2016 Jeep Compass: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
292 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Compass launched for 2018 with the nine-speed automatic and the 2.4-litre Tigershark engine, and that year carries 933 complaints — the transmission, the engine stalling and consuming oil, and the electrical system. Jeep revised the transmission software and, in 2022, the engine-control calibration; the 2020–2021 years score in the 80s and 90s. Read the full note on the model page. 2016 specifically: a year the record favours — 292 complaints, score 79/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Jeep Cherokee 2014 to 2023: the nine-speed years and the years that fixed it, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 292 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 29.2
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Component: Engine / Electrical System / Power Train VIN [XXX] Description of Safety Defect: The vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of engine power and completely shut off while traveling at highway speeds. This total engine failure disabled the vehicle on an active highway, forcing an emergency maneuver to reach the shoulder. This incident occurred less than four months after an authorized manufacturer d…
Spontaneous deployment of passengers headrest . A safety system defect causing passengers concerned discomfort ! Plastic mechanism failure CANNOT be repaired. Headrest must be replaced by Jeep covered regarding the safety & security of their customers. Headrest deployed problem encountered has been reported in many Jeeps. FCA US LLC due to safety should correct the problem , at no charge , even if the vehicle is out …
Since purchasing this vehicle in 2022 the crankshaft position sensor has been replaced 4 times (twice by the dealer in 2022, once in 2023 and once in 2024) and now it is dying while driving once again with the check engine light indicating that it is once again the crankshaft position sensor
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V907000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine135 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System62 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other47 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train44 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Vehicle Speed Control30 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Engine And Engine Cooling25 complaints · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service (3.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,040
Other Jeep Compass years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Jeep Compass?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (135 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Jeep Compass a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 79/100, computed from 292 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Jeep Compass's most common problem?
135 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Jeep Compass sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Jeep Compass cost to run per year?
About $5,574 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $27,872 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Jeep Compass have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Jeep Compass, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 16/12/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Jeep Compass really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 292 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 292 NHTSA complaints on record (29.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (25.3/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems