YearToAvoid

2013 Jeep Compass Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 27 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Jeep Compass, 34% of its 80 total complaints for the year — the highest share of any model year. Median mileage at failure was 63,500, with 4 crashes and 1 injury reported, and no related recalls on file.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
27
34% of 80
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
63,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Transmission overheating warning light comes on during highway driving at 70-75 mph, followed by sudden loss of acceleration and forced pullover.
  • Vehicle enters a low-power or limp mode uphill or during long highway trips, unable to maintain speed until the transmission cools down.
  • Transmission makes a whining or grinding noise before shifting independently from a high gear to a lower gear without driver input.
  • Owners report the issue recurring multiple times on the same vehicle, sometimes after dealer visits failed to replicate or fix the problem.
  • One owner described a second transmission failure and lockup after a prior full transmission replacement, causing the vehicle to hit a curb.

When 2013 Jeep Compass transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 23, 2014, latest Jul 14, 2023.

2013 Jeep Compass transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2014Oct 2015Apr 2017Jul 2018Sep 2019Dec 2020Nov 2022
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2014 to Jul 2023; peak Jul 2019 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Jeep Compass

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Compass model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200729 (11%)
  2. 200812 (13%)
  3. 20094 (9%)
  4. 20104 (6%)
  5. 201137 (20%)
  6. 201226 (14%)
  7. 201327 (34%)
  8. 201435 (11%)
  9. 201510 (9%)
  10. 201644 (15%)
  11. 201742 (18%)
  12. 2018151 (16%)
  13. 201937 (11%)
  14. 202028 (20%)
  15. 20219 (11%)
  16. 202219 (9%)
  17. 20236 (13%)
  18. 20246 (12%)
  19. 20251 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Jeep Compass?
NHTSA shows 27 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Compass, which is 34% of all 80 complaints filed for that model year — the largest share among all Compass model years listed.
Is there a recall for 2013 Jeep Compass transmission issues?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Jeep Compass.
At what mileage do 2013 Compass transmission problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure among these complaints is 63,500 miles, though individual reports range from lower to much higher mileage.
Did the transmission problems cause any crashes?
NHTSA records 4 crashes and 1 injury linked to Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2013 Jeep Compass, with no fires 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.