repaired · 2018 Q4
Air bags
Risk. If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of…
2012 Jeep CompassProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 184 owner complaints about the 2012 Jeep Compass, most often about the engine. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-668 the manufacturer reports only 38% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Jeep Compass has problems
184 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
36Engine1 crash/fire/injury
34Fuel/propulsion system
28Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
26Power train
24Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
22Seat belts1 crash/fire/injury
12Structure
10Fuel system, gasoline
10Suspension
3713 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 34 | 0 |
| Air bags | 28 | 2 |
| Power train | 26 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 24 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 22 | 1 |
| Structure | 12 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 10 | 0 |
| Suspension | 10 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 37 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2012 Jeep Compass recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Air bags: side/window
Risk. In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the side curtain airbag…
no report yet
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT OR ROLL-OVER, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Jeep.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
90kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 27 engine complaints. 52% were reported before 100,000 miles.
7under 30k miles14under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Compass year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Compass median. How we score
'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Jeep Compass safety ratings
2012 Jeep Compass SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Jeep Compass, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent DeploymentNo recall
In owners' words
What Compass owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I have had problems with a hitch or pause in the acceleration of my 2012 Jeep Compass since at least April of last year. I purchased the vehicle used in January 2021. In and of itself, the hitch would be a minor thing, but I think it's related to other problems I'm having with the vehicle losing…
Everytime I drive it acts as if it’s not getting sufficient fuel to the engine. Have had multiple things replaced to try and fix the problem but still not helped. Whole Engine sputters when I stop and acts as if it’s not getting any fuel to accelerate. Has almost caused a few crashes. To my…
The catalytic converter is failing on this vehicle. The vehicle had been maintained pre manufacturer specifications. Check engine light came on without warning. Crank shaft and cam shaft sensor both Failed on vehicle and had to be replaced. All bearing had to be replaced. Two of which were fixed…
Own a 2012 Compass?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.