd share my experience with our 2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4x4 CVT. My wife purchased this car by herself, brand-new, before we met in December of 2007 and it currently has 93,000 miles. She wanted AWD and decent gas milage and liked that the Jeep Patriot came with a lifetime power-train warranty. The car was a little over a year old when I met her so I've had a lot of experience driving it and dealing with the problems. The biggest issue we have had is on the suspension components. Both front lower control arms had to be replaced at 65K miles. Now with 113,000 miles on it the front struts are shot. Also we have had trouble with the sunroof leaking occasionally and now there is a leak letting in a little bit of water near the top of the rear hatch. I suspect it might be coming in from behind the third brake light but I haven't taken it apart to check yet. Update: 121,000 miles and no new issues to report. Update 8/21/2020: Still runs fine. Seems old now though. The struts creak and rattle and the car pulls when you are driving at highway speeds and let off the throttle. The third brake light leaks water down the inside of the hatchback and into the spare tire well and fills with water. This makes it smell bad and humid in the car. A new seal around the third brake light would fix it. Update 02/2021: No complaints. The car is old but works fine. The struts are shot so if we actually cared we would have them replaced. Other than that everything works fine. 132,000 miles Update 08/24/2021 The jeep still works fine. The third brake light on the top of the hatch started to leak sending rain water down the hatch and into the spare tire storage compartment. The radio volume knob stopped working and Chrysler no longer makes the radio so we replaced it with a used unit. **Update 08/26/2024** Much to my surprise, this Jeep is still running just fine for an old car. It's really showing it's age but the vehicle is 17 years old now. Engine mounts need replacement so we really should get that addressed. Struts/shocks need replacement too but we're living with it as it is right now. Replaced the battery and put new tires on it about a year ago. Otherwise just oil changes and gas is all it has required. **Update 02/26/25** Still running just fine for it's age. The sunroof drain got clogged and water leaked inside and went everywhere. Water made it in the foot wells and the spare tire compartment. Used a weed wacker string line to clear drains and it hasn't been a problem since.
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Maybe I got the only good one?
minetrainer, 08/13/2014
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
I have read a number of negative reviews on this car. I bought mine new, in December of 2008. I have been driving it exclusively since then. I log about 25,000 miles a year. They gave me a first owner only lifetime or 1,000,000 mile warranty and I have often wondered why. This car is like the energizer bunny and I love it!
Loving it still.... 5 years in
dbt1979, 04/25/2013
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2008 Jeep Patriot in August 2008. It was a daily rental return that just under 20,000 km on it. Almost 5 years later and I've had next to no problems with this vehicle besides wear parts. I got the extended warranty to 5 years / 100,000 km and the only warranty work that I needed was the fuel evap cannister that was hanging off (I probably ran over something) and there was minor work needed to be back end (sway bars and such) that was causing crunching noises when I went over bumps. Less than $600 warranty work in 5 years. I replaced the front brakes at 60 K and the back brakes (drums and all) at 95 K. 4 new tires at 60 K and I'll 4 new ones at 110K
130k and going strong!
Brian C, 08/28/2015
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
24 of 27 people found this review helpful
Reading some other reviews on here I felt inclined to share my story. I bought my 08 Patriot Limited through a friend who worked at Chrysler. It was an employee lessee vehicle and had just under 20k miles on it. It was my first vehicle and I wanted something 4WD as I lived in MI at the time and wanted something that could handle the snow. I feel this SUV delivers on points that a small SUV should, it handles well and gets good gas mileage(I average 22 on any day). It is not the prettiest Jeep ever made when it comes to in interior, its cheap plastic dash and instrument panels leave something to be desired, but as for the drive train it has not disappointed. Other than keeping up with the Breaks and Oil changes not much has been needed as far as maintenance on my Jeep. I did front breaks at 60k and then did all 4 breaks and rotors at 105k. At around 90k I heard some clunking in the front end and my neighbor was a mechanic at a dealer who said that the Lower control Arm/Ball Joints tend to wear in the Patriot and I should have it looked at. I did, and he was correct, they were wearing and needed to be replaced, my mechanic (not a dealer) quoted me ~$750 to do it, I decided to give it a shot myself and finished both sides in a few hours after getting the parts at Advanced. Other than the listed items above my Jeep Patriot has been everything I wanted from a first Jeep. The old adage is true, you get what you pay for, this is a lower cost Jeep when it comes to the Jeep family so they kept costs low on some luxury feature, but kept the money in the critical components. It handles GREAT in the snow and I recently moved from Michigan to Texas and had to pull 5x8 trailer for the first time, and other than killing the gas mileage it got the job done without any issues (and she was at 120K at the time). I would buy this car again if I needed another good running, affordable, 4wd, small SUV for my daily life. My next one will most likely be a Grand Cherokee (unless Ford brings back the Bronco...)
