NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The Occupant Restraint Control module can short circuit, which prevents the front air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying during a crash.
What the fix does
This page covers 6 recalls, 183 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Jeep Compass.
21–24 mpg combined
9.8–11.2 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
Complaints about the 2012 Jeep Compass cluster most heavily around the fuel system and powertrain. On the fuel side, owners frequently report being unable to fill the tank normally, the pump nozzle kicks off almost immediately, limiting how much fuel can be added at one time, and some describe fuel backing up or leaking around the filler neck during refueling. This appears to be a widespread pattern across many complaints. Powertrain and engine complaints center on hesitation and loss of acceleration, with owners describing a noticeable pause or hitch when pressing the accelerator, sometimes escalating to a complete failure to accelerate. A smaller number of reports mention engine seizure occurring without any prior warning lights, leaving the vehicle suddenly undrivable in traffic.
183
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Jeep Compass has 6 recalls, with two serious fuel system concerns: a damaged rollover valve that can leak fuel in a crash or rollover, and a faulty transfer tube that can cut fuel flow and stall the engine while driving.
Two recalls covering the rollover valve and two covering the transfer tube each describe the same underlying defects, so together they represent the core fuel system issues on this vehicle. A stalled engine while moving raises the risk of a collision, and any fuel leak near an ignition source raises the risk of fire.
On the safety equipment side, two separate issues can prevent airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from working in a crash. A software error in the restraint control system can delay or prevent the side curtain airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from deploying in a rollover. A separate hardware concern involves the occupant restraint control module, which can short circuit and disable the front airbags, side airbags, and seatbelt pretensioners entirely in any type of crash that would normally trigger them.
At a glance
What can fail
The Occupant Restraint Control module can short circuit, which prevents the front air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying during a crash.
What the fix does
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will replace the Occupant Restraint Control module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may prevent or delay the seatbelt pre-tensioners and side airbags from deploying during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software at no cost to correct the error.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Fuel may not transfer properly from the secondary to the primary side of the fuel tank, causing the engine to stall and lose power.
What the fix does
Dealers will install an updated fuel transfer tube to restore proper fuel flow.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank transfer tube was manufactured incorrectly, which may block fuel from flowing from the secondary side to the primary side of the tank, causing the engine to stall.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel tank transfer tube at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank roll-over valve may be damaged during assembly, potentially allowing fuel to leak during a roll-over crash. Fuel leakage near an ignition source could cause a fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank's roll-over valve may be damaged, potentially affecting fuel containment during a vehicle roll-over.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel tank at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
