Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Jeep Compass owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the center of the steering wheel was protruding outwards, and while attempting to sound the horn, the horn failed to operate. While entering the vehicle, the headrest on the driver's side was bumped and the headrest deployed. Approximately 2 months later, while entering the vehicle, the passenger's side headrest deployed without impact. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to another facility to replace the air bags; however, the air bags were not replaced. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The headrest in the passenger seat deployed without a car accident. Just randomly when the car was parked. Jeep dealership wants to charge me 140 dollars to inspect this and the air bags. Supposedly both have recalls but they have "expired". How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? It hit my husband in the head while he was sitting passenger. Now no one can sit comfortably in that seat and I'm scared the air bags are going to also deploy while I'm driving the car which could injure me and my kids in the process. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No they are trying to charge me to look and told me it would be over 800 dollars to fix, which I do not have right now. The headrest is VERY obviously deployed. …
I was sitting in my car talking on the phone, parked in the parking lot and I felt the headrest hit the back of my head. I thought maybe somebody had hit me but nobody was behind me. The person I was on FaceTime with say and heard my head get hit and thought the same thing. Turns out it was the headrest that sprung forward and the small plastic clip that holds it together is broken. It came out of no where while I was parked and now I worry how safe would we be if I got into a collision. Additionally it vibrates now while stopped at a red light.
While driving home from work one day I heard a loud sound like a gun. The headrest to the passenger seat just deployed on its own. Took it to my mechanic to be corrected and he said it couldn't be reset the clip or a pin must have broke. Then on Wednesday July 28th I got a warning light on my dashboard pertaining to airbags. Puts fear in me because I need to know that my airbags are there for me if needed. C&H AUTO CARE is aware of the problems with my vehicle. They are located in Joppa Maryland.
I was driving at a normal speed and out of no where my head rest popped out so hard. It hit the back of my head and I almost got into an accident. It scared the living daylight out of me. I thought someone hit me from behind or that I got into an accident. There was no warning for this at all. I am very scared to drive my vehicle now. My neck does hurt at the moment, but no serious injury.
Passenger air bag fault randomly causes warning light. TIPM causing headlights to randomly shut off and flicker when driving at night. Both high and low beams. Randomly affects passenger and drivers headlights at different times, sometimes shutting off all lighting completely for a couple of seconds.
Hello, My VIN is [redacted] and I have a 2014 Jeep Compass Latitude. I took my vehicle into the Jeep Dealership on Val Vista and Williamsfield Rd to have my airbag recall serviced. I picked up my vehicle and the airbag light was still on, I didn't think too much about it since it could have not been related to the airbag recall. However, I was later informed by pep boys and another mechanic that the airbag recall was not replaced. I was also informed on the phone by a dealership service man they did not have the part to replace the airbag and it did not get fixed even though they stated on the paperwork and when I picked it up that the airbag recall was serviced and the airbag was functioning properly, I have contacted the attorney general and the dealership regarding this issue and the dealership is claiming im incorrect and they serviced my air bag and asked me to bring the car in to …
Takata recall our 2014 Jeep Compass was involved in a 5 car accident 3/4/2019 in henderson nv. Proceeding east bound on I-215, a white Hyundai was stalled in the center lane in the beginning of rush hour traffic. A red Toyota traveling at approximately 70 MPH struck the rear end of the Hyundai catapulting the Hyundai across lanes into the passenger doors (front and back) of our 2014 Jeep Compass destroying the passenger rear door where my 12 year old son was seated causing injury to his shoulder neck and arm. At no time did the passenger side airbags deploy as they should have, were designed to do or marketed as a safety feature. In addition this crash was after fulfilling the requested Takata airbag recall work and returning our 2014 Jeep Compass to chapman Chrysler Jeep service center for recall work specifically on the occupant restraint controller . …
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Jeep Compass. While driving 5 MPH, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop and repaired. After the repairs were made, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that some wires in the rear of the vehicle relating to the air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V668000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the part to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The failure mileage was 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Jeep Compass. While the contact was driving 35 MPH, another vehicle failed to yield. The contact was unable to stop in time and crashed into the driver's door of the other vehicle. The driver's air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and head, and also suffered a stroke due to the crash. The contact required medical attention. The driver in the other vehicle was uninjured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was driven from the scene and remained parked at the contact's home. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Related recalls
Air bags
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Airbag complaints in other Compass years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2014 Jeep Compass?
NHTSA has 91 complaints about the air bags of the 2014 Jeep Compass, 30% of the model year's 307 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2014 Jeep Compass airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-668 (air bags, Sep 15, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Jeep Compass airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 1 fire and 18 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.