Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Jeep Compass problems

Owners filed 80 complaints about the 2013 Jeep Compass with NHTSA between Apr 2013 and Apr 2025. The most-cited component is power train (27).

Complaints
80
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train27
  2. Air bags16
  3. Electrical system13
  4. Engine10
  5. Seat belts9
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)7
  7. Vehicle speed control5
  8. Seats4
  9. Structure4
  10. Steering3
  11. Suspension3
  12. Service brakes2
  13. Fuel/propulsion system2
  14. Visibility2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20136
20143
20156
201611
201716
20187
201912
20209
20213
20223
20231
20242
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

27 reports4 crashes
“This vehicle before had the cvt transmission replaced as it was over heating/inoperable. Complete replacement. Flash forward not even a year I was driving and thr transmission made a noise and basically locked up causing the driver to hit curb at high rate of speed along the freeway. The vehicle again is disabled with a transmission defect and requires replacement. 2nd transmission failure and will need replacement and caused injury during collision with curb at high rate of speed without any indication lights of a mechanical issue prior to impact.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2023Power trainCrash reportedODI 11532355

Air bags

16 reports4 crashes2 fires
“I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH BENSONS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM IN GREER SC SINCE THE SPRING OF 2019 ABOUT RECALLS ON MY JEEP. FINALLY, MY DAD DECIDED TO JUST CALL CHRYSLER AND THEY SENT US TO THE BIG O WHICH IS IN GREENVILLE SC THE INSTRUCTED US THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS AND CALL US WHEN THEY COME IN. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 7 MONTHS SINCE WE CALLED THEM IN EITHER JUNE OR JULY ABOUT THIS AND SINCE IT IS AIRBAGS AND SEATBELTS WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH MY SAFETY IF I WAS TO GET INTO A WRECK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2020Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11317254

Electrical system

13 reports2 fires
“The vehicle was taken in for a recall of the catalytic converters and PCM software, July 2019. May 2021, while driving at highway speeds the transmission temperature light illuminated and an un-commanded deceleration occurred to about 10 mph, it would go no faster got to the nearest off ramp and to a rest area sat for an hour, then the vehicle performed normally. May 13, 2021, took the vehicle to the repair facility no trouble codes were set but they replaced the transmission filler tube. A few days later the light illuminated again but no adverse driving conditions occurred. June 18, 2021, at highway speeds the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph a service engine light illuminated a transmission overtempt light also and made it home about ten miles at no more than 10mph, 19 aug 2022 drove the vehicle at a few mph to my local Jeep dealer for check engine and no power.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2022Power train, Electrical systemODI 11491729

Engine

10 reports1 crash
“Catalytic converter problem Warning engine light keeps coming on. This has happened over several years. It now comes on everyday. It is now in shop to be fixed and code shows front converter is bad which includes the manifold.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2025EngineODI 11653648

Seat belts

9 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED RAIRDON'S CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF KIRKLAND (12828 NE 124TH ST, KIRKLAND, WA 98034 (425) 821-1777) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT OWNERS WOULD RECEIVE A SECOND NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2017 WHEN REMEDY PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11014652

Electronic stability control (esc)

7 reports
“FAULTY TIPM SHORTLY OUT SOME ELECTRICAL RELAYS. STATIONARY COOLING FANS DON'T SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN IGNITION KEY IS OFF. AC BLOWER FANS INTIMIDATE ON AND OFF. AT CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR 10 DAYS. ALL RELAYS CHANGED 'ALL SENSORS CHANGE. TIPM DIAGNOSIS SAYS SHORT IN TIPM. $1500.00 PART AFTER REPAIR OF RELAYS AND SENSORS. TOTAL $2500+. BILL. AWAITING NEW TIPM TO COME IN. CHRYSLER CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2020Electrical system, Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11342725
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.