Front Suspension Control Arm problems of the 2008 Jeep Patriot

Never received extended warranty information on front and rear crossmember corrosion (x69 warranty extension). Have all required maintenance at dealer. They never mentioned the extended coverage nor did they tell me after any of the service there was a rust issue. Now they refuse to cover this repair. I also have the lifetime mopar maximum care. They also won't cover because they say the part failure is due to rust. Tge parts requiring replacement should all be covered. They are:rear crossmember - rear upper and lower control arms - both rear calipers.

Driving back from visiting my brother in pittsburgh on mon. 10-10-2016 on the PA turnpike I heard a weird noise underneath my Jeep up front sound like a light squeaking noise but couldn't figure out what it was I was debating on dropping my Jeep off at my mechanic to check it out but we got home too late drove Jeep to dr appt that week on a Wednesday for test results driving on smooth roads only heard the squeaking noise until I hit a little pot hole on my driver's side on the back roads going about 25 mph & heard a clunking noise and no matter when I hit a little bump with the right front tire area I heard a loud clunking noise like a ball joint or shock I called my mechanic to tell him I was dropping off the Jeep and told him the noise it was making. After I dropped it off I was informed by my mechanic the next day that my front sub frame on the drivers side the bolt hole was rusted from the inside of the frame and broke breaking my connection to my right control arm and recommended me to replace the sub frame and both control arms on both sides due to the rust on the left side also before that too broke off. It could have been a very different scenario if this would of happen on the PA turnpike heading home to coopersburg, PA over 200 miles one way the man above watched over us that day the Jeep only has 36,192 miles on it the pictures below bad--driver's side front of sub frame totally inside rusted area-major problem / good is passenger side as you can see the hole and the insert inside is not aligned properly. I would think it was a defective part which is not on the recall list. My 1st Jeep purchase because of it supposively ruggedness in all weather and good safety rating guess I was wrong I am 80 yrs young & I definitely don't dry off road I bought it new in 2008 safety rating& rugged thank you for your time thank god it didn't happen on the interstate-don.

I've been informed by my mechanic that my subframe on the ground end is rotted out and will probably crack in half in less that s year. I keep replacing ball joints and control arms because the frame is so weak it is starting to bow and cause everything to become out of alignment. This car only has 75000 miles on it and never off road. Chrysler corp told me its probably time to buy s new car. This car is s major safety hazard to me and my small children. Hopefully no one gets killed or seriously injured before they see a problem.

I own a 2008 Jeep Patriot 4x4. The driver side lower control arm failed at 29,000 miles costing over $800 to fix and not covered by warranty. I started doing research online in Jeep forums and blogs and found this is a common problem on these vehicles. Dealer told me if I haven't happened to bring it in for an oil change and tire rotation, my left front wheel would have fallen off. I don't drive this off-road, just back and forth in city driving to work and for errands and one 1400 mile trip every 2-3 years via interstate. Found they had a recall for this same issue in earlier versions of Jeeps, but not on 2007 or 2008 Patriots. My research found this is a poor design and will keep happening over and over again once it starts. This is dangerous and could get someone killed and Chrysler/fiat should stand up to the plate and do a recall on this vehicle. Will never buy another vehicle from them ever, period.

At 62k miles I had to replace my driver side lower control arm assembly costing me $300 and no help from Chrysler or my dealership. Now at 93k miles and a year and half later, I need both lower control arms replaced. The estimate for them both replaced is $715. That's over $1000 for something that Chrysler knows about and does nothing to assist their customers. I purchased this car brand new, even ordered from the factory, using the discount my company has with them, we get the preferred price being a supplier for their bearings and this is the quality I get? why even put the best bearings in the world on the Jeep if you use garbage to support the wheel?.

Severe vibration when braking in front end of vehicle, worse when braking downhill. Had to have both front control arm/ball joint assemblies replaced, along with the left outer tie rod end. Checked the Jeep customer web site and found many similar incidents reported by other owners.

