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Jeep Compass Problems by Year

Which Jeep Compass years have the most owner complaints, what goes wrong, and how many recalls each year has.

Jeep Compass, 2017 to 2024 model years
Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0

Owners have filed 3,043 complaints with NHTSA about the Jeep Compass from 2012 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the engine and cooling, the electrical system and the transmission and drivetrain. The years with the most complaints are 2018, 2019 and 2014.

Years to avoid

2018

The most complaints compared with other Compass years.

Safer bets

201320152021

Clearly fewer complaints than a typical Compass year. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate.

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Complaints by year

Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.

201218420138020143082015113201629320172292018949201933220201432021822022226202349202455

Every year at a glance

YearVs. other yearsComplaintsRecallsMost reported
2012 CompassAbout average1844Fuel system
2013 CompassOne of the better years801Transmission and drivetrain
2014 CompassWorse than most years3082Engine and cooling
2015 CompassOne of the better years1131Engine and cooling
2016 CompassWorse than most years2931Engine and cooling
2017 CompassAbout average2294Electrical system
2018 CompassAmong the worst years9496Engine and cooling
2019 CompassWorse than most years3322Engine and cooling
2020 CompassOne of the better years1431Engine and cooling
2021 CompassOne of the better years820Electrical system
2022 CompassToo new to judge2264Electrical system
2023 CompassToo new to judge492Electrical system
2024 CompassToo new to judge550Driver assist systems

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Other Jeep models

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Jeep Compass questions

What are the worst Jeep Compass years?

Compared with its other years, the Compass years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2018. The most reported problem area across all years is the engine and cooling.

What are the best Jeep Compass years?

The Compass years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2013, 2015 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.

What are the most common Jeep Compass problems?

Across 2012 to 2024, owners report problems with the engine and cooling, the electrical system and the transmission and drivetrain most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.

How many recalls does the Jeep Compass have?

NHTSA lists 28 recalls across the 2012 to 2024 Compass, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.

Check the exact car

These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.

Decode its VINConfirm the year, trim and engine, and see recalls and safety ratings.Walk around and test drive itA step-by-step checklist you can use on your phone at the car.Read the history reportThe red flags in a Carfax or AutoCheck report, in plain English.

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.