The Jeep Compass is a compact crossover introduced for the 2007 model year. It is offered with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, including Trailhawk versions aimed at light off-road use. The second generation, sold since 2017, uses a stretched version of the Jeep Renegade's platform and has been offered with four-cylinder engines only. This page lines up every Jeep Compass model year from 2010 to 2024 on one scale, so you can see which years drew unusual numbers of owner reports and which stayed quiet.
Jeep Compass by model year
Complaints per 100,000 sold. Red: more than twice the model average. Green: the fewest, among years at least three years old.
| Year | Per 100k sold | Complaints | Recalls | Top system | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 447 | 71 | 2 | Airbags | |
| 2011 | 394 | 188 | 3 | Engine | |
| 2012 | 457 | 184 | 4 | Fuel system | |
| 2013 | 151 | 80 | 1 | Transmission | |
| 2014 | 503 | 308 | 2 | Engine | |
| 2015 | 169 | 113 | 1 | Engine | |
| 2016 | 311 | 293 | 1 | Engine | |
| 2017 | 352 | 229 | 4 | Electrical | |
| 2018 | 554 | 948 | 6 | Engine | Most complaints |
| 2019 | 230 | 331 | 2 | Engine | |
| 2020 | 132 | 143 | 1 | Engine | Fewest |
| 2021 | 107 | 81 | 0 | Electrical | Fewest |
| 2022 | 262 | 226 | 4 | Electrical | |
| 2023 | 51 | 49 | 2 | Electrical | Fewest |
| 2024 | 49 | 55 | 0 | Driver assistance |
Why these years stand out
2018: most complaints. The 2018 Jeep Compass scored 554 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.1 times the model average. Of its 948 complaints, 634 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are engine (476), electrical system (373) and power train (150). NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year.
2020, 2021 and 2023: fewest complaints. The 2020 drew 143 complaints, or 132 per 100,000 sold; The 2021 drew 81 complaints, or 107 per 100,000 sold; The 2023 drew 49 complaints, or 51 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.
What Jeep Compass owners report most
Engine complaints lead for the Jeep Compass, at 38% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 53%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.
When problems are reported: mileage
1,651 Jeep Compass complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 62% were reported before 50,000 miles and 11% after 100,000. Most reports come early in ownership, which points to problems that show up while the vehicle is still fairly new.
Jeep Compass compared with other compact suvs
In 9 of 15 model years the Jeep Compass drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average compact suv we track for the same year. For 2024, the Jeep Compass scored 49 against a class average of 65. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.
Jeep Compass generations
- 2007-2017First generation (MK49)
2.0L four (some front-wheel-drive models); 2.4L four · 5-speed or 6-speed manual; CVT; 6-speed automatic
A 2011 update made the Compass resemble the Grand Cherokee more closely.
- 2017-2024Second generation (MP)
2.4L four (2017-2022); 2.0L turbo four (2023 on) · 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic (front-wheel drive); 9-speed automatic (four-wheel drive, through 2022); 8-speed automatic (2023 on)
A 2022 refresh updated the interior, and a turbocharged engine replaced the 2.4L for 2023.
Model year 2017 includes both the outgoing first generation and the redesigned second generation. For 2023 the 2.4L engine was replaced by a turbocharged 2.0L, and an eight-speed automatic replaced the nine-speed.
Jeep Compass fuel economy
The 2026 Jeep Compass is rated at 26 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the setup. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.
Crash test stars
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Jeep Compass these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2013: 3, 2014: 4, 2017: 4, 2018: 4, 2019: 4, 2020: 4, 2021: 4, 2022: 4, 2024: 4. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.
Questions
What is the best year for the Jeep Compass?
By complaints filed with NHTSA per 100,000 sold, 2020, 2021 and 2023 had the fewest among model years at least three years old. 2020 scored 132, against a model average of 267.
What years of the Jeep Compass have the most complaints?
2018. The 2018 scored 554 per 100,000 sold, with 634 engine or transmission complaints. A complaint is a report from an owner and does not prove a defect.
At what mileage do Jeep Compass owners report problems?
Across 1,651 complaints that list the odometer reading, 62% were filed before 50,000 miles and 11% after 100,000 miles. These are miles at the time of the reported problem, not how long the vehicle lasts.
How many recalls does the Jeep Compass have?
NHTSA lists 33 recall campaigns across model years 2010-2024 (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year). Check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaint counts are reports filed by owners with NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify them, and a complaint does not prove a defect. Scores are our calculation, explained on the Method page. Not affiliated with any automaker.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (complaints, recalls, investigations), data through October 2026; U.S. sales from manufacturer reports, compiled by motorwick; fuel economy: U.S. EPA estimates; crash tests: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.