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Overall very good, despite some problems
DR Wilson, 12/17/2009
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
We are very happy with our Patriot, overall. Have had a few problems, such as manual trans synchros (recall) as it was grinding while shifting gears. This was done before the first oil change- 2000 Miles! Otherwise, a great vehicle; great fuel economy, comfortable, peppy for a 2.4l. Also had check engine light on, dealer replaced the O2 sensor and has a rad leak when very cold; will take it in for a new rad next week. The windows are narrow, leaving for blind spots. Overall good quality for the price; small problems easily fixed under warranty. For the record, I am a Journeyman mechanic of 20+ years & a former automotive instructor at a technical school so my technical knowledge is strong.
Amazing!
Ignatz, 08/03/2017
updated 08/21/2023
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I'm still impressed with it after 250,000 miles. CVT was replaced under warranty -- dealer gave me a Chrysler to use while it was being repaired and the whole incident didn't cost me anything. Had a wiring problem at 190,000 miles and realized I'd hardly spent anything on repairs up till then so I went ahead and put out $1000 for a new engine harness. That was two years ago and I've had no significant problems since. Patriot is easy on gas and I'm an easy driver so my fuel economy is consistently in the high 20s MPG and it gets into the 30s on a long trip if I stay under 60MPH. Mine is FWD which helps the fuel economy. FWD is great in the snow and we get plenty here in NH. I don't do any serious off-roading but my Patriot handles marginal dirt roads and trails with no problems. Not only would I buy another, I did: we got a 2014 for my Wife -- also a great vehicle. Update Feb. 2019 I replaced my shocks and struts all around at about 250,000 miles. Those were my originals and I'm very impressed they lasted that long. We get a lot of frost heaves and potholes in this area. My CVT transmission was replaced twice under warranty, once at 110,000 miles and again at 270,000 miles. I suggest any Patriot owners with the CVT should CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 50,000 miles and not wait for the interval suggested in the owners manual. UPDATE: I've since sold my beloved Patriot to a friend. He's still driving it and reports no problems. It must be getting close to 300,000 miles now. I miss it, but with that many miles I felt it was time for something newer because I do a lot of driving in the winter months and in the mountains. If I didn't go so far from home and was home every night I'd still own my Patriot. It was a darn good and reliable machine. Update (2/17/22): My old Patriot is still on the road, now over 300,000 miles. Saw the friend I sold it to and his wife is still using it. Her daily commute is 15-20 miles each way on rural roads with frost heaves and potholes. Update (2/17/23) Last night I saw my friend who bought my Patriot. It's at 315,000 miles now and his wife is still driving it. No problems. I kinda wish I hadn't sold it. Not to worry, we still have a 2014 Patriot that is doing just fine at 185,000 miles.
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Used to love mine but...
luvmyxterra, 12/12/2011
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought my '08 Patriot new, and loved it. It was one of the only 5 speed 4x4s available and it was a great value, coming equipped with a moonroof, cruise, power windows, and a built in inverter, among my favorite accessories. I loved the ingenious little spare flashlight that doubled as the rear dome light. What happened? First, the moonroof leaks at random, and will dump up to 1/2 a cup of water on my dash (and me) at will. The ball joints failed at 45K, making it feel like I was driving on marbles, making horrible clunking sounds when I drove over bumps. Luckily bumper to bumper covered it, but now rust bubbles are the deal breaker. Looking to trade for a Mitsu Outlander.
