2013 JEEP COMPASS

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    transmission automatic

    1 stranded, 12 unsafe

    13
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=14, median 75,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN I4 THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE AND WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO WAIT FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE BUYING IT BRAND NEW IN 2…"~35,000 mi, complaint #1228055
    • "RECURRING PROBLEM- TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE LIGHT HAS GONE ON AND VEHICLE SLOWS OR STOPS ABRUBTLY DURING 1 HOUR OR LONGER TRIP ON HIGHWAY. HAD THE CAR IN JEEP DEALER 3 TIMES. CONTACTED JEEP CORPORATE DIRECTLY , THEY DIDNT RETURN LAST CALLS. NO PROGRES…"~53,000 mi, complaint #1340445
    • "THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING UPHILL 3 SEPARATE TIMES, ONCE IN A [REDACTED ADDRESS] (70 MILE ROUND TRIP), THE OTHER 2 TIMES, BOTH 3.5 HOURS IN( [REDACTED ADDRESS]) AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY AND ON THE 30 MINUTE T…"~76,000 mi, complaint #1418472
    • "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 MANUF…"~102,000 mi, complaint #1718757
    • "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…"~116,000 mi, complaint #1716015
  2. #2

    airbag system

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES BEFORE ROLLING OVER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RECALL THE EXACT DETAILS OF THE CRASH. THE FRON…"~1,000 mi, complaint #979812
    • "S61 OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER DON,T WORK. MAY NOT WORK IF IN AN ACCIDENT."~28,000 mi, complaint #1366041
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SAW FLAMES IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE DRIVER SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DRIVER ATT…"~38,000 mi, complaint #1429524
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUIS…"~39,000 mi, complaint #1201141
  3. #3

    throttle and pedal

    7 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    8
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=15, median 67,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP 3 MONTHS AGO AND IT HAD 41,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE DRIVEN AN ADDITIONAL 3,000. THIS MORNING AS I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE 'ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL' LIGHT CAME ON AND CAUSED MY CAR TO STALL TWICE. THE HIGHEST…"~44,700 mi, complaint #1462777
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. MY CAR WAS BASICALLY COASTING AS CARS AND TRACTOR TRAILERS WERE FLYING BY ME AT 70+ MPH. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY, AND ALL THE L…"~49,000 mi, complaint #1349974
    • ""TAKATA RECALL" MY JEEP GOES TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR EVERYTHING. I RECENTLY JUST GOT AN INSPECTION. MY JEEP HAS 67,000 MILE ON IT. I HAVE HAD 2 RECALLS, IN WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. WHEN I GOT MY JEEP BACK AFTER MY INSPECTION, I NOTICE THE…"~67,000 mi, complaint #1461925
    • "AROUND 80,000 MILES MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND APPEARED TO STAY IN 1ST GEAR (I DRIVE AN AUTOMATIC). LUCKILY, I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE TRACTION LIGHT, AND A RED LIGHTNING BOLT LIGHT TURN ON. WHEN I TOOK THE…"~79,000 mi, complaint #1556831
    • "ACTUATOR THROTTLE BODY SENSOR IS SHOWING A WARNING ON MY DASH WITH A CODE OF P2173"~116,000 mi, complaint #1610852
  4. #4

    transmission cvt

    1 stranded, 6 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "CVT OVERHEATS AT APPROXIMATELY [REDACTED ADDRESS] DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO QUICKLY LOOSE POWER AND BECOME UNDRIVEABLE. THIS THEN STRANDS THE DRIVER FOR NEARLY 30 MINUTES UNTIL IT COOLS ENOUGH AND THE WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF AND THEN CAN THEN BE DRIVEN AGA…"~61,000 mi, complaint #1538494
    • "IN THE SUMMER OF 2016, THE CVT TRANSMISSION STARTED OVERHEATING. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. YOU WOULD HAVE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND SIT THERE FOR 20 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO COOL DOWN. HOWEVER, WHEN WE WOUL…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1480526
    • "I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT THE SPEED LIMIT (60-65 ON FREEWAY) THE TACHOMETER SOARED TO ABOUT 3500AND THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE. IT LOST ALL POWER AND I HAD NO CONTROL. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER MOTORIST TRYING TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. WHEN I TURNED LEFT OR TRIED…"~110,000 mi, complaint #1579401
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED TO 3,200 AND A WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER WHEN APPROACHING AN EXIT RAMP. IN ADDITION, THE EMERGENCY AND TRANSMISSION TEMPE…"~110,000 mi, complaint #1580408
  5. #5

    other

    4 annoyance

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TAKATA RECALL TRUCK RUNS LIKE MALFUNCTION. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT COVER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN."~32,000 mi, complaint #1346809
  6. #6

    stability and traction control

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "I BOUGHT THIS JEEP JUNE 25TH 2015. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES, AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM EVEN BEFORE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE CAR F…"~34,400 mi, complaint #1223094
    • "WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT SENSOR FLASHES AND POWER IS LOST TO THE AXLES. THIS HAPPENS FOR AT LEAST TEN SECONDS. THE CAR IS GOING LESS THAN [REDACTED ADDRESS] CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I TOOK IT TO THE…"~41,000 mi, complaint #1428938
    • "DURING COMMUTE ON TUES 6/21 VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE DEACCELARATION; FOLLOWING DAY VEHICLE SEEMED TO RESUME WORKING; BY FRI. 6/24 VEHICLE BEGAN TO DISPLAY THE SAME PERFORMANCE ISSUE"~53,000 mi, complaint #1294026
  7. #7

