Sell your 2012 Jeep Patriot for cash

The 2012 Jeep Patriot is a SUV that came with a choice of 2.0L 4-cyl and 2.4L 4-cyl engines. At 14 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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2012 Jeep Patriot at a glance

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl
TransmissionsManual 5-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios)
DriveFront-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy20–23 city / 23–29 highway / 21–25 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$2,700–$3,200 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂355–423 grams per mile
Gross vehicle weight rating4,435–4,575 lb
Versions tested by EPA7 configurations: Patriot 2WD, Patriot 4WD
Age14 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 14 years old, most of a 2012 Patriot's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: as a SUV, it's heavier than a typical car, and scrap weight is a big part of any junk offer. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2012 Patriot. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the engine, typically around 43,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2012 Jeep Patriot recalls

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls covering the 2012 Jeep Patriot. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Air BagsSep 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V668000

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…

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.

Electrical SystemJun 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V233000

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 ri

Fuel System, GasolineApr 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V120000

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles manufactured October 18, 2011, through May 7, 2012. Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of fuel from the secondary side to the primary side of the fuel tank may be interrupted, causing the engine to stall.

Risk: If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.

Fuel System, GasolineApr 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V142000

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and compass vehicles manufactured from december 17, 2011, through january 2, 2012. Some vehicles may have been built with a fuel tank assembly containing a damaged roll-over valve.

Risk: In the event of an impact or roll-over, fuel leakage could occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Common 2012 Patriot problems

Owners have filed 354 complaints about the 2012 Jeep Patriot with NHTSA. 9 reports involved a crash and 5 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 6 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Engine114
  • Fuel/Propulsion System86
  • Power Train62
  • Air Bags57
  • Electrical System44
  • Seat Belts37

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Engine43,000 mi
  • Fuel/Propulsion System57,000 mi
  • Power Train59,000 mi
  • Air Bags57,000 mi
  • Electrical System51,000 mi
  • Seat Belts45,000 mi

2012 Jeep Patriot service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 100 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2012 Jeep Patriot. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

1 of them is a warranty extension. Warranty extensions mean the manufacturer agreed to cover a specific repair beyond the normal warranty. They rarely still apply to a car this age, but they point to known weak spots.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Electrical System12
  • Equipment8
  • Structure7
  • Electrical System6
  • Service Brakes6
  • Engine and Engine Cooling5

Recent bulletins

  • Warranty Program/ExtensionJun 2026 · U67 Combo Rev11

    Emissions Recall U67 - Catalytic Converter Efficiency - Dealer Notification (Revision 11)

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsAug 2025 · 9100645

    Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders: Warranty, Mopar, customer pay and service contract. Order "68" part number for New unsold

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsAug 2025 · 9100653

    Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders: Warranty, Mopar, customer pay and service contract. Order "68" part number for New unsold

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2025 · 104087

    Actuator - a/c and heater

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 3 defect investigations covering the 2012 Jeep Patriot.

Air BagsEA21002 · opened Sep 2021, open

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to

SeatsPE19014 · opened Sep 2019, closed Feb 2026

Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When O

Fuel System, GasolinePE12032 · opened Oct 2012, closed May 2013Led to recall 13V120000

Engine stall, fuel delivery failure

In a letter dated April 3, 2013, Chrysler Group LLC submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA identifying a safety defect in the fuel delivery system in approximately 20,532 model year (MY) 2012 Jeep Patriot (11,624) and Compass (8,908) vehicles manufactured from October 18, 2011 through May 7, 2012 and equi

Other Jeep Patriot years

‹ Sell a 2011 Patriot · Sell a 2013 Patriot › · All Jeep Patriot years

Other 2012 Jeep models

Selling a 2012 Patriot: questions

How much is a 2012 Jeep Patriot worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2012 Patriot that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2012 Patriots that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2012 Patriot with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2012 Jeep Patriot; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2012 Patriot?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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