Highly Defective Substandard Suv
truth1hurts, 03/07/2014
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
We bought the 2008 Patriot new for $25k and within a few months endured unjustifiable anxiety for unrelenting warranty repairs on an inferior made cheap product. First and last time Jeep buyers, the 5-speed manual transmission went through 4+ major warranty repairs: clutch, transmission, defects, gear box, ball bearings, etc. It had to be towed a few times to the car lot. We lost value and money in a headache suv that was highly defective and unreliable and dismissed trips too. Very poor car, dealership, head office and managers. Stacks of warranty repair files amplifies our deserved poor rating of the car and all involved.
do not buy
jt9813, 01/05/2014
updated 01/05/2017
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I have a 2008 Jeep Patriot with 58,000 miles. I had to replace the transmission and ball joints for a total cost of $4700. The 2008 Jeep Patriot has a 5 year or 100,000 mile warranty but it is not transferable to the 2nd owner. I have talked to Jeep but with no success. If you check out the internet you will see that is a typical problem with the Jeep Patriot and Compass. Save yourself a lot of money and aggravation do not buy this vehicle. No more Jeep/ Dodge for me. Had excellent luck with Hyundai Sante Fe [wife] and Ford Edge [me].
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Cheap Jeep! Beware of Money Pit.
newellio, 08/23/2011
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
Purchased vehicle with only 13,000 miles. Within first year needed new brakes, then when around 57,000 miles the rattling and clunking noises began. We discovered both tie rods and ball joints were bad. Estimated repairs were over $1000. Then a ringing noise in the transmission began to get louder. So we decided to trade in. Dealers were not willing to give us a decent trade because the CVT transmission was starting to go bad. Apparently this is a major issue in the Jeeps especially when it reaches around 60,000 miles. Jeep is not willing to warranty this issue. Our mechanic said newer jeeps are the most serviced vehicle he works on and encouraged us to trade it!
What a nightmare!
redskins78, 07/24/2015
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
14 of 17 people found this review helpful
What a piece of crap. 1. My dome lights leak water when it rains -- dripped and shorted out my stereo. 2. When the AC is on, it leaks into my drivers floorboards. 3. Real Calibers out at 90k miles 4. ALL ball joints needed replaced at 95k 5. Alternator dead at 100k 6. Two engine pullies replaced at 100k (major rattle) 7. Front struts replaced at 100k 8. Rotors at 100k 9. I get about 17 MPG city, and 20 MPG highway NOW... after putting $3500 into it over the past 9 months, it's riding better than ever... and what happens? My transmission oil overheats and I lose all acceleration while going 80mph on the the highway. I don't know how much that is going to cost, but I'm getting rid of it before I put another DOLLAR into it. Get on the Jeep Patriot message boards and see how common the dome light and AC leaking are. Same with the ball joints and the transmission oil issue. HUNK OF JUNK. Great exterior and interior... but total crap everywhere else.
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One Word - Excellent!
bluesky, 11/24/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I normally do not take the time to provide feedback, but feel obligated, given I often look at others opinions before buying. In short, this car is excellent! You can't go wrong. I've owned it almost a year now. No problems whatsoever. It's fun to drive, responsive and intelligently designed. The on board computer display is a nice feature (forget what it's called), as it not only gives you the outside temp,but warns you of such things as low tire pressure, etc. I'm ave about 26 to 28 mpg.
JUNK CAR JUNK COMPANY
kh0864, 07/05/2013
updated 07/07/2016
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I would like to add to my previous review... We went to the dealership and got our transmission looked at, and they confirmed at 100,000Km on a FIVE yr old car the transmission needs to be replaced... The best part.. the factory warranty is expired by TWO MONTHS and Jeep/Chrysler head office will NOT warranty it.. 2 [non-permissible content removed] MONTHS!!!!! Oh and the BEST part... They tell us it will be $5300.00 to replace...What a joke!!!! First and LAST time we ever buy an American car. Very disappointed, I really loved the looks of this car, too bad they can't get the CVT right.
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WORST DECISION EVER!
