Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 10% | 15,000 miles |
| 2024 | 7 | 13% | 13,000 miles |
| 2023 | 7 | 14% | 6,000 miles |
| 2022 | 39 | 17% | 10,000 miles |
| 2021 | 21 | 26% | 70,000 miles |
| 2020 | 83 | 58% | 34,000 miles |
| 2019 | 165 | 50% | 12,000 miles |
| 2018 | 481 | 51% | 20,000 miles |
| 2017 | 71 | 31% | 29,000 miles |
| 2016 | 160 | 55% | 59,000 miles |
| 2015 | 32 | 28% | 59,000 miles |
| 2014 | 93 | 30% | 68,000 miles |
| 2013 | 10 | 13% | 111,000 miles |
| 2012 | 38 | 21% | 105,000 miles |
| 2011 | 40 | 21% | 59,000 miles |
| 2010 | 5 | 6% | 90,000 miles |
| 2009 | 7 | 11% | 75,000 miles |
| 2008 | 17 | 10% | 119,000 miles |
| 2007 | 57 | 13% | 78,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road, and the contact and her husband observed whitish gray smoke that eventually turned black coming from the engine compartment. The hood was opened and immediately there were flames coming from the engine compartment. The contact and her husband removed personal belongings from the vehicle. During the failure, three sheriffs pulled up behind the burning vehicle. A Police report was filed. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that her son observed that the check engine and the Forward Collision Avoidance warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that her son stopped and turned it off and restarted the vehicle, but after shifting to drive(D) and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact called for a tow truck, and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated the vehicle lost power again, with the check engine and Forward Collision Avoidance warning lights illuminated, with several other unknown warning lights. …
the accident occurred on [redacted] in the city of Visalia, Ca. I'm not sure what time it was happened and any other details because I'm not the person involved in the accident but I bought the car from a dealership located in Corona, Ca on [redacted]. They never mentioned that the car was involved in a collision or if it had an accident reports. Even brought a Vehicle History report with the contact details. Then the first day when I bought it the engine light turns on and on the dashboard said "transmission service" so I tried to return it to them but they said "isn't possible" so they took the car to supposedly fix it but after one day that they gave me the car back the engine light turns on again, so I had to investigate by myself and I found that the car was on a collision and it was registered as a rental vehicle in another state and after the accident it was put on sale by an …
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while driving at 35 MPH and started to decelerate unintendedly. The check engine and the throttle system warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was test-driven, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who informed the contact about the stored codes. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Clay Cooley Irving Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (815 E Camp Wisdom Rd, Duncanville, TX 75116), where it was diagnosed and determined that a cell was dead and there was an auxiliary battery failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. …
The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would suddenly jerk, shake, and vibrate. Also, while at a stop light with the auto stop/start activated to save fuel, the vehicle did not automatically restart when releasing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failures. The failure mileage was 5,600.
What component or system failure or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? When I started my vehicle I noticed that my navigation screen was black, and then when I put the vehicle in drive and slowed down to make a turn, the engine shut off while I was driving. I had to restart the vehicle, and I put the vehicle in drive, I made left the engine shut off again a second time. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My safety was put at risk because the vehicle was still in driving mode, luckily there were no cars behind me. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not yet, I will be reporting this, because I do not feel safe. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Not yet. …
My family's n is safety was at risk daily ,do to fear of the electric system being off ,changing speed and directtion of car falsely. 2Continuly lights sources in panels on at night , unable to turn off . navigation pulling vehicle off lane ,to opposite side of road in rain sleet heavy snow . Stays stuck on after air bags diddnt deploy in accident, caused by nav control and engine lag ? Jeep after I had it in MacDonald motors bridgeton Maine,the seller . 2x in first months . We owned it . I was told when I drove in 1 day early dec .2024 and called another 3 times day around 1st WK of .told availability .threw Xmas . When I tried getting it in there in December, with my complaints of same issues,no appointment was able to be given . Until mid january no temporary vehicle offered .I asked ,was told that's too long .they couldn't offer me 1 . …
The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with the Auto Stop/Start feature. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the feature engaged and the engine was turned off; however, the engine failed to restart while attempting to drive from the complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the body control module (BCM) was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The contact later received a call from the manufacturer advising him to take the vehicle back to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with by the Remote Assistance of Jeep engineers, and it was determined that the batteries had low-capacities. The dealer replaced the batteries. …
Related recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016. The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Engine
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200, and model year 2014 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. Due to abrasive debris in the balance shaft bearings, these engines may have a loss of engine oil pressure, possibly resulting in an engine stall or…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine balance shaft module, free of charge. The recall began on December 24, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
NHTSA investigations
Stall from Crankshaft\Camshaft Failure
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.
False overheat leading to loss of motive power
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Jeep Compass years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2018 (481), 2019 (165), 2016 (160), 2014 (93) and 2020 (83) model years. Engine complaints make up 51% of all complaints for the 2018.
Is there a recall for Jeep Compass engine problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 17V-670 (engine, Oct 24, 2017); 16V-907 (engine, Dec 16, 2016); 13V-552 (engine, Nov 6, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Jeep Compass engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles; 60% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (6 mentions), followed by the exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (6).
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.