The Lane Check

CarsJeep › Compass › 2011

2011 Jeep Compass: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
48%
78 of 164 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Jeep Compass are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 60% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 23 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 42%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
Share this car

Looking at a specific Compass?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.

Check a VIN
Drivetrain complaints
78
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
187
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
7 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN37 · 20%
ENGINE30 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER27 · 14%
SUSPENSION26 · 14%
STRUCTURE23 · 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20 · 11%

The years either side

2010
33%
19 of 81
2011
48%
78 of 187
2012
56%
86 of 184
2013
59%
37 of 80
2014
59%
126 of 306
2015
43%
42 of 113
2016
71%
193 of 293
2017
51%
109 of 228
2018
66%
568 of 937
2019
58%
180 of 328
2020
66%
88 of 138
2021
42%
30 of 79
2022
32%
53 of 220
2023
34%
13 of 45

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other compact SUVs with no elevated signal

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONT02/07/2026
[XXX] [XXX] , [XXX] [XXX] 2/7/26 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally express my concern regarding ongoing, critical safety issues with my vehicle, which have been increasingly dangerous while driving. These issues appear to be interconnected and involve multiple components, including the valve body, tr…
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES11/26/2024
speedometer doesn't work, ABS, Brakes, engine and traction light keeps on. THE SHIFT LEVER CHANGES BY ITSELF FROM D TO M while driving. ABS module has to be replaced at my cost when other 2011 jeep compass have a recall F 50 for the same issue.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE11/14/2024
The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH after refueling, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted and worked as designed; however, the failure recurred while driving after refueling. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicl…

Three of 78 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (3)

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
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…
STEERING:COLUMN
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011DODGE JOURNEY, JEEP WRANGLER, CHRYSLER 200, CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE, DODGE AVENGER, DODGE NITRO, JEEP LIBERTY, DODGE CALIBER…
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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 v…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2011 Jeep Compass

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

Check a VIN

Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.