Claudia Pina, 05/20/2016
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
Do not buy a jeep patriot have had so many problems with my patriot its crazy, and worst part ever is that jeep wont do anything to fix your issues, take your money elsewhere, not worth a penny I bought my jeep in 2007, and bought me a 2008 jeep patriot with 2 miles on it well 2 years later every time it rained it was as if I had my sunroof open water leaked from all over the place it is insane, and of course jeep didn't find anything wrong with it, please take your hard earned money and buy you a vehicle that's worth buying not Chrysler / Jeep products!
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Terrible with a dash of confusion
buckleyjohn, 02/19/2014
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
First off, I have to agree with everyone here that this is a terrible Jeep. Now, I bought my 2008 Patriot 4x4 Sport with the automatic CVT and 2.4L in New Mexico used in 2010 with about 40k on it. Two days after I bought it, the transmission overheated. They tried to blame it on the fact that the tires didnt match. The front and rear were different profile sized. So, I called them retarded and made them service the transmission by changing the fluid and filter and give me a set of new tires. About 3 months went by. Same thing transmission overheated at 70mph on the highway in the middle of no where. Had to sit in the hot sun for about 3 hours for it to cool down.
huge mistake!
bridges114, 10/03/2014
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
17 of 23 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 2008 jeep patriot in 2012 and ever since I have had issues. I've had to replace the battery, alternator, plugs(which isn't a huge deal i understand that happens) but now my transmission has went out!!! Its completely ridiculous. I don't have 2000 plus labor to fix it so I am now screwed. I have no idea how I'm gonna get my kids to school, Dr appointments or me to work. I will never but anything made by Chrysler again nor do I reccomend it.
Reliable...that's it
TC, 12/14/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
If your looking for a car with no power and no flash than here ya go. I have the bare bones model because of the price, but wish I would have spent the couple K more for 4WD and added features. The car would be a great commuter and that's it. Far from trail rated (it's a Dodge Caliber with a Jeep logo stamped on it).
Stay away from the cheap jeep
alanhatesjeep, 01/03/2014
updated 07/09/2018
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
The most expensive car to maintain I have ever owned in 34 years. Like everyone, I have replaced tie rods, and ball joints continuously since I bought this jeep new in 2008. I also replaced the engine in 2012, due to a broken connecting rod, at 118,000 kilometers. Chrysler refused to warrant, as it was past 100,000 km. Thought I would just run it into the ground after I paid over $6,000 to have a used engine installed. Guess what? At a 130,000, a pin in the driver door snapped off and now the door will not close. Probably not a big repair, but enough is a enough. It is no longer insured. Finally decided in early 2016 it was time to get it back on the road and sell it. This was after it sat for three years. Guess what? $5,000 + in suspension repairs! Needed front and rear alignments and virtually every suspension part replaced. Currently every warning light concerning EPS, TC, 4x4 and ABS is on, so I still can't sell it. Got $1,500 on a trade in against a GMC Sierra in Oct 2016, worst investment of my life.
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MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH WATER LEAKS
rbeasley, 02/07/2010
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Owned this vehicle 1 1/2 years now, 17,000, miles. No issue except water leaks. Sunroof leaked and Rear Dome Light still leaks. My 08 Patriot is at the dealers now and has been there for two weeks. Water leak at rear dome light. This is the fifth time at the dealers. Dealer has no idea where it leaks. They even took it to a body shop. I filed a complaint with Chrysler they been putting me off. Still waiting and trying to get them to buy it back since it is still under warranty. I am passed the lemon law date in VA. Anything older than 18 months is to late to file a lemon law claim. I would think twice before buying a Patriot. This vehicle has major issues with water leaks.
40K miles and looking to sell
justin53, 06/13/2011
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have written 2 previous revies on the patriot, both positive. The last report was around 20k miles. At 38K miles I had to replace the font end lower control arms (ball joints) and the mechanic told me this was not uncommon for this model lately. The repair plus the tires I burned through before I realizes the problem cost $1400! Now I am at 40K and believe by starter is burnt out. When used car shopping I usually consider 40K the break in period. I bought the Patriot new and now think 40K is the life span.
could be better, could be worse.
