2012 Jeep Compass Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Compass years
- More complaints than other years 9th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 184 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Compass. That ranks 9th out of 20 Compass model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (36 complaints, 20%), typically at around 90,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
_IMG_5727.jpg){kind=link}
- 184owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Jeep Compass problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 | 20% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 34 | 18% | 58,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 28 | 15% | 84,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 26 | 14% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 24 | 13% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 24 | 13% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 22 | 12% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 12 | 7% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 5% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 10 | 5% | 83,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 5% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 3% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 3% | 78,850 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 2% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 1% | 138,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 5,949 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 35,750 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1% | 40,521 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Jeep Compass recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags; seat belts:pretensioner; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: 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.
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 a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:software; seat belts; air bags:side/window
Problem: 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.
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 and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners. As a result, vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of an impact or roll-over, fuel leakage could occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment (PE19014) — opened Sep 9, 2019, closed Feb 25, 2026.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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 purchase a new car. I really do like my Jeep Compass, is there any remedy to this…
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 seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure…
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, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the roll-over valve was defective…
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 around the rim of the tank even though it was empty when I began to fuel.
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…
Other Jeep Compass years
← 2011 Compass · 2013 Compass →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Compass | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 Compass | 28 | 0 |
| 2024 Compass | 53 | 0 |
| 2023 Compass | 46 | 2 |
| 2022 Compass | 225 | 4 |
| 2021 Compass | 81 | 0 |
| 2020 Compass | 143 | 1 |
| 2019 Compass | 330 | 2 |
| 2018 Compass | 944 | 6 |
| 2017 Compass | 229 | 4 |
| 2016 Compass | 293 | 1 |
| 2015 Compass | 113 | 1 |
| 2014 Compass | 307 | 2 |
| 2013 Compass | 80 | 1 |
| 2012 | 184 | 4 |
| 2011 Compass | 188 | 3 |
| 2010 Compass | 71 | 2 |
| 2009 Compass | 44 | 1 |
| 2008 Compass | 93 | 0 |
| 2007 Compass | 259 | 3 |
See all Jeep Compass problems by year, every Jeep model, or the Jeep VIN decoder.
Similar Jeep models
Embed this 2012 Jeep Compass badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Jeep Compass?
Owners most often report engine, fuel/propulsion system, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 36 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Jeep Compass?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Jeep Compass a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Compass model years, the 2012 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.