YearToAvoid

2008 Jeep Compass Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

6/100

#18 most-complained of 19 Compass years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Jeep Compass has 93 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 6 out of 100 — #18 highest of 19 Compass model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is structure & body (30 complaints, 32% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes and 2 injuries.

Complaints
93
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
22 city / 27 hwy

Top 2008 Jeep Compass problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body30 (32%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires27 (29%)
  3. Engine15 (16%)
  4. Fuel System13 (14%)
  5. Other13 (14%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain12 (13%)
  7. Steering9 (10%)
  8. Brakes5 (5%)
  9. Airbags4 (4%)
  10. Electrical System4 (4%)
2008 Jeep Compass complaints: complaints filed per quarter142013 Q32014 Q32015 Q32016 Q32017 Q32018 Q32019 Q32020 Q3
132 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q3 to 2024 Q1; peak 2016 Q2 (14).

2008 Jeep Compass recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 Jeep Compass fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Compass years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Caution61259323.5
2008Good693024
2009Good044124.5
2010Best2271225

All Jeep Compass years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Jeep Compass a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Jeep Compass ranks #18 of 19 among Compass model years (Complaint Index 6/100, verdict: Good). It has 93 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Jeep Compass?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (30 complaints), suspension, wheels & tires (27 complaints), and engine (15 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 95,500 miles.
Does the 2008 Jeep Compass have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2008 Jeep Compass in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Jeep Compass?
EPA rates the 2008 Jeep Compass at 24 MPG combined (22 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.