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2012 Jeep Compass problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
56% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Jeep Compass are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 75% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 31 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 47%).
Does the 2012 Jeep Compass have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 86 of 153 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Compass concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (56%), and the largest group is filed under engine (36). For comparison, the 2011 scores 48% and the 2013 scores 59%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Jeep Compass years
Of the 14 Jeep Compass years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 7th-worst on engine and transmission share (56%). The worst is the 2016 (71%), the best the 2022 (32%). By volume, the 2012 drew 184 complaints (86 drivetrain), against 187 for the 2011 and 80 for the 2013.
Jeep Compass years to avoid and best years →
2010 Compass problems · 2011 Compass problems · 2012 · 2013 Compass problems · 2014 Compass problems · 2015 Compass problems · 2016 Compass problems · 2017 Compass problems · 2018 Compass problems · 2019 Compass problems · 2020 Compass problems · 2021 Compass problems · 2022 Compass problems · 2023 Compass problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Jeep Compass
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Jeep Compass said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 86 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Jeep Compass fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Jeep Compass involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles manufactured October 18, 2011, through May 7, 2012. 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.
Risk: If the engine stalls while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank transfer tube free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 30, 2013. Owners were notified by Chrysler on July 19, 2013, that parts…
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 JEEP PATRIOT AND COMPASS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 17, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2012. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY CONTAINING A DAMAGED ROLL-OVER VALVE.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT OR ROLL-OVER, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 25, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Jeep Compass? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2012 Jeep Compass
Does the 2012 Jeep Compass have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 86 of 153 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Jeep Compass concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (56%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Jeep Compass?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Jeep Compass is engine: 36 of 184 complaints (20%) name it, followed by fuel/propulsion system (34) and air bags (28). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2012 Jeep Compass reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 56% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 75% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Jeep Compass years we score, it ranks 7th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Jeep Compass?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Jeep Compass involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 13V120000 (fuel system, gasoline), 12V142000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Jeep Compass years are better?
Among the Jeep Compass years we track, the 2022 (32%), the 2010 (33%) and the 2023 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (56%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/jeep-compass
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.