NHTSA Complaint #10765209 — 2011 JEEP PATRIOT

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR OUR DAUGHTER WHO TURNED (16) NOV 2014. MOST OF THE DRIVING TOOK PLACE ON LOCAL ROADS WITH SHORT-TERM HIGHWAY MILES..(10-15 MINS). THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED ON JULY 4TH, DRIVING TO RELATIVES FOR A BBQ & FIREWORKS, OUR FAMILY TOOK (2) CARS, MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 40 MINS @ 75MPH, WHEN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE AND THE TEMP LITE APPEARED ON HER DASHBOARD. SHE SAID THE CAR WAS BOGGING DOWN SO SHE PULLED OVER AND CALLED US. SHE WAITED 10 MINS THEN CONTINUED THE ADDITIONAL 15MIN DRIVE WITHOUT ISSUE. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO OUR AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED, AS THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE/POWERTRAIN, FLUIDS WERE FINE. TOTAL COST WITH LABOR AND MATERIALS $260.14. THE 2ND INSTANCE OCCURRED ON SEPT 18 (TODAY), DRIVING TO VISIT A FRIEND, MAINLY HIGHWAY MILES, 75-80 MPH. SHE CALLED AFTER (1.5) HOURS, STATING THAT THE TEMP LIGHT APPEARED AND THE CAR WAS MAKING WHINING NOISES. SHE SAID THE CAR WAS NOT REACTING RIGHT AND FELT IT WAS GOING TO STALL. WHEN SHE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL IT WOULD NOT REACT. SHE PULLED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TURNING OFF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT (10) MINUTES. SHE STARTED THE CAR AND FINISHED THE LAST 1/2 HR OF EXPRESSWAY MILES, STAYING WELL UNDER 70 MPH, WITH NO ISSUES. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS DURING HIGHWAY TRAVELING OVER 70 MPH CONSISTANTLY OVER (1) HOUR. POSING A SAFETY RISK OF STALLING OR NOT BOGGING DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO COLLEGE IN THE SPRING 2016, 2-3 HOURS AWAY WHERE SHE WILL BE DOING REGULAR HIGHWAY DRIVING AND GETTING TO THE DESTINATION SAFETLY IS ALL THAT MATTERS.