Problems · by component
2012 Jeep Compass power train problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Compass cite power train, 14% of all 184 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
14% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT SCOTT EVANS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (2280 BANKHEAD HWY, CARROLLTON, GA 30116) FOR UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUSE AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,702.”
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT LIGHT CAME ON.I HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 45 MINUTES ON HW. THE JEEP STARTED MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE AND SLOWED DOWN. IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 45. IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING SOME AND HAD A BIT OF A SHAKE. I PULLED IT OVER AND HAD TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. ONCE HE LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY THERE WERE NO CODES SHOWING AND IT DROVE FINE. I SEE THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS FOR OTHER JEEPS, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS IS.”
“AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND SLOWS DOWN THE CAR SPEED. WHEN DRIVING THE JEEP TRANSMISSION LIGHT GOES ON AND YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE OVER 45 MPH. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR IT TO COOL DOWN AND THEN IT WILL DRIVE AGAIN AT NORMAL SPEED UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. USUALLY OCCURS ON HOT DAYS AND WHETHER THE AC IS ON OR OFF BUT FASTER WHEN IT IS ON.”
“THE ENGINE OVER HEATS AT 60 TO 70 MPH AND THEN BEGIN TO LOSE POWER. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE 2019 WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING BECAUSE IT WON'T CHANGE GEARS AND IT MAKES A WHINING SOUND WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE. ON THE CITY STREET. *TR”
“AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND SHUTS DONE THE CAR. 136000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. CANNOT DRIVE OVER 45 MILES PER HR. ON HIGHWAY WHEN IT OVERHEATS JEEP GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND CANNOT ACCELERATE. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR IT TO COOL DOWN”
“THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DIPSTICK BROKE OFF OF MY VEHICLE. IT IS A DEFECTIVE PART OF THE JEEP THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THESE ENGINE ISSUES WHICH HAS CAUSED AN OPENING INTO MY TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH CAN ALLOW UNWANTED DEBRIS/RAINWATER TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION AND DESTROY IT.”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.