Best and worst Jeep Compass years — which to avoid

For years, the Jeep Compass stood for a great compact family SUV with an optional all-wheel-drive system and great value for the price. However, buying one requires some basic knowledge of the worst Jeep Compass years to avoid since some model years have faced struggles with repetitive issues.

That doesn’t mean that the Compass isn’t a great ride, but we’ll try to make it even better for you by helping with the buying decision and recommending some problem-free model years. Our team will lay down all the details regarding NHTSA submissions for common complaints, as well as other reliability details and official recalls to help you narrow down your options to a few best-rated years.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Jeep Compass years

Our team evaluated the best and worst Jeep Compass years based on official reports to give you a perspective of acknowledged issues, but we also wanted to give you a realistic picture. That’s why we also included some driver reviews and ratings from trustworthy platforms like Edmunds, KBB, and Consumer Reports.

We also checked out some Jeep Compass forums and inputs left by real-life owners to see if they can help us confirm the ratings. Finally, we went through the official recalls which was our final step to confirm the chronic issues.

Most common Jeep Compass problems

Considering the longevity of Jeep Compass production, the car received quite a low account of severe complaints regarding the engine completely dying or transmission problems. Still, there were some issues with the CVT transmission that led to drivers having to do expensive repairs.

On top of that, they had to wait for quite a long time to fix the issue. Have you ever wondered how long does it take to rebuild a transmission? It’s a long and complicated process that will leave you without a vehicle for days at best. As you can see, this one along with a few other common drawbacks can be pretty severe, so let’s take a closer look at those:

1. Troubles with the CVT transmission

From the first generation of the Compass, drivers were familiar with the CVT transmission problems that led to expensive repairs and transmission rebuilds. These mostly included sudden jerking motions and shuddering while accelerating, but it wasn’t always related to the driving speed.

Even at a lower speed, drivers complained about excessive transmission noises and rough transmission performance often leading to drivers selling their cars. Because of this, it’s better to go with a car equipped with Aisin’s 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, as well as Hyundai’s automatic transmission. There’s also the 9-speed ZF automatic gearbox available for the second generation, so it makes a better buy than the CVT one.

Overall, problems with the CVT transmission control arm bushings have left a lot of owners scratching their heads, which is why

2. Tigershark engine faults

With the second generation of the Compass, the infamous Tigershark engine also came into play and it wasn’t the best thing, to say the least. These engines were prone to excessive oil consumption that sometimes led to the complete breakdown of the inner engine components.

The figures can vary as to how much it costs to repair the engine, but it’s mostly close to at least $3000 and often even more. The same goes for the MultiAir four-cylinder variant, so it’s better to stay away from these engines.

You can go for an inline-four cylinder turbo GME engine, or go with a convenient turbocharged diesel one that comes with lower fuel consumption.

3. Problems with the suspension

Having in mind that some Compass vehicles are fitted for an all-terrain drive, it’s no surprise that suspension components can simply wear off. However, several issues shouldn’t be taken lightly, and these include the bad tie rod symptoms and the control arm bushing problems.

Because of this, drivers had to experience road bumps and poor performance while driving off the road, as well as some noises coming from the suspension. As a result of this, the driver may not be able to properly control the vehicle and uneven tire wear is just another consequence.

4. Braking system faults

Finally, there’s also a common problem of bad brakes on Jeep Compass vehicles. Drivers rarely experienced a complete loss of braking pressure, but a common thing was to hear grinding noise and stretching noises coming from the brakes.

Even after changing the brake pads, the noise kept on showing up and it turned out that it was coming from the rear brake calipers. So, there were a few solutions like installing brackets to prevent the noise and there was an official recall in 2018 to deal with the problem.

Worst Jeep Compass years to avoid

After hearing about the main problems that this model has faced over the years, it’s time we get to the worst production years. Some model years received quite a lot of driver complaints, so what are the worst Jeep Compass years?

The worst Jeep Compass years are 2007 and 2018, but here’s a full list of years to avoid:

• 2007
• 2008
• 2014
• 2017
• 2018

Let’s take a closer look at these so you can get a better understanding of what could go wrong, shall we?

First-generation Jeep Compass (2007-2008 and 2014 model years)

The production of a first-gen Compass lasted for quite a lot and there was a re-design in the middle of the production. The 2007 Jeep Compass year received the most complaints out of all the models, so it’s by far the worst Compass so far. Things didn’t get much better with the 2008 edition, and these two models struggled with the suspension system.

The most notable issues include bad control arm and tie rods, and there was the engine control unit (ECU) fault as well. After a few model years, things got a bit better only to once again drop down in reliability with the 2014 model that had rear brake noise issues and a keyless entry system fault.

Second-generation Jeep Compass (2017-2018 model years)

The main problem with the second generation of the Compass is in a malfunctioning Tigershark engine. It caused sudden engine stalling without any warning signs. The good thing is that this mostly happened before the car even reached 20,000 miles, so the extended warranty covered most of the repairs.

It’s still wise to stay clear of the Compass equipped with this engine, and another major problem is that the engine sometimes simply wouldn’t start.

What are the best Jeep Compass years to buy?

Now that we told you all about the major problems of the Compass as a model, and the production years you should avoid, it’s time to get to the best model years. Both the first and the second generation of the Compass have model years that received just a few complaints. With that in mind, it’s time to get to the list of the best model years:

• 2009
• 2010
• 2013
• 2015
• 2016
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022

The best model years of the first generation are 2009, 2010, and 2013 as they come with the lowest amount of driver complaints. Also, the suspension issues were more or less sorted out with the 2010 and following model years, and the problems with grinding brakes were sorted out for the final model years of the first generation.

When it comes to the second generation, the best model year is 2019 which received the least complaints. There were some important recalls at this time to sort out the problems that the 2017 and 2018 models had, but it’s still safer to skip those and go straight for a 2019 Compass.

2010 Jeep Compass

The 2010 Jeep Compass is one of the best-rated first-gen models as it received positive reviews from drivers and previous owners. It excels in offering pretty decent engine performance and handling for an SUV in its class, and most importantly – it didn’t bring along the issues that the previous models like the 2007 and 2008 Compass had.

In other words, there were no engine and suspension-related complaints and it’s a safe bet to go with if you plan on buying a used Compass with decent resale value capable of going strong for miles to come.

2019 Jeep Compass

As for the second-gen Compass, it’s best to go with the 2019 Compass model since that’s the one that had a lot better reviews when compared with previous 2017 and 2018 models. To be exact, the 2019 Compass featured a revised engine free of any previously reported issues along with fewer electrical system flaws.

On top of that, it proved to be one of the best overall Compass models in terms of performance and interior quality, while the transmission also proved to be pretty dependable as there were no reported problems with it so far.

Is the Jeep Compass worth buying?

As the time comes to pass the final judgment on the value of the Jeep Compass as a model, we can say that it’s a pretty reliable car. The engine and transmission issues can easily be avoided if you steer away from the models equipped with a Tigershark engine and a CVT transmission.

On top of that, you can settle for model years that achieved great reliability scores and make a great choice that won’t leave you hanging in terms of brake problems or suspension issues. We hope that our efforts will help you avoid the worst model years and get the most value for your buck by buying this otherwise impressive compact SUV.

Wondering which years to skip for a smoother ride? Check out what we found on the Subaru Crosstrek years to avoid, and Mazda CX-3 years to avoid – some years just aren’t worth the hassle. With our tips, you’ll be ready to pick a winner and drive off into the sunset, worry-free.