    door latch and hinge

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I RENTED A 2013 JEEP COMPASS FROM ENTERPRISE IN HOUSTON. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE SHOE ON MY LEFT FOOT SNAGGED ON AN OBSTRUCTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOORBOARD. WHILE FREEING MY FOOT, I INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED THE HOOD. I FAILED TO NOTICE THE HOOD WA…"~2,200 mi, complaint #972907
    • "HELLO, 3/4/2015 MY BROTHER BOUGHT A 2013 JEEP COMPASS ON HIS BIRTHDAY OF THE SAME YEAR. OVER THE LAST FEW (4-6) MONTHS, WE HAVE CUT OUR FINGERS, REPEATEDLY ON THE CHROME COVERING THE DOORS HANDLES. WE ARE NOT TALKING PAPER CUTS NOR ARE WE DESCRIBING EMERG…"~35,000 mi, complaint #1162694
  8. #8

    seat mechanism

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "HEADREST DEPLOYS WHILE NO CRASH HAS HAPPENED"~76,000 mi, complaint #1674427
  9. #9

    wiring harness

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I ALREADY FILED A COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. MY PURPOSE NOW IS TO NOTIFY THE INCREDIBLY BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INTEREST THE CHRYSLER CORP TOOK REGARDING THIS INCIDENT. TO START, THEY PLAYED EVERY EXCUSE TO AVOID GOING TO THE BODY SHOP TO INSPECT THE JEE…"~14,500 mi, complaint #1126366
    • "WITH ALL FUSES ATTACHED, THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE IN MOTION."~39,950 mi, complaint #1281066
  10. #10

    catalytic converter

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE ALSO STARTED TO HEAR AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE…"~130,000 mi, complaint #1689420
  11. #11

    corrosion and rust

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "WHILE DRIVING, BANGING NOISE FROM REAR AND FRONT SUSPENSION WAS HEARD. SQUEALING NOISE (METAL ON METAL) ALSO HEARD FROM BRAKES. MECHANIC INSPECTED UNDERCARRIAGE AND SAW UNDERCARRIAGE WAS THOROUGHLY RUSTED WHICH DAMAGED FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION AND BRAKES. WA…"~26,001 mi, complaint #1496108
    • "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 SA…"~74,000 mi, complaint #1698721
  12. #12

    engine stall or no start

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND STALLING, NOT GETTING ABOVE 45 WITHOUT JARRING AND TRYING TO STALL OUT. I HAVE HAD KENDALL AUTO GROUP IN SOLDOTNA, ALASKA TRYING TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR SINCE MARCH 2019. THEY HAVE HAD STAR CASES OPENED WITH CHRYSLER TECHNICIANS. IT'S…"~89,000 mi, complaint #1602736
  13. #13

    fuel tank and lines

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "FUEL EMISSIONS SYSTEM. REPEATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING INDICATIONS HAVE BEEN SEEN IN THIS VEHICLE OVER THE PAST YEAR. REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE RESULTED IN COMPONENTS BEING REPLACED ERRONEOUSLY. MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT REQUIRED ENTIRE RE…"~65,000 mi, complaint #1401300
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND AND EXCESSIVE FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. THE FIRE GREW LARGER FROM OU…"~74,000 mi, complaint #1589571
  14. #14

    unintended acceleration

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "ENTERED BANK PARKING TO USE ATM MACHINE, AT THAT TIME WHEN STEPPED ON BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, IT ACCELERATED LIKE SOMEONE WAS STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. AT THAT TIME I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BY SHIFTING INTO ANOTHER GEAR AND ALSO TRIED PULLING KEY OUT OF THE IGNITI…"~9,700 mi, complaint #1033926
    • "EARLY MORNING. GOING N ON I-75, EXITING ON EXIT 22 (GLADES PARKWAY). SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT, MY DAUGHTER PERCEIVED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THECAR, I TRIED TO KEEP REDUCING THE SPEED BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE EXIT CURVE WA…"~13,850 mi, complaint #1110254
  15. #15

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHTS TURN ON AND VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP" MODE CREATING THE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE OVER 10MPH. WHEN PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE JEEP STALLS AND THEN GOES INTO LIMP MODE…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1671935
  16. #16

    control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "FAULTY TIPM SHORTLY OUT SOME ELECTRICAL RELAYS. STATIONARY COOLING FANS DON'T SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN IGNITION KEY IS OFF. AC BLOWER FANS INTIMIDATE ON AND OFF. AT CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR 10 DAYS. ALL RELAYS CHANGED 'ALL SENSORS CHANGE. TIPM DIAGNOSIS SAYS SHORT IN…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1681349
  17. #17

    engine oil consumption

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "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 SOMETHIN…"~111,000 mi, complaint #1737904
  18. #18

    hv system fault reduced power

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "DRIVING MY CAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED, THE LIGHTNING BOLT LIGHT CAME ONE, AND THE LOST ABILITY TO MOVE AT MORE THAN 5MPH. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT WAS FINE. GOT IT HOME AND TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. DEA…"complaint #1678225
  19. #19

    mirror

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR SIDE VIEW MIRROR IS A MOTORIZED MIRROR AND HAS A HEATING ELEMENT INSIDE THE MIRROR. SOMETHING ELECTRICAL INSIDE THE MIRROR CAUSED ENOUGH HEAT FOR THE MIRROR TO MELT AND GO ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNOCCUPIED AND NOT RUNNING…"complaint #1010129
  20. #20

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WERE FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY AND THE ANCHORAGE DID NOT HOLD THE BELTS IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REP…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1222797
  21. #21

    suspension arms and bushings

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN 09/11/2015 WITH MY REAR RIGHT CONTROL ARM THE RUBBER BUSHING GAVE OUT AND THE CONTROL ARM WAS SQUEAKING VERY LOUDLY, I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME A GOODWILL SERVICE CHARGE OF $100 BUT AFTER I ASKED IF THE CONTROL ARM…"~38,000 mi, complaint #1260465

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for JEEP COMPASS directly.