Jeep Compass problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 1,853 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls for the Jeep Compass. That averages 31.4 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.78 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact SUVs segment it ranks #4 of 12 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 60.3.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 82% below the 2018 and 2019 models (28 early complaints per model year versus 175).
The 2018 model year has the highest rate (107.4 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (12.1). The 2018 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 31.4 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2021 and 2023 run at least 40% below this model's average of 31.4 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (43.4% of complaints), followed by Electrical (22.5%) and Unspecified or other (7.8%). Engine complaints are 1.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 84 complaints (4.5%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 38 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 234 complaints versus 227 in the previous 12 months — up 3%. The 2018 model year generated the most recent reports (55). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 35 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2017 (3), 1 fixable over the air. 1 NHTSA investigation has covered this model; the latest is “False overheat leading to loss of motive power” (preliminary evaluation, opened 2022-12-02, closed 2023-12-10).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan, but fewer than Subaru Forester, Jeep Cherokee, Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ▲50%+ | 944 | 107.4 | 2.66 | 55 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 330 | 42.4 | 1.05 | 42 | 2 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 143 | 21.1 | 0.52 | 23 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 81 | 14.0 | 0.35 | 19 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 224 | 46.8 | 1.16 | 28 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 46 | 12.1 | 0.3 | 11 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 53 | 19.0 | 0.47 | 32 | 0 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 27 | 15.1 | 0.37 | 19 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 5 | 5.0 | 0.12 | 5 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 234 · Previous 12 months: 227 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
805 · 43.4% · 1.95 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
417 · 22.5% · 1.43 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
145 · 7.8% · 0.87 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
130 · 7.0% · 0.6 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Lighting ›
65 · 3.5% · 2.26 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems ›
60 · 3.2% · 0.57 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Brakes ›
59 · 3.2% · 0.53 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts ›
48 · 2.6% · 0.68 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure
34 · 1.8% · 0.2 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
33 · 1.8% · 0.28 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
27 · 1.5% · 0.58 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
18 · 1.0% · 0.22 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
12 · 0.6% · 0.35 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 35 months
What owners report
The contact rented a 2025 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while slowly pulling into a parking space, the engine revved and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated.
The contact rented a 2025 Jeep Compass. While the contact’s husband was driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a burning odor and an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle.
Carvana falsifying 150 inspection on tie rods that's having issue with two different vehicles on 2020 jeep compass and 2021 jeep compass
carvana falsifying 150 point inspection on bad tie rods with 2021jeep compass
I purchased my 2022 Jeep Compass Latitude FWD brand new on April 4, 2022, from AutoNation Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Houston. Just eight days later, on April 12, 2022, I began reporting serious engine stalling and Auto Stop/Start malfunctions.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-5 | 862 | 18.6 | 0.46 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 3 | Engine |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 1,017 | 29.7 | 0.74 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 3 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 1,267 | 29.7 | 0.74 | Improving | Rising | 28 | Engine |
| 4 | Jeep Compass | 1,853 | 31.4 | 0.78 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Engine |
| 5 | Subaru Forester | 2,453 | 45.0 | 1.11 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Body & structure |
| 6 | Jeep Cherokee | 2,906 | 55.5 | 1.38 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Chevrolet Equinox | 2,068 | 64.8 | 1.61 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 23 | Engine |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | 3,158 | 67.2 | 1.67 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Engine |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson | 2,402 | 75.3 | 1.87 | Worsening | Rising | 15 | Engine |
| 10 | Nissan Rogue | 3,149 | 79.1 | 1.96 | Improving | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Ford Escape | 5,254 | 87.3 | 2.16 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 50 | Engine |
| 12 | Honda CR-V | 6,037 | 139.4 | 3.46 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 12
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 1
Safety recalls: 2018 (6) · 2019 (2) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (0) · 2022 (4) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (0) · 2025 (0) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
- False overheat leading to loss of motive power Closed
On December 2, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22-013 to investigate allegations of loss of motive power accompanied by high coolant temperature messages on the dashboard of Model Year 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. At the time this investigation was opened, ODI was aware of fifteen Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) for Model Year (MY) 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles a…