The best Compass years to buy are 2020 and 2021. Avoid the 2018: oil consumption and stalling give it the most complaints of any Compass.
Best years: 20202021 Years to avoid: 2018
Every Compass year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Compass problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 | - | 0 | Collision avoidance | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 49 | - | 2 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 226 | 262 | 4 | Electrical | Average |
| 2021 | 82 | 108 | 0 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2020 | 143 | 132 | 1 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2019 | 332 | 231 | 2 | Engine | Average |
| 2018 | 949 | 554 | 6 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2017 | 229 | 275 | 4 | Electrical | Average |
| 2016 | 293 | 320 | 1 | Engine | Average |
| 2015 | 113 | 169 | 1 | Engine | Good year |
| 2014 | 308 | 503 | 2 | Air bags | Watch out |
| 2013 | 80 | 151 | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2012 | 184 | 457 | 4 | Fuel System | Watch out |
About the Compass
The Compass is Jeep's budget small SUV. The old 2012-2016 version had air bag and engine cooling complaints, and the redesigned 2017-on model had a rough start, with the 2018 burning oil and stalling. From 2020 the complaint rate drops well below average, though engine cooling and stop-start shutdowns still come up.
- 2012-2016: First generation. Active head restraint deployments and thermostat faults.
- 2017 on: Second generation. 2018 is the worst year for oil use and stalling; later years improve.
Compass warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Jeep files with NHTSA. 1,406 Compass bulletins are on file in total.
Not applicable to vehicles built for US market.
2.4L Excessive Oil Consumption XB1 Warranty Extension The customer may describe one or more of the following: Oil pressure low indicator lamp illumination between oil changes.
Active Head Restraint (AHR) Inadvertent Deployment - X86 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves inspecting the sled bracket striker pin and possibly replacing a front seat AHR that has inadvertently deployed.
Front And Rear Crossmember Corrosion (X69 Warranty Extension) This bulletin involves inspecting the front and rear crossmembers for perforation/rust through and if necessary, replacing the crossmember(s).
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Compass
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Preliminary evaluation PE22013 · 2019, 2020 · opened Dec 2022, closed Dec 2023
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.
Recall query RQ22002 · 2015, 2016 · opened Jul 2022, closed Jun 2025
On December 13, 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received recall 16V-907 from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) that identified a safety defect involving crankshaft or camshaft sensor failures on certain 2016 Model Year Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles.
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2012–2016 · opened Sep 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
Preliminary evaluation PE19014 · 2012–2017 · opened Sep 2019, closed Feb 2026
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.Whe...
Engineering analysis EA19001 · 2015–2017 · opened Apr 2019, closed Sep 2024 · led to recall 20V024
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
Audit query AQ17004 · 2017 · opened Aug 2017, closed Nov 2020
NHTSA opened AQ17-004 to determine whether Northwest Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Houston, Texas (Northwest) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C.
Compass vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Jeep Compass?
2020 and 2021. The best Compass years to buy are 2020 and 2021. Avoid the 2018: oil consumption and stalling give it the most complaints of any Compass.
Which Jeep Compass years should I avoid?
2018. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Jeep Compass average.
Why does my Jeep Compass shut off while driving?
On 2017-2021 cars this is usually the stop-start system, a weak battery, or low oil from oil consumption. On 2020-2021 cars a false high coolant temperature reading can also shut the engine off. A dealer can update software and test the battery.
Based on 3,043 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.