2012 Jeep COMPASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
184 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
59,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 129 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 184 complaints (19.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 30 | 16.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 29 | 15.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 6.5% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 4.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 36 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 34 |
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Power Train | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Seat Belts | 22 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 |
Engine: 36; Fuel/Propulsion System: 34; Air Bags: 28; Power Train: 26; Unknown Or Other: 24; Electrical System: 23; Seat Belts: 22; Fuel System, Gasoline: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 55 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 29 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2012: 9; 2013: 16; 2014: 12; 2015: 9; 2016: 17; 2017: 29; 2018: 14; 2019: 28; 2020: 20; 2021: 3; 2022: 8; 2023: 5; 2024: 8; 2025: 2; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 30 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 29 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10469459 · 2012-08-07 (August 7, 2012)
VEHICLE SPUTTERS, SHAKES, AND ALMOST STALLS OUT. WHEN IT DOES THIS YOU CAN STEP ON THE GAS AND IT WILL GO NO WHERE, I M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AS IF ANYONE CUTS ME OFF OR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE MY VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING I COULD GET HIT AND INJURED.I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, THEIR ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER AGREES ITS A PROBLEM, HE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT OR HOW TO FIX IT, THE MANAGER OF SERVICE SAYS ITS A 4 CYLINDER ISSUE BUT ITS NORMAL. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND AND IS NOT HELPING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10477163 · 2012-09-26 (September 26, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 70 MPH AT HIGH ALTITUDE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALLS BUT WHEN DRIVING IN LOWER ALTITUDES IT WOULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONTACT HIM WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453231 · 2012-03-27 (March 27, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP COMPASS LIMITED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE GEAR SHIFT DID NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE IDLED HIGH AND THE RPM INCREASED TO 5000. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN, BUT THE FAILURE DID NOT DUPLICATE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE GEAR SHIFTER LEVER. THE FAILURE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 29 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10493046 · 2013-01-15 (January 15, 2013)
THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THE VEHICLE SLOWING RAPIDLY WHEN LETTING UP ON THE GAS OCCURRED DURING RUSH HOUR ON A LOCAL PARKWAY. WHILE TRAVELLING WITH THE TRAFFIC, AT ABOUT 67 MPH, THE TRAFFIC AHEAD STARTED TO SLOW. RATHER THAN STEP ON THE BRAKE, I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN TO QUICKLY DECELERATE. IT HAPPENED SO FAST THAT THE PERSON BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. THEY PROCEDED TO GO AROUND ME AND PULLED ABRUPTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND BRAKED. HE MUST HAVE THOUGHT I DID IT INTENTIONALLY. THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING AT SLOWER…
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641370 · 2014-10-04 (October 4, 2014)
I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP IN MY 2012 JEEP COMPASS (4X4 LATITUDE VERSION) FROM THE NASHVILLE, TN AREA TO THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA, IN AUGUST, AND WAS MONITORING MY FUEL CONSUMPTION ON THE TRIP. I NOTED MY FUEL GAUGE HAD BEEN TELLING ME THAT AT THE FIRST HALF OF THE GAS TANK I HAD BEEN GETTING AROUND 210 MILES OUT OF THAT FIRST HALF OF THE TANK. MY SECOND HALF OF THE TANK ONLY GAVE ME AROUND 90 MILES TO THE HALF TANK, WITH ABOUT A GALLON AND A HALF REMAINING IN THE TANK WHEN I REFUELED. THIS IS NEARLY 100 MILE DIFFERENCE IN MILEAGE BETWEEN THE TWO MEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679418 · 2015-01-28 (January 28, 2015)
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND THE GAS GAUGE SHOWING 1/4 OF A TANK LEFT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. IT WOULD RESTART. AFTER PUTTING SOME GAS IN IT STARTED IMMEDIATELY. SINCE THEN, AND BEFORE, I HAVE LET THE LEVEL RUN DOWN WELL BELOW A 1/4 OF A TANK WITH NO INCIDENT. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT I CALLED JEEP BECAUSE THIS SCENARIO IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED A YEAR OR SO AGO, WHICH SAID THAT AT HIGH SUSTAINED SPEED A FUEL INTAKE HOSE IN THE GAS TANK COULD COLLAPSE, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE TURN…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10461204 · 2012-06-11 (June 11, 2012)
THE FIRST TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS CHECKED AND RETURNED, 2 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, SOME OIL APPLIED TO THE CONNECTORS AND RETURNED. YESTERDAY, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T MOVE AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. UPON TRYING TO RESTART THE IGNITION, IT KEPT STARTING BY ITSELF OVER AND OVER. NOW YOU CAN'T ACCEL THE VEHICLE WHILE IN DRIVE. THE RIGHT STRUT WAS REPLACED ON FEB 20…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819103 · 2016-01-08 (January 8, 2016)
THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES NOW. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THEY HAVE TO BE DRIVING IT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. TWICE NOW, I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. NO LIGHTS, NO HAZARDS, NO POWER STEERING. IT IS LIKE I HAVE NO BATTERY AT ALL. EVERYTHING IS DEAD. ONE TIME I WAS PARKED, AND LOST ALL POWER, CAME BACK ON IN A FEW MINUTES. THE SECOND TIME, IT WAS DARK OUT. I HAD JUST MADE A TURN, APROX 100 FEET AFTER, I LOST ALL POWER AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS IN MOTION, CARS BEHIND ME, I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO LIGHTS. NO HAZARDS. I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDE…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10494442 · 2013-01-23 (January 23, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED AWAY OUT OF A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THEY WERE AWARE THAT THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION THAT VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH WOULD PERIODICALLY FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,751 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513907 · 2013-05-28 (May 28, 2013)
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET TO THE GAS STATION, I HAD ABOUT HALF A TANK LEFT, THE CHECK BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND MY CAR WOULD STALL OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN JANUARY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND IT HAD JUST RAINED, AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN IN WARM, SUNNY WEATHER. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OTHER CARS WERE RIGHT BEHIND ME AS I WAS DRIVING. I WOULD TURN MY CAR OFF, TURN IT BACK ON AND IT WOULD START, AND THEN IT WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN AGAIN AFTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641372 · 2014-10-04 (October 4, 2014)
I GOT INTO MY 2012 JEEP COMPASS ( 4X4 LATITUDE VERSION) AND NOTED A DRIP OF WATER ON THE INSIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MAYBE MY WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING AND TOOK NOTE OF THE AREA. WELL, I BEGAN TO BACK OUT AND A BUNCH OF WATER CAME DOWN ON ME THROUGH MY INTERIOR LIGHT AND ALONG THE EDGING OF THE CEILING OF THE INTERIOR ALONG THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME TWICE BEFORE, AND THE ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE SUNROOF BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SUNROOF DRAINS. RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641372 at NHTSA ↗