Warren, 10/04/2009
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Rear view mirror positioned too low causing visibility problems. Plastic door finish vibrates. Lots of road noise. Water leaks in front dome light (could be front window seal?). Impossible to utilize indicator switch at night without flipping to high beam. Great gas mileage (45 imperial mpg @ 60 mph on flat highway, 30 mpg in town). Mechanical no problems whatsoever after 12,000 miles. Tremendous traction in snow.
UNBELIEVABLE VALUE
janetjrm, 07/03/2011
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Bought this car off the lot with 31 miles on it. Just got rid of it with 137000. Only repair was new tires. I drove this car into the ground. Terrific for small SUV. 4WD is awesome made it up my huge hill of a driveway every time. Never had a repair bill. put on more than 30000 a year and it never failed me. My favorite car!!! Only let it go as I needed larger SUV for my german shepherd. It is small, but 4 cyl gas mileage 18 in town and 25+ on Hwy. Highly recommend this vehicle, very fun to drive, easy to park. I miss it already!
WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED!!
caitlin, 05/28/2016
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
15 of 34 people found this review helpful
Do not ever get a jeep patriot, especially a 2008. I have had nothing but problems with this car since day 1. The dealership isnt helping me at all. I would rather walk miles everyday than have to drive this piece of junk one more day.
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Money Pit... Eats tires!
ginahweenah, 01/11/2012
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
We bought our Patriot new off the lot with 28 miles on it. We've put a new set of tires on it yearly as it tears up the inside of the front tires despite getting them rotated every two months. We have had to replace something for the rack and pinion steering on the passenger side and a tie rod twice on the passenger side. Looking to trade in and go back to Toyota. Will NEVER buy a Jeep again!
Everyone loves riots
RiotDan, 06/22/2010
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I've had a wrangler for 6 years and loved every minute of it. However, just like everyone else loosing money at the pump, i needed something a little more gpm friendly. Depressed, i looked at sedans and small trucks until i saw the riot. i did cartwheels as the dealer told me i could have the fuel eco i wanted and still parade around in my American build 4 banger with teeth.
Typical Mopar build quality
shesgoneforgood, 02/05/2022
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this in the winter of 2021 for a song but I regret the purchase for the most part. Here in Pittsburgh we deal with salt in the winter and by the time I got it the front subframe had been replaced and the rear was shot. The subframe itself and the bolt kit were reasonable enough but as you take it apart you realize how terrible the engineering is. Before this I had a 98 Chrysler town and country and both of the vehicles were obviously assembled with the assembly in mind and not the servicing. The subframe forced me to follow the rusted parts to the trailing arms, lower control arms, hubs, parking brake assemblies and hardware and so on. The saving grace and the reason for 3 stars is that it goes like crazy in the snow. We got hit hard and I had to drive to drive over 80 miles in it. Out of 80 miles I was in 4 wheel drive for about 3 miles and the rest of the time the front wheel was excellent. One time the traction control came on. I have a remote start so the key fobs and alarm don't function. This was a problem that even the dealer couldn't figure out. Chryler's answer? Quit installing remote starters! If you like hard plastic, shoddy assembly and sub-standard parts, look no further! Yes, you will be able to take it to the junkyard during the blizzard. Almost forgot the CVT! My combined mileage in the country with very little stop and go is 18 with 21 on the highway being the best I achieved out of the 2.4 but I had a tail wind that day. I have owned many Chrysler vehicles and the one that I love and still have is the Crossfire. That has been a reliable daily driver for the past 143k. It's the best car Chrysler never made. For some reason, this site is only offering me a 5 speed manual option for the review but it is a CVT.
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CVT TRANSMISSION
kh0864, 07/04/2013
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My husband and I just bought a 2008 Patriot, fell in love with it right away!! Loved the rugged looking exterior of an SUV/Truck with the gas mileage of a car! Unfortunately the love was short lived. ONE day after buying this Jeep it started to make a whinning noise which was coming from the front end.. We had a bad feeling it was the CVT transmission so we took it into the Chrysler/Jeep dealership and our suspisions were right.. It needs a new CVT Transmission!! a 5 year old car with 100,000KM on it should NOT need a new transmission!!! So to anyone looking to get a Patriot don't fall in love with the Exterior/Interior when what's under the hood doesnt stand up to par!!!
