1st generation (MK) · MK49 (Chrysler PM/MK, Mitsubishi GS-derived) · 2,514 complaints, 1,695 with mileage
Owners filed 2,514 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2016 Jeep Compass, and 1,695 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 38,500 and 99,000 miles. The median is 68,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (15.6% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (9.1% of complaints, typically around 68,953 miles), the electrical system (8.8% of complaints, typically around 64,752 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 391 | 15.6% | 68,000 | 42,000–96,000 |
| Power Train | 229 | 9.1% | 68,953 | 39,000–102,000 |
| Electrical System | 221 | 8.8% | 64,752 | 41,268–91,023 |
| Unknown Or Other | 215 | 8.6% | 66,000 | 42,656–97,400 |
| Air Bags | 214 | 8.5% | 48,000 | 28,000–87,000 |
| Suspension | 187 | 7.4% | 72,993 | 42,000–111,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 169 | 6.7% | 78,000 | 58,500–105,000 |
| Structure | 143 | 5.7% | 81,000 | 40,000–105,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 131 | 5.2% | 70,820 | 50,000–102,822 |
| Seat Belts | 127 | 5.1% | 48,805 | 31,800–80,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 396 | 315 |
| 2008 | 135 | 111 |
| 2009 | 60 | 45 |
| 2010 | 108 | 75 |
| 2011 | 283 | 197 |
| 2012 | 263 | 177 |
| 2013 | 121 | 86 |
| 2014 | 518 | 309 |
| 2015 | 173 | 111 |
| 2016 | 457 | 269 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 68,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 15.6% of complaints (391 reports, 287 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 96,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.1% of complaints (229 reports, 170 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,953 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,000 and 102,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.8% of complaints (221 reports, 148 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 64,752 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,268 and 91,023 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 8.6% of complaints (215 reports, 125 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,656 and 97,400 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 8.5% of complaints (214 reports, 81 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 48,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 87,000 miles.
The suspension accounts for 7.4% of complaints (187 reports, 142 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 72,993 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 111,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2014 model year drew the most — 518 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 60. The median year sits at 218.
That makes 2014 an outlier: roughly 2.4 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the steering (2), the fuel system (2), the seat belts (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 2,514 complaints filed against this generation, 109 reported a crash; 51 reported a fire; 105 reported an injury; 2 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.3% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 38,500 and 99,000 miles, with a median of 68,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 68,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Jatco JF011E (CVT2) overheating, slipping, shuddering and premature failure. Fluid breaks down under heat stress, the pulleys wear and the belt slips; the transmission drops into limp mode and fails, commonly between roughly 60,000 and 95,000 miles when fluid service is neglected. A US class action specifically targeted the 2010-2013 cars.
2.0L/2.4L World engine excessive oil consumption and top-end ticking are recurring complaints across the generation.
TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) faults consistent with the wider Chrysler TIPM population of the era — no-start, stall, and unrelated multi-system electrical symptoms.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 16V668000 | 2017-08-15 | Seat Belts:Pretensioner |
| 16V907000 | 2017-02-08 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine |
| 15V878000 | 2016-02-05 | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections |
| 13V552000 | 2013-12-24 | Engine |
| 13V120000 | 2013-07-19 | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| 13V233000 | 2013-06-21 | Electrical System:Software |
| 12V142000 | 2012-05-21 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly |
| 11V315000 | 2011-07-04 | Steering:Column |
| 10V234000 | 2010-06-21 | Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal |