Problems · by component

2016 Jeep Compass engine problems

135 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Compass cite engine, 46% of all 293 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
135
46% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“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
“While driving at any time, the speedometer will instantly drop and the car feels like it's about to shut itself off. After a diagnostic with a mechanic, they stated this was the crankshaft issue; similar to a recall for other 2016 jeep compass. My vin is not currently associated with this recall notice, however based on these safety defects, it seems it should be considered under the recall”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2026Vehicle speed control, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11726821
“Continuously stalls out regardless of speed it has stalled on the highway, in the middle of intersections losing power steering. sometimes restarts right away, sometimes not. leaving me stranded in in the middle of highway/intersections sometimes in very dangerous places. It has had a recall repaired in 2017 before I owned the vehicle however it has had the exact same issues as the recall since I’ve bought it. I’ve spent the past few years trying to look up recalls and communicate with the dealership with zero luck at all. I’ve been told time and time again that it has already been repaired and the 2 years warranty is has expired since. (expired before I even bought the car) Yet the car clearly has has not been properly fixed for the same issues to keep happening. Because lack of help to resolve this issue I have paid out of pocket to have these issues repaired. However again the same issues keep happening leaving me and my family in very dangerous positions time and time again at the mercy of other drivers paying attention. What am I to do? I Cannot afford to keep replacing something that isn’t fixing the problem and leaving us in dangerous positions. Check…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11722604
“The engine failed while driving on the expressway putting us in a dangerous spot on the outer lane. It was towed to Etscorn’s in Louisville, KY and we were told despite everything looking ok on the outside, there was an internal engine failure of some kind and it would cost $900 to take it apart just to find out. I don’t have that kind of money.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2026EngineODI 11720427
“The Airbag light keeps coming on. And I regularly diagnose and service my car by the Jeep dealership and the diagnostic scan shows that everything is good with the car, still the airbag light keeps coming up on the dashboard. This is highly concerning and I'm afraid that it might blow up anytime while in driving. The car also has some transmission issue that is not showing up on the diagnostic scan report. But because of this issue I can't and haven't been driving on the highway for 1 year now. Because everything when I drove the highway, after 20 min of driving the car suddenly slows down and does not move forward even though I press the gas pedal. And this happens while I was driving on the highway, in the middle of the highway. It is very dangerous. I think there is a factory fault with this car. And I'd like to get help with this. Thanks.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2026Air bags, EngineODI 11717450

Showing 6 of 135 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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