2016 Jeep Patriot transmission and drivetrain problems
74 of the 458 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Patriot name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 12 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 74 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 16 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 12 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 1
Half of the 51 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 40,000 and 84,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
458 complaints in all about the 2016 Jeep Patriot, 1 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Jeep Patriot transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The car would hesitate when accelerating and slow down to a very low speed before bucking and thrusting until the speed would increase. The slowness was slow enough on a highway to almost cause an accident
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Patriot. After the vehicle was repaired per an unknown recall regarding the crankshaft, the vehicle lost acceleration while driving various speeds. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle. In addition, the ABS and four wheel drive warning indicators illuminated.
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Patriot. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the gear shifted on its own out of the drive position. The contact placed the gear in neutral and then back into drive. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
The vehicle shudders/ lags during acceleration. More specifically during stops when trying to accelerate. This does not happen all the time. When the vehicle has been on the road for a considerable amount of time it will do the same in an upwards of 50 miles an hour on the highway shuddering at different times.
On september 24, 2018 the Jeep Patriot listed above stalled while driving east on I-70 we were towed to a mechanic in goodland, kansas. After the vehicle was diagnosed it was discovered that the camshaft was broken
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications12 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Jeep Patriot names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Jeep Patriot
Source: the same files- engine problems 242 complaints
- electrical problems 100 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Jeep Patriot?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 74 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (16% of everything owners filed about it), and 12 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Jeep Patriot?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Jeep Patriot?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 59,000 miles; half of them between 40,000 and 84,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.