Heep patriot
Andrew Roberts, 06/18/2017
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I'm disappointed that jeep would put their name on it. My wife and I have had nothing but problems with this (I call it heep patriot).mainly with the suspension!but also brakes, inlinement,the way it handles. 4×4?why?I get nervous just on the public side roads that are a little bumpy.we can't even put more than 600 lbs in the back of the front seats. We've had for about 4 years now and still owe a lot of money and constantly trying to keep up with just keeping it on the road. My butt hurts!once we get out of this trap,I'm so going to enjoy blowing this thing up.
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Still running like a champ
Jose, 01/31/2017
updated 08/07/2018
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought my patriot on 2007 the only thing I have done to it is replaced the battery twice, the Good Year tires only lasted for 23000 miles, replace the air filter every year or wen needed, plugs twice,oil wen the computer tells me just hit 50 000 miles, I drive from Phoenix to the Bay area twice a year, what helps me to keep the milage down is that i work 4 miles from work, love my patriot
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afraid to drive because its always cost me money in breakdowns
gary86, 09/13/2012
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
my 2008 jeep patriot I thought was going to be a great car at a great price but oh boy was I WRONG.we only drive it when going to dinner or someplace nice. the car only has 15000 miles on it and we have had the tie rods replaced the transmissionm replaced and now the ball joint assembly replaced. it also leaked until they figured out how to fix it. trying to get them to fix it now is a problem it only had a 3 year 36000 mile warranty whichever came first. if we would had driven it more during the first 3 years these problems would had been discovered but we were trying to keep the vechile like new what a mistake. I"m also a toledo jeep retiree but that makes 0 difference to them.
Jeep Patriot
Rion Allen, 05/28/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
10,000 miles and still loving it, not the fastest but smooth to drive and built with quality. I like chicken. 5 spd manual had a little trouble grinding in 3rd gear but local chrysler/dodge/jeep dealer fixed it right up with a new blocker ring. Towed a 2500 or more load from Michigan to Texas in 2 days over foothills of mountains, no trouble at all and not equipped with tow package, however i do run synthetic. This car was perfect for me with the basic package because the vinyl is easy to clean and the removable rear cargo floor is easy to clean. I am very happy with my new Jeep and look forward to a long companionship. Purchased extended warranty- lifetime bumper to bumper good buy.
Stay Away from the 2008 Jeep Patriot
autumnrose, 05/11/2012
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have replaced everything in the front end of this vehicle. I have owned it 6 months and in that 6 months, stab links, barrings, ball joints, inner and outer tie rods, struts (twice), the spark plugs and it needs coils but there 40$ a piece have not got there yet. Now after the front end problems it still creaks and squeaks it makes crazy sounds. it likes to hesitate when you push the gas. It just wont go and it stutters like it wants to stall but it does not YET. i dont get it and no garages do either. One said it was a misfire in the piston. GREAT! i would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. it makes so many sounds and even after it is all "fixed" it still remains making unknown sounds
CVT Surprised Me
Doug, 06/07/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I had misgivings about the CVT based on what I had read, however could not find a limited with 5 speed manual so went ahead with 2.4 CVT. First weekend after break in took the family from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon. The hill up to Sunset point is notorious for slow downs given its grade. Set the cruise at 75 mph, the CVT was smooth and able to maintain 70 mph. My old 4.0 Cherokee had trouble maintaining 70 up this hill so I am now a believer in the CVT. By the way I also managed 29 mpg on the trip. This is my fourth jeep (2 Cherokees, 1 Wrangler), and so far this jeep is living up to my expectations
2008 Jeep Patriot - Fail!
disappointed71, 08/04/2012
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought new in 2008. Within the first year, dome light would fill with water during a hard rain and would dump all over dash and me! Three years in, the lower ball joints/control arm had to be replaced with under 60,000 mi. Brakes and tires also had to be replace around the same time due to extra strain from the bad control arm. One year later, the ball joints are going bad again! Transmission is also acting up - anytime I travel on the highway for 2 hours or so, the transmission temperature light goes on and the car compensates by slowing me down to 45 mph, forcing me to pull over. Dealership says nothing is wrong with the tranny. I beg to differ!! Hate this car and will trade ASAP!!!
