2016 Jeep COMPASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
293 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 181 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 135 of 293 complaints (46.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 114 | 38.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 10.9% |
| Braking behavior | 23 | 7.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 7.2% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 7.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
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 | 135 |
| Electrical System | 61 |
| Unknown Or Other | 47 |
| Power Train | 44 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 24 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 |
| Steering | 16 |
Engine: 135; Electrical System: 61; Unknown Or Other: 47; Power Train: 44; Vehicle Speed Control: 30; Engine And Engine Cooling: 24; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Steering: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 69 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 69; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (69). 112 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 56 |
| 2020 | 49 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 23 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 23 |
2016: 6; 2017: 15; 2018: 32; 2019: 56; 2020: 49; 2021: 18; 2022: 35; 2023: 23; 2024: 21; 2025: 15; 2026: 23
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 114 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 23 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10824659 · 2016-02-06 (February 6, 2016)
WHILE AT MILOSCH PALACE CHRYSLER JEEP DEALERSHIP IN LAKE ORION I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE WAS CONTACTING THE FRONT SUSPENSION SWAY BAR AT STATIONARY CURB CONDITION. THIS IS A DESIGN VIOLATION WHICH I TOLD FCA ABOUT WHEN I WORKED THERE IN 2014. THE ISSUE HAS EXISTED NOW FROM JULY OF 2014 UNTIL NOW. THE HOSE CAN WEAR A HOLE IN IT DUE TO A 2 INCH RUBBING INTERFERENCE WITH SUSPENSION MOVEMENT AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE STEERING ASSIST AND POWER STEERING FLUID CAN SPRAY IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING A FIRE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10824659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10825954 · 2016-02-13 (February 13, 2016)
THIS CAR WAS A RENTAL CAR. MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE WAS HIT BY A CAR AND THEN PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE JEEP WAS TOTALED BUT YET NOT ONE AIRBAG WAS EVER DEPLOYED. THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SIX AIRBAGS IN THIS VEHICLE BUT NOT ONE EVER DEPLOYED. MY HUSBAND SUFFERED A MINOR HEAD INJURY AS A RESULT.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10825954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852499 · 2016-03-30 (March 30, 2016)
AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL DRIVE TO A STORE, WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING LOT INTO MOVING TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY SLUGGISHLY, LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN TOP GEAR OR THE ENGINE WASN'T ABLE TO BE REV'ED UP. PUSHING ACCELERATOR TO FLOOR CAUSED ENGINE TO REV UP TO APPROXIMATELY 3500 RPM ONLY, AND RATE OF ACCELERATION DID NOT IMPROVE. TRIED SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE. THIS DID NOT RESTORE THE EXPECTED ACCELERATION BEHAVIOR. TRIED TO PUT TRANSMISSION INTO MANUAL SHIFT MODE BY MOVING GEAR S…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10884720 · 2016-07-14 (July 14, 2016)
SEVERE TIRE WEAR ON JEEP COMPASS ON 05/12/16 I TOOK A RENTAL CAR (JEEP COMPASS, MILEAGE: 10417) IN LAS VEGAS. ON 05/26/16, JUST AS WE HAD PASSED THE MOUNTAIN ROUTES FROM DURANGO TO OURAY, I DISCOVERED BY CHANCE THAT BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE (SEE PHOTOS). I DID NOT DISCOVER IT EARLIER, BECAUSE THE TIRE TREAD WAS O.K. ON THE OUTSIDE AND THE BODY HIDED THE REST OF THE TIRE. THEN I DROVE VERY SLOWLY. SOON AFTER CAME THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE TIRE PRESSURE: THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LOST PRESSURE (MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY: 12…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10884720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10897932 · 2016-08-23 (August 23, 2016)
I WAS ON A VACATION TRIP AND MY SON WAS DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND HE CRASHED INTO A POLE. MY WIFE AND I THOUGHT THE STEERING WAS ROUGH BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD EASE UP. AFTER THE CAR WAS HIT THE AXEL ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WAS DESTROYED. HE WASN'T MOVING FAST ENOUGH FOR THE AXEL TO GET DAMAGED WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE AXEL WAS POORLY CONSTRUCTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. NO MY CAR IS STUCK IN A FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY WITH NO WAY OF GETTING IT HOME. THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10897932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10936121 · 2016-12-19 (December 19, 2016)
ON DECEMBER 9, 2016 I RENTED A JEEP COMPASS AND ON THAT DAY I HAD A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY. VERY LOW TRAFFIC AREA. BEFORE APPLYING THE BRAKE, I WAS DRIVING AT A SAFE SPEED FOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS - FIFTEEN TO TWENTY MPH ON FRESH SNOW AND SOME PACKED SNOW OVER A PAVED ROAD BASE. AT ABOUT TWENTY TO TWENTY FIVE FEET BEFORE A STOP SIGN I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE DID NOTHING. THERE WAS CLICKING NOISES AND THE COMPASS SEEMED TO ACCELERATE. I CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKE AS I ROLLED THROUGH THE STOP AREA FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10936121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945388 · 2017-01-15 (January 15, 2017)
WHEN IT IS RAINING OR WHEN THE SNOW ON MY JEEP BEGINS TO MELT, THE SUNROOF LEAKS. THE SUNROOF CONTROLLS AND OVERHEAD LIGHTS (WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE SUNROOF) FILLS UP WITH WATER AND LEAK ALL OVER; ON THE DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER, DASHBOARD, ETC. CREATING A DISTRACTION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10945388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10948018 · 2017-01-27 (January 27, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V907000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,60…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10948018 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V907000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 2016-12-16 (December 16, 2016)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016. The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.
Consequence: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S89.
NHTSA campaign record ↗