8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$600
Average Mileage:
60,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace wireless control module (1 reports)
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problem #1

May 112016

Patriot Sport 4.2L V4

  • Manual transmission
  • 60,000 miles

I went to start my Jeep and there was no ignition. Thought it was the battery, so had AAA check it, the battery was fine. Had it towed to the dealer from work. The dealer said it was the Wireless Control Module. That is the thing that controls wireless entry, battery and ignition. So when it fails, as mine did, no more keyless entry, lights, start up, nothing, since when it fails, the Jeep shuts everything down so that it cannot be stolen. Nice, huh? Good thing I wasn't miles out on a trail someplace.

Next joke is that they are not in stock and they are on back order! So the dealer basically hotwires the Jeep, by bypassing the WCM, so that I can drive. I get the vehicle home and pop the hood. They left a screwdriver under the hood, lost the cover of the fuse box and left the air filter 'tunnel'/battery cover just sitting on the engine block, not attached to anything. It could easily have fallen into the serpentine belt and caused an accident. Ok, a week or more later the part arrives. I tell them about the sad state that they left the car in, showed the repair rep the photos I took of their hack job - he just shrugged his shoulders.

I asked for a new fuse box cover - once again , not in stock - so he pulls one off of a new Jeep in the lot! So $600 dollars and another trip to the Jeep and I'm on my way. But I noticed that the low air warning light for the tires was on. I told the dealer and he says not to worry, it will take a few miles for it to reset. A day later, the lights are still on, so I take it back to the dealer and now learn that they have to reset this when replacing a WCM, since the default setting causes low air warning if the air in the tires are below 60 psi! Ok, fixed, then I get home and look in the back seat and notice that they left a rubberized cover that allows access to the WCM there on the floor. Another trip to the dealer. Finally, I tried to use the spare key and it did not work, since had to be reprogrammed along with the new WCM, but the dealer never told me! So another trip to the dealer and they had the nerve to try and charge me another $70 for this!

And the worst part is, it was replaced with the same exact part, so this can happen again at any time without any warning. Last. Jeep. Ever.

- Michael C., North Smithfield, US