2012 Jeep Compass reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Jeep Compass — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 261
- 39 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 36 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 4 reported crashes · 3 injuries · 2 deaths · 8 fires
What owners report fails — 2012 Jeep Compass
- ENGINE 36
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 34
- AIR BAGS 28
- POWER TRAIN 26
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 24
4 recalls on record for the 2012 Jeep Compass
- NHTSA 16V668000 · 2017 · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury t
- NHTSA 13V120000 · 2013 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 13V233000 · 2013 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or non-d
- NHTSA 12V142000 · 2012 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEM IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT OR ROLL-OVER, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Jeep Compass
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Jeep Compass units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Jeep Compass reliable?
NHTSA has 261 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Jeep Compass and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (36 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Jeep Compass units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Jeep Compass?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (36), fuel/propulsion system (34), air bags (28), power train (26). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Jeep Compass?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.