Reliable Auto DB

2012 Jeep Compass reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 Jeep Compass has 184 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 12 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Compass years here — under the median of the other years, which is 18. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Pretensioner, Side and window, and Fuel system, gasoline.

2012 Jeep Compass
Photo by Navigator84, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

184

Per year

12

Recalls

4

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (36 of 184), then Fuel and propulsion system (34) and Air bags (28). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 5 that report a fire, 2 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Compass has 80 complaints, 5 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Jeep Compass. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall seat belts, pretensioner 2016-09-15 · NHTSA campaign 16V668000
Summary Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.
Recall air bags, side and window 2013-06-04 · NHTSA campaign 13V233000
Summary Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012. The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags.
Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall number is N01.
Recall Fuel system, gasoline 2013-04-03 · NHTSA campaign 13V120000
Summary Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles manufactured October 18, 2011, through May 7, 2012. Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of fuel from the secondary side to the primary side of the fuel tank may be interrupted, causing the engine to stall.
Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank transfer tube free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 30, 2013. Owners were notified by Chrysler on July 19, 2013, that parts are now available. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N17.
Recall gasoline fuel system, storage, tank 2012-04-03 · NHTSA campaign 12V142000
Summary CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 JEEP PATRIOT AND COMPASS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2012. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY CONTAINING A DAMAGED ROLL-OVER VALVE.
Remedy CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 25, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Complaints by component (184 total)

Engine
36
Fuel and propulsion system
34
Air bags
28
Powertrain
26
Electrical system
24
Seat belts
22
Structure
12
Fuel system, gasoline
10
Speed control
10
Suspension
10
Steering
6
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
Seats
4
Engine and engine cooling
2
Tires
2
Visibility
2
Forward collision avoidance
1
Interior lighting
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Service brakes
1
Traction control
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 14 more Show less
Crash-flagged

3

Fire-flagged

5

Injury reports

2

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

9201216201312201492015172016292017142018282019202020320218202252023820242202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "2012 Jeep Compass has excessive rust and corrosion from the frame to the chassis. Vehicle has 69,000 miles on it and after each snow storm undercarriage was washed. I was told this vehicle is now unsafe and I need to…"
    Suspension, Structure · filed 2026-07-09
  • "The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Compass. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the engine…"
    Fuel system, gasoline · filed 2026-03-24
  • "The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, the contact was unable to pump more than one gallon at a time. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer,…"
    Fuel system, gasoline · filed 2026-03-16
  • "When I attempt to fuel the car, the gas pump immediately shuts off regardless of the gas station or the pump that I am at. The gas also seemed to not want to go into the tank, as I could see some of the gas leaking out…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-01-22
  • "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,…"
    Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-06-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Jeep Compass SUV 2WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2012 Jeep Compass SUV 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Compass two-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 23 28 25 MPG $2600
Compass two-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 23 29 25 MPG $2600
Compass two-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 21 27 23 MPG $2800
Compass two-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 23 27 24 MPG $2700
Compass four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Four-wheel drive 21 25 23 MPG $2800
Compass four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Four-wheel drive 22 27 24 MPG $2700
Compass four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Four-wheel drive 20 23 21 MPG $3100

Specs and fitment

MK49 (US), 2012–2016
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-20 (2.0L and 2.4L) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 215/65R17 (typical)
Towing capacity 2,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 16V668000. Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash. 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 a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

Compare

Next year 2013 Jeep Compass See every Jeep Compass model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Jeep Compass reliable?

The 2012 Jeep Compass has 184 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 12 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Compass years here — under the median of the other years, which is 18. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Pretensioner, Side and window, and Fuel system, gasoline.

What are common problems with a 2012 Jeep Compass?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (36 of 184), then Fuel and propulsion system (34) and Air bags (28). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 5 that report a fire, 2 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2012 Jeep Compass more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Compass has 80 complaints, 5 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Jeep Compass been recalled?

The 2012 Jeep Compass has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Jeep Compass?

Owners have filed 184 complaints about the 2012 Jeep Compass with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Jeep Compass get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Jeep Compass is 23.6 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Compass take?

5W-20 (2.0L and 2.4L)

What does NHTSA recall 16V-668 cover on the Jeep Compass?

NHTSA campaign 16V668000.

What generation is the 2013 Jeep Compass?

MK49 (US) (2012-2016).