At about 15,000 miles we started to here "clunking" when driving the car, had it in several times for sun roof leaks and had the dealer take a look, but they could never find anything. This week had it in for the 5-year check up and in the notes it stated that the front control arms are bad. Did a search to find out more details and came across all these posts from other users. Looks like I'm now stuck with a large repair, similar to other users, for something that was an issue early on. All the miles have been highway miles. Not at all happy right now. If they were aware of the issue early on, why was it not found and repaired during that warranty period?.

I had been hearing grinding noises from the front of my Jeep; still under 3/yr warranty- I brought it in to the dealership. At first they did not hear or see any concerns and stated the noise was my tires. Of course it was suggested to get my tires replaced especially my front right due to the uneven wear. So I did, sound continued to become more consistent- I took it back to the dealer and they found my control arms, and ball joints to be bad. Same problem is occurring again- took it back to dealer- they did not see/hear any problems and now I have a clunking noise louder than the grinding noise. I'm concerned this is a safety problem and I do not have the money to take to dealership again- not to mention I feel I've already paid for this problem once to be fixed.

Had to replace both left and right front lower control arms and ball joints at 57000 miles. And had to have it lined up again. Total cost 980. 00 there needs to be a recall.

2008 Patriot failed inspection 1 year after buying it pre-owned lower control arm-$241. 52 outter tie rod 74. 78 front end repair- 153. 00 alignment 79. 95.

Severe steering wheel vibration at elevated speed. Front ball joints shot and cannot be serviced due to design. Replaced front left and front right lower control arms, plus 2 tires with only 11k miles. Problem appears to be sudden/rapid deterioration and catastrophic failure since all 4 tires were replaced at 50k miles with zero evidence of abnormal wear and no steering issues. Vehicle has not been wrecked or driven off-road. Numerous Jeep forums and blogs with complaints about the 2008 Jeep Patriot front suspension. Local Jeep dealer service manager claimed never seen this issue before or replaced any lower control arms on this year, make and model. Had work done at independent garage since dealer service manager was apparently not telling the truth or withholding facts.

My Jeep Patriot needed front ball joints and control arms replaced at 32,000 miles. It has never been driven recklessly or even off road. It was a $1,045. 00 repair job. The mechanic said it was a hazard to drive. The Jeep forums are alive with complaints about the exact same repair early on. This is an excessive repair and a danger. . Read more...

Driver side, front lower control arm and ball joint badly worn. Was told by car dealer the problem is very common with Jeep Patriots. The dealer sees this manufacturing defect so often. They keep several driver side lca/balljoint assemblies in stock.

Took vehicle in for transmission problems, (this the second transmission since bought) they basically tell me that it needs to completely fail before they will do something. Then they come back and say that they can replace the transmission cooler lines because they might be leaking for $410. 00. And they also say that my front right and left control arms are bad which of course they can be replaced for $845. 00. So for a problem that was under warranty they would not fix but they would like to fix other issues that may or may not be bad for a price. . . . . . . Very disappointed in Dodge. This may cause me to defect from Chrysler and buy Ford.

Both lower control arms and tie rods failed at 30,000 miles and under. I just failed my annual PA state safety inspection for the for the second time in 2 years. This year it was the left lower control arm and outer tie rod. Last year, when it failed the safety inspection, it was the opposite side components. My odometer read 30379 miles at the service date. This is listed on the current invoice from a reputable Chrysler service center / dealership where I had the work done. Last year's safety inspection failure was at about 23000 miles. I am obviously upset that I have had to spend so much money on this safety issue so early in the life of this vehicle. I am also very concerned for the welfare of other owners which may not have required state inspections like I have where I live. I am thankful for the inspections and the mechanic who recognized the issue and possibly saved me from a future accident. I started doing some homework finding that this is a common problem on these vehicles. I found this by looking at many different independent Jeep owner websites, blogs, and even complaints found on the NHTSA website. I do not drive aggressively, go off-roading or any other thing like that which may have contributed to this problem. I am very disappointed that Chrysler has not taken any responsibility for this safety concern to date. In fact, when I sent an email to Chrysler I was given a stock reply amounting to "we are sorry for your trouble but we can't make a diagnosis on your vehicle. Please go to a licensed Chrysler service center. Please report your safety concern with NHTSA. Have a nice day!" . . . And here I am. I wonder if they even read my email because I already had the work done. Hopefully somebody will take care of this before people get hurt or have to pay over a thousand dollars for repairing safety issues Chrysler should be addressing.

