Muffler on a 2008 Jeep Patriot Makes Contact with Curt Trailer Hitch and Makes Noise

Updated 11/14/2013 | Published 11/13/2013

Question:

I installed the Curtis hitch according to all the instructions on my 08 Jeep Patriot, but have an issue with the muffler contacting the hitch. There is very little clearance, 1/4 inch or less, from the muffler to the hitch. I have the hitch pulled all the way to the back of the vehicle and there is no more room to adjust using the holes in the hitch. While driving the muffler sounds like a Flowmaster muffler with horrible vibrations throughout the Jeep. Any suggestions?

asked by: Jeremy W

Expert Reply:

The way the exhaust hangs on vehicles allows for it to move a little and so it will not be in the same position on any 2 vehicles of the same year, make, and model. Sometimes contact can occur like you are experiencing.

There are some things that you can try at home to correct the issue. And if those do not work for you then a muffler shop should be able to correct the problem. I have included a link to our FAQ article to the right that covers the various methods you can employ to fix the rattle.

expert reply by: Michael H