2008 Patriot Automatic
highlander25, 05/07/2012
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought new in 2008, 25 miles on it. Since then, 77K miles and I have gone had 2 transmission replacements and it sounds like a third is coming soon. I can't get the car to stop whining. The car overheats 30 minutes into a family trip, have to stop to cool down before going on. Any slight incline and the tranny overheats. This is a problem since we like in Colorado now. Dealerships here had the car once for a month fighting with Corporate over who will pay to replace the tranny. Will never own a jeep again. My eight year old makes fun of jeeps we see parked.
Poor Quality, Worse Company
amricnsoldr, 12/21/2012
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought the 2008 Patriot Sport 4x4 2.4L CVT automatic brand new. About a month into owning it we noticed water coming in and collecting in the front courtesy light lens after it had rained the night before. We realized this when we hit the brakes to stop and water poured out onto dash and soaked us both. Took it to the dealer and of course the dealer could not duplicate the problem. This was the first of 4 trips to the dealer for this problem. The 2nd time they said it was the sunroof leaking so they replaced it. The 3rd time it had to go back they FINALLY dropped the headliner and let a hose run on it all day to find the leak. still leaks to this day and now its out of warranty..
Finally a fuel miser Jeep
jepstr67, 01/21/2009
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have logged 21000 miles on this Jeep since March of 2008. Not a single problem. Power and performance are more than adequate for my driving style. My mileage is well within the stated numbers. Often a little better, 30 MPG highway is common for me. The cargo space is good. Lots of room for lumber, dogs, furniture and garage sale finds. This is NOT a Jeep designed for difficult trails and extended off road use. It is excellent for northern climates where snow and ice are common. The car is quiet and comfortable. It is possible to keep the cabin comfortable in temperatures from -20 to 100 degrees. There is some road noise but not excessive. Lets be reasonable, look at the price.
Jeep Patriot Limited '08
Yay! Jeep, 12/27/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased my patriot almost two months ago and I love it! Its the perfect size suv and the limited is worth the money. I cant live without the heated seats and I also like how you can see how many miles you have left in a tank of gas. It's really fun to drive and has a sharp little box look. I researched cars for months and im really happy with my decision to buy the patriot.
The jeep
Nicholas Walker, 03/27/2017
updated 03/27/2020
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
There is always something wrong with it. The value of the car drops faster than id like. Wouldnt recommend.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Jeep Got it Right
New Patriot Owner, 09/06/2007
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've always been loyal to Jeep and have owned two Wranglers, so when I say the Patriot feels like a luxury SUV keep in mind I don't have much to compare it to. But after just a few days zipping around in this wonderful SUV, I can't believe that some owners are giving it only so-so reviews. I bought the Limited Patriot because I was looking for several things: 4-cylinder, comfortable ride with lots of cool stuff (leather, sunroof, heated seats) and of course it has to be a "real" Jeep. Give the folks at Jeep credit - if they didn't create the Patriot they would have lost me as a long-time customer. I was looking at other small, gas-sipping SUV's like the RAV 4 and the CRV. Not now!
It's a love/hate relationship
Caylee, 08/07/2017
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
My parents bought this Jeep in 2008. It was a fun, sporty car-something that was a bit different. I started driving it primarily when it was handed down to me in 2011. Since I have had it, the transmission has needed to be replaced, air conditioning and one of the speakers that had blown. Now, being honest, I am also one who likes to drive more pedal to the metal. Brakes have needed to be replaced a bit more than usual. It does not do well speeding up. Sure, once you get going it hits 85-90 mph just fine, but it makes a lot of noise to get there. I've also had a couple of moments where I've gone and the pedal would literally be hitting the bottom and the car for some reason would stall and only go about 15-20 mph until it kicked in. It also does not do very well in the winter. I live in the midwest, so we get to see all seasons and the weather that comes with it. It does horrible in the snow and sometimes even after a heavy rain. It does have nice climate control inside. The AC does wonders, and defrost works pretty quickly in the winter as well. It is nice to park in tight spaces and makes tight turns pretty nicely also. It is more of a smaller SUV size, but still packs a lot into it. The rear bench seat folds completely down and can haul a lot. The gas tank doesn't really hold a lot, maybe 11 gallons? I usually have to fill up about every 270 miles (and that's pushing it). All in all, its a nice little jeep. Hauls a lot and can be fun to drive, but not great for bad weather conditions and has some bad blinds spots as well. From what I have heard, 2008 was a bad year for the Jeep Patriot also, so hopefully they have made some improvements since then.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Transmission / Leaks / 60K Buying a Patriot Read this...
