Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2013 Jeep Compass, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Jeep Compass year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 16V668000

NHTSA frontal crash test
2 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2013 Jeep Compass SUV 4WD
The parts named most often across 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
2 crashes · 1 injured
3 crashes · 1 fire · 3 injured
1 injured
1 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
Catalytic converter problem Warning engine light keeps coming on. This has happened over several years. It now comes on everyday. It is now in shop to be fixed and code shows front converter is bad which includes the manifold.
Attached is a work order request for a defective door handle on my Jeep Compass. The driver side door handle we have determined is wrapped in metal and is delaminating. It has caused a hand injury to my daughter due to the wrapping on the door handle coming apart and being extremely sharp. We have taken the car to our local dealer for inspection and they have verified that this is not normal and we believe the part is defective. Additionally, the passenger side handle is starting to do the same. This is a dangerous defective part and attempts to correspond with Jeep/Stellantis have been completely ignored.
Passenger seat headrest ejected itself. Outside of the car was getting a handwash and suddenly the headrest just shot open. Now nobody is able to sit in passenger seat safely. Unsure how this could happen as car was operating just fine prior.
This vehicle before had the cvt transmission replaced as it was over heating/inoperable. Complete replacement. Flash forward not even a year I was driving and thr transmission made a noise and basically locked up causing the driver to hit curb at high rate of speed along the freeway. The vehicle again is disabled with a transmission defect and requires replacement. 2nd transmission failure and will need replacement and caused injury during collision with curb at high rate of speed without any indication lights of a mechanical issue prior to impact.
The vehicle was taken in for a recall of the catalytic converters and PCM software, July 2019. May 2021, while driving at highway speeds the transmission temperature light illuminated and an un-commanded deceleration occurred to about 10 mph, it would go no faster got to the nearest off ramp and to a rest area sat for an hour, then the vehicle performed normally. May 13, 2021, took the vehicle to the repair facility no trouble codes were set but they replaced the transmission filler tube. A few days later the light illuminated again but no adverse driving conditions occurred. June 18, 2021, at highway speeds the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph a service engine light illuminated a transmission overtempt light also and made it home about ten miles at no more than 10mph, 19 aug 2022 drove the vehicle at a few mph to my local Jeep dealer for check engine and no power.
While preparing to enter my car today (6/5/2022) I heard a fairly loud popping/exploding sound. I quickly backed away from the car then approached it again and realized the passenger headrest, though attached, had basically split in 2. Upon further inspection I couldn’t see why this had randomly happened as I didn’t have a passenger with me and hadn’t touched it. I tried to force it back together but couldn’t figure out how to get it to move so I left it as is. Later this evening I started searching online for how to fit it back together and it appears this happens frequently especially with jeeps and is a failure of a safety feature called active headrest. I went back out to look at it and saw exactly what I had seen other drivers mention, there’s 2 teeny tiny pieces of black plastic that apparently keep it from deploying and the right one had cracked. Just lucky that no one was sitting there at the time or that it wasn’t the driver headrest while driving - very unsafe, I can’t even believe a “safety feature” is approved when it’s only withheld by a piece of plastic so small you wouldn’t think twice about discarding it if you found it while opening a toy.
The vehicle was taken in for a recall of the catalytic converters and PCM software, July 2019. May 2021, while driving at highway speeds the transmission temperature light illuminated and an un-commanded deceleration occurred to about 10 mph, it would go no faster got to the nearest off ramp and to a rest area sat for an hour, then the vehicle performed normally. May 13, 2021, took the vehicle to the repair facility no trouble codes were set but they replaced the transmission filler tube. A few days later the light illuminated again but no adverse driving conditions occurred. Oct 18, 2021, at highway speeds the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph a service engine light illuminated a transmission overtempt light also and made it home about ten miles at no more than 10mph, 19 Oct 2021 drove the vehicle at a few mph to my local Jeep dealer for check engine and no power. 22 Nov 2021 they had me pay them $3000.00 and they ordered a transmission. 15 Mar 2022 the transmission arrived they installed it and a transmission cooler and new sparkplugs cleared all troubles, I paid another $3,815.62 and got my vehicle back in good working order. No accidents or injuries were incurred by the sudden decelerations due to our safe driving skills.
Jeep first issues was at 89k, not shifting. Second issues was at100k transmission over heated. Dealer/ warranty had me changed the fluid and filter for transmission. Third issue, 130k transmission made a whining noise and stopped. Jeep was towed to the shop. After doing some research, turns out that the transmission on several these Jeep’s have same issue. The transmission should be on manufactured recall.
PURCHASED 2013 JEEP COMPASS WITH 109,000 MILES. NOTICED IT BURNED OIL BAD. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, CHANGED OIL TO SYNTHETIC AS RECOMMEND AND FILTER. CONTINUED TO HAVE EXCESSIVE OIL BURN. 3 BOTTLES EVERY 2 WEEKS. WAS DRIVING IT AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SOMETHING DIDNT FEEL RIGHT., SHE PULLED OVER AS OIL LIGHT CAME ON. NOW OIL WAS CHECKED AND WAS FULL PRIOR TO DRIVING 40 MINUTES, NOW OIL LIGHT ON, CHECKED OIL AND WAS LOW. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, HAD IT TOWED TO GARAGE AND ENGINE IS FRIED. AT 111,000 MILES, NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. ENGINE IT IS IS A 2.4L . IF MY DAUGHTER DIDNT THINK QUICK TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT
I PURCHASED THIS JEEP A YEAR AGO VERY LOW MILEAGE. ABOUT 2 WEEKS INTO IT THE JEEP STARTED HEATING UP. LONG STORY SHORT THIS VEHICLE AT ITS 100K MILES NEEDED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT THAT COST ME OVER 3000.00 WITH SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ERROR., IVE HEARD SEVERAL OF THESE JEEP COMPASSES NEEDING TRANSMISSIONS UNDER 100K MILES
DANGEROUSLY DROPPING INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING OR ABILITY TO OVERRIDE FOR SAFETY. EARLY FULL SYSTEM TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT NO OPTIONS FOR REPAIR. FINALLY DIED BY MAKING WHINING NOISE, GOING INTO LIMP MODE AND STAYING THERE. THE EXCESSIVE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION MAKES IT NOT COST EFFECTIVE. ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE ALTOGETHER.
I HAD MY JEEP IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE & IT WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A RUSTED SUBFRAME. IT WAS SUGGESTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT. IT WAS EVALUATED & DETERMINED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ISSUE WITH PREMATURELY RUSTING. I CONTACTED JEEP CUSTOMER CARE ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WILL NOT HELP. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME IS OVER $1,300. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE & IF NOT REPAIRED WILL CONTINUE TO CORRODE & DIMINISH THE HANDLING OF MY JEEP AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT.
Showing 12 of 80 complaints.