The Lemon Index2012 Jeep Compass.
The 2012 Jeep Compass is about average by owner complaints: 46 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 96, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about fuel or ev drive system, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 21 to 25 mpg combined. The best Jeep Compass year is 2013.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 184 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Jeep Compass year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 29K to 92K miles on the car (129 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 13K–120K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 32K–83K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 11K–120K miles
Recalls 4
- seat belts 2016
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.
- airbags 2013
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.
- fuel system, gasoline 2013
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.
Show all 4 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2012
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 JEEP PATRIOT AND COMPASS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2012.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Jeep told dealers about
Jeep sent dealers 147 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Sunroof Leak Under High Water Pressure This bulletin involves installing a new sunroof service…
- Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1
- Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedActive head rest inadvertent deployment2019–2026
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Compass SUV 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Jeep Compass SUV 2WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Jeep Compass reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 96; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Jeep Compass year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2012 Jeep Compass problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel or ev drive system (20%), transmission & drivetrain (15%) and body structure (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Jeep Compass have?
4 safety recalls (latest: seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Jeep Compass get?
21 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2012 Jeep Compass problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 29,000 and 92,000 miles. The middle report was at 59,000 miles, from 129 complaints.
Does the 2012 Jeep Compass have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 15% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Jeep Compass cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Jeep Compass have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Jeep Compass year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2015 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works