YearToAvoid

2013 Jeep Compass Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2013 Jeep Compass has a complaint index of 11, the second-lowest among 19 model years, and carries a Best verdict. NHTSA lists 80 complaints, 1 recall, and no do-not-drive orders, with Transmission & Powertrain as the top problem area.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
11/100
#17 of 19 Compass years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
80
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
7
reported in complaints
Fires
5
Injuries
6
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2010
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
3 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
22 city / 27 hwy
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0

Top 2013 Jeep Compass problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain27 (34%)
  2. Airbags16 (20%)
  3. Engine14 (18%)
  4. Electrical System13 (16%)
  5. Other11 (14%)
  6. Brakes9 (11%)
  7. Seat Belts9 (11%)
  8. Structure & Body8 (10%)
  9. Fuel System4 (5%)
  10. Steering3 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Front airbags reportedly failed to deploy in low-speed and moderate-speed crashes, including a rollover.
  • A deployed driver-side airbag reportedly caught fire during a low-speed collision, causing burns.
  • Owners describe the driver-side exterior mirror overheating and catching fire while the vehicle was parked and not running.
  • Some owners report the engine surging or accelerating unexpectedly when braking to a stop, forcing them to shift gears or turn off the ignition.
  • Owners describe a burning smell followed by loss of steering control or the vehicle behaving erratically while driving.
  • Some owners report flames appearing under the hood while driving, with the fire growing before it could be extinguished.
2013 Jeep Compass complaints: complaints filed per quarter72013 Q22014 Q42016 Q12017 Q22018 Q32019 Q42021 Q12023 Q3
80 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q2 to 2025 Q2; peak 2016 Q4 (7).

2013 Jeep Compass recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign 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.

2013 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.

2013 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
2011Caution50187324
2012Good39184424
2013Best1180124
2014Avoid83307223
2015Good28113123

All Jeep Compass years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Jeep Compass reliable?
Among 19 model years of the Compass, 2013 has a complaint index of 11, the lowest cluster of years, and holds a Best verdict relative to other Compass years.
What problems does the 2013 Jeep Compass have?
NHTSA data shows 80 complaints, with Transmission & Powertrain the top problem area at 27 complaints (34%), followed by Airbags at 16 complaints (20%) and Engine at 14 complaints (18%).
Does the 2013 Jeep Compass have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2013 Compass, covering an Occupant Restraint Control airbag issue, and it is not a do-not-drive recall.
What year Jeep Compass should I avoid instead of 2013?
Based on complaint index, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022 all carry an Avoid verdict, with 2018 having the highest complaint index at 100 among all years listed.
How many complaints report crashes or fires for the 2013 Compass?
NHTSA lists 7 crashes, 5 fires, and 6 injuries among the 80 complaints for the 2013 Jeep Compass, with no deaths reported.

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.