Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Jeep Compass problems

Owners filed 293 complaints about the 2016 Jeep Compass with NHTSA between Feb 2016 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is engine (135).

Complaints
293
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine135
  2. Electrical system62
  3. Power train44
  4. Vehicle speed control30
  5. Engine and engine cooling26
  6. Steering16
  7. Fuel/propulsion system16
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)15
  9. Air bags13
  10. Seat belts12
  11. Seats10
  12. Service brakes9
  13. Structure8
  14. Suspension6

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 Oct 27, 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
20166
201715
201832
201956
202049
202118
202235
202323
202421
202515
202623

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

Engine

135 reports1 crash2 fires
“Component: Engine / Electrical System / Power Train VIN [XXX] Description of Safety Defect: The vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of engine power and completely shut off while traveling at highway speeds. This total engine failure disabled the vehicle on an active highway, forcing an emergency maneuver to reach the shoulder. This incident occurred less than four months after an authorized manufacturer dealership charged over $3,400 to repair the engine's air-induction vacuum and fuel systems. The sudden stalling on a high-speed roadway directly endangered the driver and a [XXX] passenger who were left stranded on the highway shoulder in extreme weather conditions. The vehicle was completely inoperable and required an emergency flatbed tow from the highway back to the repair facility.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11757293

Electrical system

62 reports
“Car stalls turns off by itself could be at red lights or even while driving twice already!! Needs to be recalled as well and repaired pls repairs cost thousands!!! Not safe!! I have owned it for 4-5 years and it has happened maybe 7-8 times but most recently this week twice!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11750726

Power train

44 reports
“Brake caliphers went bad 2 days after I purchased, now a heavy humming sound that I literally feel vibration in my seat, loud weird noise when making sharp turns, turning the wheel while in park grinding noise, loud rumbling when air conditioner is on, jerking forward when press on gas. This car is horrible”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2026Steering, Suspension, Power trainODI 11745995

Vehicle speed control

30 reports1 crash
“The reason for the recall on this make and model is what I'm experiencing now. The whole car will shutdown power while driving with no warnings. In traffic the car will just roll to a stop with cars closely behind me. I bought the call September 2016 yet I just saw a recall when I signed up for triple a. The last 12 months I have been on n and out of shops trying to find the reason. Starter was fixed. Battery replaced. Cables replaced. Throttle body replaced yet the car still shutdown in traffic. I don't want to cause an accident.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2026Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11742017

Engine and engine cooling

26 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V907000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was towed from the scene. The dealer was contacted, and the camshaft sensor was updated; however, several weeks later the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2026Engine and engine coolingODI 11760918

Steering

16 reports
“Car starts fine. After the car gets up to operating team the car will just stop running, very dangerous in traffic as it cannot be sterred or hardly stopped. The lightning bolt symbol appears on dash then car just dies. I replaced 2 camshaft position sensors and 1 connector. Car was fine for 2 weeks then started acting even crazier. I scan obd2 but get no codes.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2025Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11648485
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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