What are the common problems with the 2019 Jeep Compass?

Owners filed 330 complaints. The engine group has 165 and the electrical system has 143.

Does the 2019 Jeep Compass have recalls?

Yes. The by-year facts list 2 recalls. See the Recalls section for the details.

What is the gas mileage of the 2019 Jeep Compass?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the official figures.

Is the 2019 Jeep Compass reliable?

Owners filed 330 complaints, with engine and electrical reports at the top. Complaints are not adjusted for sales, so read them with care.

Is 2019 the best year for the Jeep Compass?

See the by-year comparison section on this page to compare model years.

2019 Jeep Compass Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 330 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Jeep Compass^[1]. The engine group is named in 165 of them^[2].

330owner complaints^[1]

2recalls^[3]

25–26MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first.

Engine. 165 complaints^[2]. Owners describe a car that will not start when they push the button, or that stalls and then refuses to restart. Some say the dash shows the engine running when it is not.
Electrical System. 143 complaints^[6]. In the stories we read, owners talk about random no-start moments, long waits before the car finally wakes up, and dealers who could not repeat the trouble. Some were left stranded.
Unknown Or Other. 84 complaints^[7]. These reports do not point to one clear part.
Brakes. 41 complaints^[8]. Owners describe brakes that feel too grabby, a pedal that sinks, and a parking brake that engages on its own.
Power Train. 37 complaints^[9]. Owners describe stalling on the road and a car that will not accelerate after stopping.
Steering. 19 complaints^[10].
Speed Control. 15 complaints^[11].
Fuel/Propulsion System. 11 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2019 Compass is necessarily included.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages (20V208), April 2020. About 425,599 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced visibility. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper (18V523), August 2018. About 154,335 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Compass FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	23 / 32 / 26	$2,600
Compass FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[15]	22 / 31 / 25	$2,700
Compass 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[16]	22 / 31 / 25	$2,700
Compass 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[17]	22 / 30 / 25	$2,700

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	4	4	5	3	20.6%
SUV FWD^[18]	4	4	5	3	20.2%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2019 Jeep Compass with 2.4L 4-cylinder^[19]	180 to 184 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
COMPASS 4DR SUV AWD^[20]	173 in	71 in	67 in	103 in	3,327 lb
COMPASS 4DR SUV FWD^[21]	173 in	71 in	67 in	103 in	3,183 lb
COMPASS 4DR SUV TRAILHAWK 4X4^[22]	173 in	71 in	67 in	103 in	3,633 lb

How 2019 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Compass model year. The 2019 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2007	435	4
2008	172	0
2009	64	1
2010	81	2
2011	188	3
2012	184	4
2013	80	1
2014	307	2
2015	113	1
2016	293	1
2017	229	4
2018	946	6
2019	330	2
2020	143	1
2021	81	0
2022	225	4
2023	49	2
2024	53	0
2025	29	0
2026	5	1

NHTSA's counts for the Compass show 330 complaints and 2 recalls for 2019^[3]. Among the 20 model years listed, 17 have fewer complaints than 2019 and 2 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (5) and the most are for 2018 (946)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2019 Compass?

The 2019 Jeep Compass has 330 complaints on file with NHTSA^[1]. The engine and electrical groups lead the list with 165^[2] and 143^[6]. These are unverified owner reports, so treat them as signals and not as proof. The by-year facts show 2 recalls for this model year^[3]. If you are weighing one, read the recalls and year comparison sections on this page before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

What are the common problems with the 2019 Jeep Compass?: Owners filed 330 complaints^[1]. The engine group has 165^[2] and the electrical system has 143^[6].
Does the 2019 Jeep Compass have recalls?: Yes. The by-year facts list 2 recalls^[3]. See the Recalls section for the details.
What is the gas mileage of the 2019 Jeep Compass?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the official figures.
Is the 2019 Jeep Compass reliable?: Owners filed 330 complaints^[1], with engine and electrical reports at the top^[2]^[6]. Complaints are not adjusted for sales, so read them with care.
Is 2019 the best year for the Jeep Compass?: See the by-year comparison section on this page to compare model years.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Jeep Compass

2014 307 complaints, 2 recalls
2015 113 complaints, 1 recall
2016 293 complaints, 1 recall
2017 229 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 946 complaints, 6 recalls
2019 this page
2020 143 complaints, 1 recall
2022 225 complaints, 4 recalls
2025 29 complaints, 0 recalls

Compare all model years of the Jeep Compass

All Jeep models

Similar cars from 2019: small suvs

2019 Hyundai Tucson 385 complaints, 1 recall
2019 Kia Sportage 71 complaints, 2 recalls
2019 Land Rover Discovery 60 complaints, 4 recalls
2019 Land Rover Range Rover 80 complaints, 8 recalls
2019 Mazda CX-9 53 complaints, 2 recalls
2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class 47 complaints, 12 recalls

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 330 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Jeep Compass (13 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 5 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
165 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 12,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Jeep Compass model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Compass FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 20.6%. NHTSA vehicle records
143 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 29,000). NHTSA vehicle records
84 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 4,300). NHTSA vehicle records
41 complaints name the brakes component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 13,123). NHTSA vehicle records
37 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 22,000). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 22,000). NHTSA vehicle records
15 complaints name the speed control component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 1,750). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 20V208, filed April 9, 2020: Visibility › Windshield Wiper / Washer › Linkages. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V523, filed August 9, 2018: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Compass FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Compass 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Compass 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 20.2%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2019 Jeep Compass with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 180 to 184 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, COMPASS 4DR SUV AWD: length 173 in, width 71 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 103 in, curb weight 3,327 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, COMPASS 4DR SUV FWD: length 173 in, width 71 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 103 in, curb weight 3,183 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, COMPASS 4DR SUV TRAILHAWK 4X4: length 173 in, width 71 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 103 in, curb weight 3,633 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2019 Jeep Compass: problems, recalls and fuel economy