NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 187 owner complaints for the 2011 Jeep Compass. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: seat belts, air bags, and steering. Most-described problem: rust or corrosion (37 complaints, 20%). Most-reported area: powertrain (37 complaints, 20%; median mileage when it happened: 70,000).
Fewer complaints than a typical Compass year
The 2011 drew 28 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 72 for a typical Compass year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2018 and 2022; best years: 2021 and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA listing: COMPASS. Components: Air bags; Air bags: frontal, sensor/control module-inactive; Seat belts: pretensioner. Jeep campaign S61.
The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags.
Risk: In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the side curtain airbag and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners. As a result, vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury in a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall number is N01.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012.
Some of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet.
Risk: A missing or incorrectly installed rivet could compromise the ability of the steering column to support the occupant loads in the event of a frontal crash, decreasing the effectiveness of the frontal impact safety system. As a result, the condition may increase the potential for injury in a frontal crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will inspect for rivet presence and alignment and repair the steering column pivot as required, free of charge. The safety recall began on july 4, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Chrysler's safety recall no. L23. or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011dodge journey, jeep wrangler, chrysler 200, chrysler 200 convertible, dodge avenger, dodge nitro, jeep liberty, dodge caliber, jeep compass, jeep patriot, dodge grand caravan and chrysler town & country vehicles.
NHTSA listing: COMPASS. Jeep campaign L23.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations that name the 2011 Jeep Compass; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Engineering analysis EA21002Open since Sep 17, 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant - propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
NHTSA listing: COMPASS. Component: Air bags (frontal, driver side, inflator module, passenger side). This investigation names 352 models.
Active head rest inadvertent deployment
Preliminary evaluation PE19014Closed Feb 25, 2026 (opened Sep 9, 2019)
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: COMPASS. Component: Seats (front assembly, head restraint).
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 187 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Compass. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Rust or corrosion37 · 20%
Median 130,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off29 · 16%
Median 63,800 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode19 · 10%
Median 70,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Suspension parts (struts, ball joints, control arms)11 · 6%
Most named: automatic transmission (3) · Median 70,000 miles at failure, from 31 reports with mileage
Engine30 · 16%
Median 68,500 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Suspension26 · 14%
Body structure23 · 12%
Most named: body (18)
Electrical system20 · 11%
Median 59,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Steering19 · 10%
Air bags17 · 9%
Unknown or other27 · 14%
Median 99,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Jeep Compass recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2011 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Compass drew the most (421) and the 2011 drew 28.
Owner complaints
2011: 187 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Jeep Compass
Model year
Complaints
2010
81
2011
187
2012
184
2013
80
2014
307
2015
113
2016
293
2017
229
2018
943
2019
329
2020
141
2021
80
2022
222
2023
46
2024
52
2025
26
2026
5
Safety recalls
2011: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Jeep Compass
Model year
Recalls
2010
2
2011
3
2012
4
2013
1
2014
2
2015
1
2016
1
2017
4
2018
6
2019
2
2020
1
2021
0
2022
4
2023
2
2024
0
2025
0
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 187 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Jeep Compass, the problems described most are rust or corrosion (37), stalling or shutting off (29), and loss of power or limp mode (19). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2011 Jeep Compass?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2011 Jeep Compass: desiccated air bag inflator rupture (EA21002, opened Sep 17, 2021). It has closed 1 other. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Compass has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Jeep dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: COMPASS.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.