Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
The 2016 Jeep Compass has 293 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most for the engine at 135. Its combined fuel economy is 21 to 25 mpg, with a 5-year fuel cost of $12,990 to $15,470 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign that may apply, covering engine cooling.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
21–25 mpgcombined; city 20–23, highway 23–30; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,990–$15,470U.S. average; Ohio $11,610–$13,820 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2016 Compass. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Compass. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
135
1
2
1
Electrical system
62
0
0
0
Unknown or other
47
1
0
3
Power train
44
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
30
1
0
1
Engine and engine cooling
26
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
16
0
0
0
Steering
16
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
15
0
0
0
Air bags
13
4
0
8
Seat belts
12
1
0
1
Seats
10
0
0
2
9 more parts
Service brakes
9
2
0
1
Structure
8
3
0
4
Suspension
6
1
0
0
Visibility/wiper
5
1
0
1
Fuel system, gasoline
2
0
0
0
Traction control system
2
0
0
0
Wheels
2
1
0
3
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2016 Compass over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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. 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.
Remedy: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 145 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2016 Compass, the latest on Jun 18, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (38), equipment (37), power train (21), engine and engine cooling (18), structure (15).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Recall query RQ22002 Stall from Crankshaft\Camshaft Failure · covers 2 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2016 Compass.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 28 / 25
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 30 / 25
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
22 / 26 / 24
Compass 4-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 27 / 24
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
21 / 27 / 23
Compass 4-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 25 / 22
Compass 4-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
20 / 23 / 21
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data