lipjunkiee, 01/15/2011
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 7 people found this review helpful
I own a 2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x4. I bought it two years ago with only 5K miles. One month after I bought the car the back light dome and flash light filled up with water. They stripped my interior out and gave me new interior and had to weld the problem. Two months ago 200 miles after my warranty expired the leak came back - but worse! I took it in for a diagnostic. They told me a stick had plugged my drainage tube for my sunroof. WOW! I never use my sunroof. THEN after I get my transmission serviced - fluid changed etc 500.00 dollars later... and two months later my TRANSMISSION goes out.... It's going to cost me $ 5,150.00 dollars to replace it. CVT TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT RELIABLE!
Update- 122k, still no non wear repairs
jeepking, 08/07/2011
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
I wrote a review about my Patriot at 60k, only repair then was a light bulb. Since then I have 122k and have only had to replace wear items. Just did a new clutch at 122k, did rear brakes at 110k and front at 120k. My hope is the next clutch goes longer, I live in Minnesota and when I replaced the stock Goodyears with Michelins my snow performance went to ****, I have two wheel drive and did put some snow tires on (Kumhos), and that has worked out well. Point is I think I did a lot of damage to my clutch trying to get out of stuff without snow tires.
Should I Buy
Robert, 07/23/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Looking at tons of cars out there. Starting with Prius to expensive, Yaris and Scion XB. Test drove Patriot and loved it. Concerned about Jeep quality but can't touch Scion XB for under 18,000 out the door. Found Jeep Patriots for 11,999 with auto, air and full power in Los Angeles. Price is a major concern because I have to pay cash because of credit problems. Love the Orange Color.
Very Nice for $19,500
Charles, 07/01/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
For the money you can not beat it. 4wd, very good mpg plenty of room. Looks pretty good too.
Outstanding Value
John in Phoenix, 08/02/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this vehicle while I was in Iraq through military buying program. Did research on these types of sites, and information was overwhelmingly positive, even though it was not rated well in Consumer Report. I took a bit of a "plunge" and bought it strictly on consumer ratings, vehicle magazine ratings (other than CR), and people such as you giving honest feedback on these sites. Got a great deal and bought a Sport 4x4, CVT transmission, electronic package. I have been driving it for a month now and it exceeds my expectations! I was concerned about a 4-cylinder engine, but more than enough power to get around. I heard some cons about the CVT, but not an issue...works very well.
The SUV you want with today's gas prices
Eric in CO, 08/03/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We got the Patriot to replace a Honda Element. So far, we have mostly good things to say about it. Where we live, we routinely get heavy snows, and even with Freedom Drive I we have no problems. The upgraded sound is amazing, the sunroof is well worth the $800, and the YES! seats are perfect for our 10-month-old. Our big complaint is that there's not very much cargo space, especially with a baby in the back seat. I guess that's what you get with a small SUV, though. I also wish the liftgate lifted higher. I'm 5'11 and I hit my head all the time. So far we get something in the 25-26 mpg range, but we drive up a 2000-foot hill once or twice a day, which kills the mpg. Overall we're pleased.
Great choice for SUV fans
GP Fan, 06/11/2008
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've only had the Patriot for two weeks, but I already know I made a good decision in picking this vehicle. I looked at several comparable models including the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. Those are all nice vehicles, but seemed to be somewhat overpriced compared to the features of the Patriot. I bought the Sport 4x4 with the CVT transmission. With only 650 miles, I'm getting 27 MPG on the hwy, which is 3 MPG above the EPA rating. Combined is 23 MPG. Seat comfort is good considering there is no power option. Plenty of leg room front and rear. Build quality is very good. Anyone looking at a small SUV should consider this one. Check out the forums on the Patriot.