Jeep Compass: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Jeep Compass problems by model year, from 3,235 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (71%, 193 drivetrain complaints), 2018 (66%, 571 drivetrain complaints) and 2020 (65%, 89 drivetrain complaints). 12 of the 14 Jeep Compass years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 3 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (32%) and 2010 (33%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2010 (33%) to 2011 (48%), up 15 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2018 drew the most drivetrain complaints (571 of 1,627 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Jeep Compass year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Compass | no elevated signal | 33% | 19 | 81 | 13/14 | 2 |
| 2011 Compass | high | 48% | 78 | 187 | 9/14 | 3 |
| 2012 Compass | high | 56% | 86 | 184 | 7/14 | 4 |
| 2013 Compass | high | 59% | 37 | 80 | 5/14 | 1 |
| 2014 Compass | high | 59% | 126 | 307 | 4/14 | 2 |
| 2015 Compass | high | 43% | 42 | 113 | 10/14 | 1 |
| 2016 Compass | very high | 71% | 193 | 293 | 1/14 | 1 |
| 2017 Compass | high | 50% | 109 | 229 | 8/14 | 4 |
| 2018 Compass | very high | 66% | 571 | 943 | 2/14 | 6 |
| 2019 Compass | high | 58% | 180 | 329 | 6/14 | 2 |
| 2020 Compass | very high | 65% | 89 | 141 | 3/14 | 1 |
| 2021 Compass | high | 42% | 31 | 80 | 11/14 | 0 |
| 2022 Compass | no elevated signal | 32% | 53 | 222 | 14/14 | 4 |
| 2023 Compass | elevated | 33% | 13 | 46 | 12/14 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Jeep Compass years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Jeep Compass engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the Jeep Compass involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 22 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2012 | 12V142000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V120000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2012 |
| Nov 2013 | 13V552000 | engine | 2014 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V907000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2016 |
| May 2017 | 17V301000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2017 |
| Oct 2017 | 17V670000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2018 |
16 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2011 | 11V315000 | steering: column | 2011 |
| Jun 2013 | 13V233000 | air bags: side/window | 2010–2012 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V878000 | steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections | 2015 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V668000 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2010–2014 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V433000 | equipment: other: owners/service/other manual | 2017 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V732000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2018 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V740000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2017–2018 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V824000 | equipment | 2017 |
| May 2018 | 18V279000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V523000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018–2019 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V524000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2018 |
| Apr 2020 | 20V208000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2019–2020 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V248000 | seats: front assembly: head restraint | 2022 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V058000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2022 |
| Aug 2023 | 23V576000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2022–2023 |
| Jun 2024 | 24V436000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2022–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Jeep Compass
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Jeep Compass
What are the worst years for the Jeep Compass?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Jeep Compass years are the 2016 (71% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2018 (66% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2020 (65% of relevant complaints, very high). 12 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Jeep Compass?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Jeep Compass years are the 2022 (32%) and the 2010 (33%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Jeep Compass have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,627 of 2,828 relevant NHTSA complaints (58%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
Is the Jeep Compass reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 12 of 14 Jeep Compass years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 58% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Jeep Compass?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Jeep Compass years we track, out of 22 in total: 16V907000 (Dec 2016, 2016), 17V301000 (May 2017, 2017), 17V670000 (Oct 2017, 2018), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.