The Lemon Index2016 Jeep Compass.
The 2016 Jeep Compass is worse than average by owner complaints: 109 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 116, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 1 recall, 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 293 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Jeep Compass year. 2016 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 37K to 71K miles on the car (181 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 39K–70K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 39K–70K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 41K–80K miles
Recalls 1
- engine 2016
The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.
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 145 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- "2.0l or 2.4l engine replacement this bulletin involves replacing the long block due to a…
- Rear Differential If you are diagnosing 2016 model year vehicle with a shudder issue while the…
- Hands Free Module - Convergence Telematics Module (CTM) Before replacing the Hands Free Module…
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
- ClosedStall from crankshaft\camshaft failure2022–2025
- ClosedElectrical overstress2019–2024
- 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 | ★★★★☆ |
| Jeep Compass SUV 2WD | 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.
In owners' words
Engine stalls out while driving down the road, can lead to crash or accident, vehicle will not restart for multiple hours after incident. Manufactures crankshaft sensor is faulty. Vehicle was in motion on city street.
2016 Jeep Compass owner · NHTSA complaint 11219051
More owner reports
Crank shaft sensor , car stalls, first started in july 2018...check engine light came on and threw back code for crank shaft sensor
NHTSA complaint 11156127
The engine keeps stalling. Its similar to the same description for the recall that just so happen my car isn't linked to dealing with the crankshaft or camshaft.
NHTSA complaint 11289107
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Jeep Compass reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 116; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Jeep Compass year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2016 Jeep Compass problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (47%), electrical (17%) and transmission & drivetrain (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Jeep Compass have?
1 safety recall (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Jeep Compass get?
21 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2016 Jeep Compass problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 37,800 and 71,000 miles. The middle report was at 55,000 miles, from 181 complaints.
Does the 2016 Jeep Compass have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 14% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Jeep Compass cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Jeep Compass have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Jeep Compass year is better than the 2016?
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