Lower control arms and outer tie rods wore out 54,000 miles. Seems kind of low mileage for them to wear out under normal driving conditions. Replaced 2/7/12 for $690. 15.

Ball joint on front driver's side lower control arm (lca) has gone bad and needs replaced. The ball joint is integrated with the lca in the Jeep Patriot, so the entire lca must be replaced. From speaking with the dealership and others who own Jeep Patriots (and the related Jeep compass and Dodge caliber), it seems that front suspension problems are quite common with these vehicles, even at relatively low mileage (30,000 miles or less).

In December I had taken my Jeep in for new brakes as they went bad and was told my front control arms were bad and going to need replaced. I couldn't afford it at the time and it seemed to be running ok. In may it was running terrible, very shaky and bumpy. When I took it in I was told front control arms and bushings and one back control arm and bushings were all bad/broken. As a result of that I also ruined my tires and had to replace those as well. At the repair time only had about 56000 miles on it. This was a very costly repair as well. (over 1600 dollars total and that is with a discount I get).

2008 Jeep Patriot. Consumer writes seeking reimbursement for vehicle repairs. The consumer stated the control arm needed to be replaced a total of 3 times.

Had to have front lower control arms and outer tie rods replaced at 47k miles because they had become excessively worn. As a result, the front wheels had developed a wobble and were noisy when driving. This problem was diagnosed during a routine oil change/tire rotation.

On 9/21/2011 this vehicle was taken to our dealer for regular service at 30,979 miles. It was discovered to have defective and loose lower control arms and tie rod ends. The dealer indicated the vehicle was not safe to drive for any extended miles. There was at least 1/2" play in the wheels. The parts have now been replaced. Previous inspection & tire rotation at about 25,000 miles and 2 1/2 months ago indicated no suspension problems. The only clue to the problem was some 'clunking' noise in the front end when going over bumps. This vehicle was purchased new, has been serviced regularly by the selling dealer, is driven exclusively on the road, and has been in no accidents. Up until may 2011, it was driven only about 7,500 miles annually. It was out of warranty for only 40-days. I am incredulous that a well maintained 4wd vehicle would have a major suspension failure with such a rapid onset at such low miles. Research on the internet indicates this is a common and potentially dangerous experience by other Jeep Patriot owners that should be taken more seriously by the manufacturer than it currently is.

Both outter tie rod ends, right lower control arm both failed at 45,000 miles not covered on extended warrenty because it was not towed to the dealership. Was unsfe to drive at the time. Never buy a extended warranty it covers nothing it is a complete and total ripoff. Cost $599. 18 for a problem that they knew about.

In March 2011, I brought my car to my regular mechanic for an oil change and basic inspection of the tires. Everything checked out fine. I asked him how the brakes looked, he did an inspection and found that they were in really good shape. In may, I noticed that there was a wobbling of the steering wheel when I neared 65 mph and when I applied the brakes coming to a stop. I brought my car back to the mechanic on may 27, 2011 especially when I started to hear a clank/clunk/loud noise coming from the front passenger side occurring when the car encountered a bump or in making a right turn and encountering a bump at the same time. This noise was in addition to the wobbling now. Upon inspection the mechanic found that I needed brakes and rotors. The rotors were completely destroyed. This maintenance was done but the wobbling and loud noise persisted occurring at a speed of 50 mph instead of starting at 65 mph. I brought the car in again for another inspection and the mechanic found that the ball joints and control arms on the front end were bad, the right being much worse than the left. Basically the ball joints looked like they had been on a car with 100k miles on it when my vehicle has 41k and is under 3 years old. He stated that the faulty ball joints seemed to have caused the sudden damage to the brakes and rotors especially since he had just inspected the brakes in mid March. I spent $800 on brakes and rotors and will be paying an additional $800 for the ball joints and control arms to be replaced on the front end.

