2016 Jeep Compass Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

134Engine complaints

46.9%Of all 286 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE134 · 46.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM59 · 20.6%

Unspecified / other45 · 15.7%

POWER TRAIN43 · 15%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL30 · 10.5%

Share of the 286 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Jeep Compass overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING MOSTLY ON HIGHWAY CAR HESITATES LIKE IT WILL STALL OR NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS. HAD COILS REPLACED BUT AFTER AWHILE DID SAME THING…”NHTSA complaint 11277423 — filed 10/31/2019

“I BOUGHT A 2016 JEEP COMPASS BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER ONLY THREE YEARS (72,500 MILES), THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING…”NHTSA complaint 11271335 — filed 10/27/2019

“ETC, AIR BAG, TRACKING INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY. HAVE HAD TO GO TO JIFFY LUBE TWICE TO HAVE SENSORS RESET WITH ONE REMAINING. EVENTUALLY…”NHTSA complaint 11268788 — filed 10/15/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Jeep Compass have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Jeep Compass: 134 of 286 complaints on file (46.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Jeep Compass have in total?

286 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 15 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.