2012 Jeep Compass Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2012 Jeep Compass, and owners have filed 184 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2012 Jeep Compass
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Air bags and 2 other components
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017.…
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Software (electrical system) and 2 other components
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012. The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall number is N01.
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Fuel system, gasoline
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles manufactured October 18, 2011, through May 7, 2012. Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of fuel from the secondary side to the primary side of the fuel tank may be interrupted, causing the engine to stall.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank transfer tube free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 30, 2013. Owners were notified by Chrysler on July 19, 2013, that parts…
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 jeep patriot and compass vehicles manufactured from december 17, 2011, through january 2, 2012. Some vehicles may have been built with a fuel tank assembly containing a damaged roll-over valve.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about may 25, 2012. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
184 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Jeep Compass have filed 184 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 63,241 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 29 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“2012 Jeep Compass has excessive rust and corrosion from the frame to the chassis. Vehicle has 69,000 miles on it and after each snow storm undercarriage was washed. I was told this vehicle is now unsa”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 9, 2026 · Structure
“The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Compass. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 24, 2026 · Fuel system, gasoline
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Jeep Compass (Compass 2WD, Compass 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–23 / 23–29 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2/2.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Manual 5-spd |
Compare Jeep Compass model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Jeep Compass model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Jeep Compass | 3 | 259 |
| 2008 Jeep Compass | 0 | 93 |
| 2009 Jeep Compass | 1 | 44 |
| 2010 Jeep Compass | 2 | 71 |
| 2011 Jeep Compass | 3 | 187 |
| 2012 Jeep Compass | 4 | 184 |
| 2013 Jeep Compass | 1 | 80 |
| 2014 Jeep Compass | 2 | 307 |
| 2015 Jeep Compass | 1 | 113 |
| 2016 Jeep Compass | 1 | 293 |
| 2017 Jeep Compass | 4 | 229 |
| 2018 Jeep Compass | 6 | 943 |
| 2019 Jeep Compass | 2 | 329 |
| 2020 Jeep Compass | 1 | 141 |
| 2021 Jeep Compass | 0 | 80 |
| 2022 Jeep Compass | 4 | 222 |
| 2023 Jeep Compass | 2 | 46 |
| 2024 Jeep Compass | 0 | 52 |
| 2025 Jeep Compass | 0 | 27 |
| 2026 Jeep Compass | 1 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2012 Jeep Compass
How do I know if my 2012 Jeep Compass has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2012 Jeep Compass; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Jeep dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 12V142000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Jeep models
- Grand Cherokee29,093 complaints
- Wrangler15,984 complaints
- Cherokee14,838 complaints
- Liberty8,881 complaints
- Patriot2,790 complaints
- Commander2,752 complaints
- Renegade2,202 complaints
- Wrangler 4-DR 4X41,366 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.