NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 293 owner complaints for the 2016 Jeep Compass.
1Safety recalls
293Owner complaints
9Complaints citing a crash
2Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 27, 2026
Recalled components: engine and cooling. Most-reported area: engine (135 complaints, 46%; median mileage when it happened: 55,000). For 2017 Jeep sold the previous-generation Compass alongside the new one; both are included.
1 safety recall for the 2016 Jeep Compass
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.
Risk: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S89.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016.
NHTSA listing: COMPASS. Jeep campaign S89.
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.
What owners report
The areas named in the 293 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Compass. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Engine135 · 46%
Median 55,000 miles at failure (83 reports)
Electrical system62 · 21%
Median 57,000 miles at failure (31 reports)
Powertrain44 · 15%
Median 55,000 miles at failure (26 reports)
Speed control30 · 10%
Engine and cooling26 · 9%
Median 79,000 miles at failure (23 reports)
Fuel and propulsion system16 · 5%
Steering16 · 5%
Unknown or other47 · 16%
Median 62,300 miles at failure (22 reports)
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 2016 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 2016 drew 53.
Owner complaints
2016: 293 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
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
Safety recalls
2016: 1 recallTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Jeep Compass
Model year
Recalls
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.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Jeep Compass SUV 2WD
Rollover risk 18.5%
Not rated
Not rated
Jeep Compass SUV 4WD
Rollover risk 16.4%
Not rated
Not rated
Questions
What are the most common 2016 Compass problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: engine (135), electrical system (62), powertrain (44). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
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.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
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.