I bought my Jeep in sept of 2010, took it for an oil change in Dec,2010. Was told I needed to replace the left lower control arm, I was told the Patriots were having alot of issues with that part coming out loose straight out of the factory. It makes a loud noise when I drive it. I've had multiple problems including the a/c ,check engine light is on for manifold problem ,transmission problems all within the two years that I've owned it.

The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Patriot fwd. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a routine tune -up when the dealer diagnosed that the tie rod, lower control arm and the ball joints had to be replaced. The dealer replaced only the ball joints. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,242 and the current mileage was 62,892.

2008 Jeep Patriot lower control arms defective, right outer tie rod worn out at 38,000 miles. Numerous complaints of Chrysler lca wearing out prematurely. See Jeeppatriot. Com for other complaints. Dealer wanted $1100 for repairs, Chrysler covered repairs for $150.

The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated the rear end of the vehicle began to exhibit an abnormal creaking noise. Soon after, the front end of the vehicle began exhibiting the same noise. The dealer replaced the tie rods, control arms and performed an alignment. The failure did not persist however; the rear shocks began to squeak. There were no further repairs to the vehicle. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 35,500 and the current was 35,750.

I have a 2008 Jeep Patriot with approximately 80,000 miles. I have had to replace 3 control arms since I purchased the vehicle approximately 3 years ago. Most of the mileage on my vehicle is highway driving and I do not subject the vehicle to hazardous driving conditions. I find it alarming that I've replace 3 of the same component and suspicious that there is a recent recall on control arms on the liberty model. Besides the monetary inconvenience, I have 2 small children and am quite concerned that a component that can affect the ability to steer the vehicle continually malfunctions.

In October of 2009, I noticed an odd clicking sound coming from the area of my tires. The Jeep started to make louder cranking sounds and gradually became more and more difficult to steer. I was able to make the Jeep to the dealership to investigate the sound. I didn't feel safe or comfortable driving the Jeep in this condition. Upon taking the Jeep to bob boyd, a certified Jeep dealer in lancaster, ohio, it was determined that the axle nut retainer was rusted away. The rust was cleaned from the axle and the nut, per the service report, and the axle nut was retorqued. The charge of this "repair" was $157. 47, with no other repairs being made. I was told that if I had not brought the Jeep in at the time I did, there was a possibility that the axle nut could have caused the tie rods and wheels to come apart from my vehicle while driving. At that point, the problem seemed to be gone. My husband asked if this could cause any other types of problems in the future with my steering and wheel assembly and he was told that there would be no problem. In August of 2010, I was recommended to have my tie rods replaced, as there was a noise coming from my tires again. Upon having my car taken to bob boyd again, I was told that my lower control arm and ball joint needed to be replaced. With an alignment, the total cost was $694. 60 for this visit. I understand that tie rods are a wear and tear item, however, I think that the rusted axle rod is a safety issue on a vehicle that was just over a year old at the time it was found. Please let me know if anyone else has had this problem, as a rusted out part that could cause a vehicle to "come apart while driving" should be considered a safety issue. Thank you.

Driving home from the show room with less than 5 miles heard a clunk and grinding sound from front end. Brought it back to dealer and found both front rotors warped, clunking continued. @ around 7,000 miles clunking increased from front end of vehicle. Brought it to Jeep dealer, found nothing. Noise continued to get worse. Brought it back to Jeep and again found nothing. Clunking became nerve racking, @ 65,000 miles brought it to my personal mechanic and found that both control arms, bushings, and struts need to be replaced. And of course the manufactures warranty has expired!.