YearToAvoid

2011 Jeep Compass Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Compass years

The 2011 Jeep Compass has a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 10th out of 16 model years, with a "Good" verdict relative to other Compass years. It has 187 complaints, 3 recalls, and no reported deaths.

Complaints
187
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
7 / 2
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
22 city / 27 hwy

Top 2011 Jeep Compass problems

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

  1. Engine51 (27%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain37 (20%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (17%)
  4. Other27 (14%)
  5. Structure & Body27 (14%)
  6. Electrical System22 (12%)
  7. Steering19 (10%)
  8. Airbags17 (9%)
  9. Brakes16 (9%)
  10. Fuel System14 (7%)

What owners report

  • Engine stalls unexpectedly at low speed or while stopped, sometimes at a red light or during a turn.
  • Steering wheel pulls hard to one side while driving, in some cases traced to camber adjustment issues.
  • Front wheel and tire have separated from the vehicle at highway speed, causing loss of control.
  • Side airbags failed to deploy during a side-impact crash, resulting in injury.
  • Vehicle lost power completely while in motion shortly after purchase, requiring the driver to shift to neutral.
  • A seat belt buckle appeared fastened but released during a sudden stop, allowing forward movement of the passenger.
2011 Jeep Compass complaints: complaints filed per quarter162011 Q22013 Q12015 Q12017 Q12018 Q42020 Q42022 Q32024 Q3
276 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q2 to 2026 Q1; peak 2019 Q3 (16).

2011 Jeep Compass recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V668000Sep 15, 2016Airbags1,435,625 vehicles

    Air bags

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

    Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

  2. NHTSA 13V233000Jun 4, 2013Electrical System254,396 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012. The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags.

    Risk: In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the side curtain airbag and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners. As a result, vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall number is N01.

  3. NHTSA 11V315000Jun 8, 2011Steering11,096 vehicles

    Steering:column

    Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011dodge journey, jeep wrangler, chrysler 200, chrysler 200 convertible, dodge avenger, dodge nitro, jeep liberty, dodge caliber, jeep compass, jeep patriot, dodge grand caravan and chrysler town & country vehicles. Some of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet.

    Risk: A missing or incorrectly installed rivet could compromise the ability of the steering column to support the occupant loads in the event of a frontal crash, decreasing the effectiveness of the frontal impact safety system. As a result, the condition may increase the potential for injury in a frontal crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect for rivet presence and alignment and repair the steering column pivot as required, free of charge. The safety recall began on july 4, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

2011 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.

2011 compared with other Compass years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best071225
2011Good40187324
2012Good33184424
2013Best1380124

All Jeep Compass years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Jeep Compass reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Compass has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Compass years.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Jeep Compass?
Engine issues lead with 51 complaints (27% share) and a median failure mileage of 61,000 miles, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 37 complaints and Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 31 complaints.
Does the 2011 Jeep Compass have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2011 Compass covering Airbags, Electrical System, and Steering components, including a steering column pivot rivet issue and an airbag Occupant Restraint Control recall.
How does the 2011 Compass compare to other years?
The 2011 model (complaint index 40) is worse than 2010, 2013, 2015, 2021, and 2023, which are rated "Best," but better than 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022, which carry "Caution" or "Avoid" verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Jeep Compass?
The 2011 Compass gets an EPA-rated 24 mpg combined (22 city / 27 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.

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.