Two problems related to clutch pedal/linkage have been reported for the 2008 Jeep Patriot. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
On Thursday the 15th of June 2012, I was driving my 2008 Jeep Patriot. There was no hint of trouble. I stopped for a light. When the light turned green, I tried to put the Jeep in first gear. The clutch pedal went straight to the floor although the gear did take sufficiently for me to move the car to safety. I called aaa and had the vehicle towed to baxter Jeep Chrysler, where I had purchased the vehicle in 2009. . I told them that the clutch had shown no slippage or other signs of impending failure. The current mileage was 47,000. On Monday, they found that the release bearing/slave cylinder had failed and that fluid had leaked from the slave cylinder into the clutch assembly, which could not be cleaned effectively. They stated that the clutch assembly itself had to be replaced along with the slave cylinder. The cost of the repair was $1338. 56. In that model year, I was told that I had a lifetime warranty on the power train. The Chrysler representative claimed that the slave cylinder was not covered under the warranty because it was considered part of the clutch. I disagree. Although the slave cylinder subserves the clutch assembly, it is part of the power hydraulic system and should be covered by the warranty. 1) Chrysler is not honoring the original warranty. 2) there is a serious safety design issue when the hydraulic component can leak directly into the clutch, immediately destroying its function. The failure of the clutch was sudden and unpredictable. There are several posts on internet raising identical issues about the Jeep design and failure to honor the service guarantee. I am respectfully requesting redress, to include refund of the cost of the repair, and an investigation of the safety of Jeeps equipped with the current manual transmission.
Suddenly started having a loose clutch pedal. Took it to my independent repair shop. They diagnosed a leaking slave cylinder. The brakes are still working fine but I'm having more and more trouble shifting gears. Dealer says clutch is under warranty for 1year/20000km. Not sure of what happens next. Approximate repair cost around $1000.