Jeep Compass Best and Worst Years

Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Jeep Compass drew the most (421; most-reported area: engine) and the 2021 the fewest (29).

Data: US EPA and NHTSAUpdated Sep 27, 2026

Every model year since 2016 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 27 mpg combined, arrived in 2023. For 2017 Jeep sold the previous-generation Compass alongside the new one; both are included.

Best and worst years, by owner complaints

Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and launch or final years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.

Model year	First 3 years	All complaints	Recalls
2018 Compass Most reported: engine	421	942	6
2022 Compass Most reported: electrical system	178	222	4
2017 Compass Most reported: electrical system	96	229	4
2019 Compass Most reported: engine	92	329	2
2016 Compass Most reported: engine	53	293	1
2020 Compass Most reported: engine	44	140	1
2023 Compass Most reported: electrical system	39	46	2
2021 Compass Most reported: electrical system	29	80	0

Year by year

Model year	Best rating	Recalls	Complaints	Crash test
2026 MPG · Recalls and problems	26 mpg Gas	1	4
2025 MPG · Recalls and problems	27 mpg Gas	0	26
2024 MPG · Recalls and problems	27 mpg Gas	0	52
2023 MPG · Recalls and problems	27 mpg Gas	2	46	Not rated
2022 MPG · Recalls and problems	25 mpg Gas	4	222
2021 MPG · Recalls and problems	25 mpg Gas	0	80
2020 MPG · Recalls and problems	26 mpg Gas	1	140
2019 MPG · Recalls and problems	26 mpg Gas	2	329
2018 MPG · Recalls and problems	26 mpg Gas	6	942
2017 MPG · Recalls and problems	26 mpg Gas	4	229
2016 MPG · Recalls and problems	25 mpg Gas	1	293	Not rated

Owner complaints by model year

All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.

2018: 942 complaints

Show as a table

Owner complaints by model year, Jeep Compass
Model year	Complaints
2016	293
2017	229
2018	942
2019	329
2020	140
2021	80
2022	222
2023	46
2024	52
2025	26
2026	4

Best combined rating by model year

The best-rated version in each model year. Gas: 25 to 27 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2023.

2026: gas 26 mpg

Show as a table

Jeep Compass best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version
2016	25
2017	26
2018	26
2019	26
2020	26
2021	25
2022	25
2023	27
2024	27
2025	27
2026	26

Questions

Which Jeep Compass years have the most problems?

Counting owner complaints filed with NHTSA in each model year's first three years, the 2018 (421) drew the most, then the 2022 (178). Most-reported area for the 2018: engine.

Which Jeep Compass years have the fewest problems?

The 2021 (29) drew the fewest complaints in its first three years. The 2024, 2025, and 2026 are not ranked yet: they have had fewer than three full years on the road.

Which Jeep Compass years should you avoid?

Complaint counts can't tell you whether a particular car is sound, but they show where owners reported the most trouble: the 2018, against 72 complaints in a typical Jeep Compass year. Whatever the year, check the car's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy. Safety recall repairs are free at Jeep dealers.

Which Jeep Compass years have the most recalls?

The 2018 has the most safety recalls in NHTSA's file (6), then the 2022 (4). A recall can cover a problem that affects only a few cars, so open a year's page to see what each one covers. No recall for 2016 to 2026 models tells owners not to drive the car or to park it outside.

What are the most common Jeep Compass problems?

Of the 2,363 owner complaints NHTSA lists for 2016 to 2026 models, the areas named most are engine (42%), electrical system (39%), and powertrain (15%). One complaint can name more than one area. The recalls and problems page for each year breaks this down further.

Which Jeep Compass year has the best MPG?

The best EPA fuel economy is 27 mpg combined, first reached by the 2023 gas version.

Sources and method

US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.

Complaint counts are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.