2011 Jeep Patriot

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
21–25 mpgcombined; city 20–23, highway 23–29; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,990–$15,470U.S. average; Ohio $11,610–$13,820 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Recall campaigns
4over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
326filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2011 Patriot. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 326 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Patriot. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine66223
Suspension55200
Power train53203
Structure51120
Air bags431006
Unknown or other35302
Electrical system32101
Fuel/propulsion system29100
Seat belts25201
Steering19200
Vehicle speed control18100
Engine and engine cooling9010
15 more parts
Wheels9300
Service brakes8201
Electronic stability control (ESC)7000
Exterior lighting6000
Tires5100
Fuel system, gasoline3100
Forward collision avoidance2000
Service brakes, hydraulic2000
Visibility2000
Visibility/wiper2000
Back over prevention1000
Equipment1000
Latches/locks/linkages1000
Seats1000
Traction control system1101

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2007270
  2. 2008447
  3. 2009275
  4. 2010188
  5. 2011326
  6. 2012354
  7. 2013120
  8. 2014548
  9. 2015315
  10. 2016458
  11. 201759

Every Patriot year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2011 Patriot over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Equipment

NHTSA campaign 17V824000 · reported Dec 21, 2017 · 61,791 vehicles potentially affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Risk: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags; Air bags: frontal; Seat belts: pretensioner

NHTSA campaign 16V668000 · reported Sep 15, 2016 · 1,435,625 vehicles potentially affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: side/window; Electrical system: software; Seat belts

NHTSA campaign 13V233000 · reported Jun 4, 2013 · 254,396 vehicles potentially affected

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012. The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags.

Risk: In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the side curtain airbag and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners. As a result, vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall number is N01.

NHTSA's record and documents

Steering: column

NHTSA campaign 11V315000 · reported Jun 8, 2011 · 11,096 vehicles potentially affected

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011DODGE JOURNEY, JEEP WRANGLER, CHRYSLER 200, CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE, DODGE AVENGER, DODGE NITRO, JEEP LIBERTY, DODGE CALIBER, JEEP COMPASS, JEEP PATRIOT, DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED STEERING COLUMN PIVOT RIVET.

Risk: A MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED RIVET COULD COMPROMISE THE ABILITY OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO SUPPORT THE OCCUPANT LOADS IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, DECREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FRONTAL IMPACT SAFETY SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR RIVET PRESENCE AND ALIGNMENT AND REPAIR THE STEERING COLUMN PIVOT AS REQUIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 4, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 75 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2011 Patriot, the latest on Jun 18, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (23), equipment (18), structure (10), power train (8), unknown or other (7).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Engineering analysis EA21002
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 37 makes
Air bagsSep 17, 2021Open
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE19014
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment · covers 4 makes
SeatsSep 9, 2019Closed Feb 25, 2026
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE12032
Engine stall, fuel delivery failure
Fuel system, gasolineOct 15, 2012Closed May 3, 2013
NHTSA's summary names recall 13V120000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2011 Patriot.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2011 Jeep Patriots for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Patriot
Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdRegular Gasoline23 / 28 / 25
Patriot
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdRegular Gasoline23 / 29 / 25
Patriot
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cylAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Regular Gasoline23 / 27 / 24
Patriot
4-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdRegular Gasoline22 / 27 / 24
Patriot
Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cylAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Regular Gasoline21 / 27 / 23
Patriot
4-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cylAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Regular Gasoline21 / 26 / 23
Patriot
4-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cylAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Regular Gasoline20 / 23 / 21

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data