Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
25–26 mpgcombined; city 22–23, highway 30–32; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,490–$12,990U.S. average; Ohio $11,160–$11,610 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 2020 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 143 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 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
79
0
1
0
Electrical system
66
0
0
0
Power train
29
0
1
0
Unknown or other
29
1
1
0
Steering
8
0
0
0
Service brakes
7
1
0
0
Vehicle speed control
7
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
4
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
4
1
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
4
0
0
0
Suspension
4
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
4
1
0
1
9 more parts
Wheels
4
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
3
0
0
0
Tires
3
0
0
0
Air bags
2
1
0
2
Back over prevention
2
0
0
0
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Structure
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 2020 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 2019-2020 Ram 1500, 1500 Classic and Jeep Compass vehicles. The windshield wiper arm or arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to not operate properly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.
Risk: Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W25.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 408 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 Compass, the latest on Sep 8, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (191), equipment (128), power train (46), structure (34), engine and engine cooling (32).
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
Preliminary evaluation PE22013 False overheat leading to loss of motive power
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 2020 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 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 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 32 / 26
Compass Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 31 / 25
Compass All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 9-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 30 / 25
Compass All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 31 / 25
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