8 Best And Worst Years For The Jeep Compass

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Among one of the first SUVs that Jeep ever put into the market, the Jeep Compass is an amazing compact crossover Sports Utility Vehicle first introduced in 2007 and has been getting yearly models since.

This solid lineup features two generations of sturdy and dependable SUVs.

The Jeep Compass is known for its highly praised safety and solid performance however, not all Jeep Compasses are equal.

A few models have been below the standard that the Jeep Compass has set for itself.

Here are the best and worst years for Jeep Compass ranked in that order, respectively.

Best Years for Jeep Compass:

  1. 2020
  2. 2019
  3. 2021
  4. 2020
  5. 2009
  6. 2013
  7. 2010
  8. 2017

Worst Years for Jeep Compass:

  1. 2007
  2. 2008
  3. 2018
  4. 2014
  5. 2012
  6. 2011
  7. 2016
  8. 2015

Along with ranking them, I will discuss the common problems and questions regarding the lineup, so make sure to read the whole article.

List Of The Best Years For The Jeep Compass: What Years To Buy

Let's find out which year models of Jeep Compass are reliable to drive

The best lineup offers unparalleled performance and a great deal of safety and reliability, making these models must-buys.

#1 Best Year: 2020 Jeep Compass

I am placing the 2020 Jeep Compass at the top of this list because this model added a lot of new safety features on top of the amazing performance and handling of the 2019 model.

These small yet significant additions, along with the reduction of overall problems, made this year an easy pick for first place.

This 5 seater SUV packs 180 hp in a 2.4L 4 Cylinder engine and comes with a 6-speed transmission with 9-speed automatic variants available.

Along with FWD & AWD capabilities, the car features a 7-inch display and Apple CarPlay & Android Auto support, all to increase the comfort of the generous seating and cargo space.

#2 Best Year: 2019 Jeep Compass

The 2019 Jeep Compass also had the roomy cabin and interior quality for the 2020 model and the same standard engine capabilities.

However, it lacked a few safety features, so I placed it in second place.

This year made 7 different trims were available for the Jeep Compass, one of them being capable of going completely off-road while others having selectable drive modes for off-road terrain.

This year definitely would have taken first place, but 2020 simply has more to offer.

#3 Best Year: 2021 Jeep Compass

If the 2020 model had a lot of fine additions and improvements, then surely the 2021 Jeep Compass would do the same?

Featuring six different trims, with many of them being limited edition and having a lot more safety features than the standard edition of the vehicle, the 2021 Jeep Compass tried its best to one-up the previous model.

I am not placing this higher than the 2020 model because it is still too early into the car’s life, and many problems could still arise.

#4 Best Year: 2022 Jeep Compass

The same reasoning as to why I placed the 2021 model in 3rd place applied to why I am placing the 2022 model in 4th place; it is simply too early into the model’s life, and many nasty issues can always creep up after a couple of years of traveling and usage.

This year also features six different trims for the vehicle, all getting a revamped interior and updated technology, and more standard safety features and conveniences, which give this car an easy placement at 4th place.

#5 Best Year: 2013 Jeep Compass

Going back in time, the 2013 Jeep Compass is yet another solid vehicle in the lineup featuring amazing versatility and ease of entry and exit, which is why I placed it at 5th place.

The interior was classy, and many standard safety features make you safe and comfortable.

This year gave customers three different trims and an option to get a 2L 4-cylinder engine with a 5-speed manual transmission which had great efficiency and mileage.

#6 Best Year: 2009 Jeep Compass

Going back even further to the 3rd model in the lineup, the 2009 Jeep Compass comes in at 6th place.

I am placing this model here because of its great mileage and versatility, along with fully independent suspension and standard safety equipment.

While not always getting praise, the customers who love it have declared it a reliable vehicle.

This year, only two different trim were available, and all of them had improvements to offer a smoother and quieter ride with simpler packages available.

#7 Best Year: 2010 Jeep Compass

The 4th model of the lineup and coming in at 7th place, the 2010 Jeep Compass featured spectacular gas mileage and versatility, the same standard safety equipment, and a similar fully independent suspension system.

Following the trend of the 2009 model, again, the year had two different trims available for purchase.

There were no major changes for the model, and any changes that did occur were slight and unnoticeable.

This model could have been higher up on this list without its lackluster acceleration and limited towing capacity.

#8 Best Year: 2017 Jeep Compass

Taking its spot at last place on this list is the 2017 Jeep Compass, which is the least attractive model due to its being unbearably slow and incredibly bland.

This year brought six different trims onto the table, and despite the glaring flaws of the models, they had a lot of interior space and comfortability.

Competitor vehicles could not stand against it in the dirt due to their off-road capabilities. However, on the road, it could not hold up against them.

List Of The Worst Years For The Jeep Compass: What Years To Avoid

Filled to the brim with problems and constantly complained about, here are the worst years for the Jeep Compass you need to avoid.

#1 Worst Year: 2007 Jeep Compass

I am placing the 2007 Jeep Compass at 1st place on this list because it is the most problematic and complained about the model in the lineup and has a lot of issues related to the suspension and engine along with the fuel and electrical systems.

Getting into it with three different recalls, the 2007 Jeep Compass had a rusted subframe and spring in its suspension along with constant control arm failure.

TIPM failure was common, and various electrical issues followed. The engine had a habit of stalling, and premature turbo failure was also a common sight.

All of this was topped off with the inability to refuel due to a bad and faulty gas tank design accompanied by poor mileage.

#2 Worst Year: 2008 Jeep Compass

The 2007 model was the first of the lineup, so there would be some problems; however, many of these problems translated to the second model in the lineup as well, the 2008 Jeep Compass, which would suffer the same fate as the 2007 model and get 2nd place on this list.

Control Arms failure was still common and the engine stalling was still fixed. The subframe was still not fixed, and the rust issue was passed onto the mainframe.

#3 Worst Year: 2018 Jeep Compass

Making a massive jump of 10 years, the 2018 Jeep Compass takes 3rd place on this list due to suffering from 6 different recalls and many engines and electrical problems.

The engine alone received 305 complaints from the NHTSA and various complaints from customers saying that excessive oil consumption was a thing.

Along with this, the engine would shut down while driving. Due to the various electrical problems, the engine would not start at all sometimes, which is a major annoyance.

#4 Worst Year: 2014 Jeep Compass

While nothing major affected the 2014 Jeep Compass, the model had many small yet annoying problems surrounding it.

The model had various design flaws, which allowed water to leak into the interior and generate air noise around doors.

The brakes were noisy, and the electronic throttle control was extremely faulty.

The headlights were not bright enough, and the license plate lighting was also not working properly.

These issues would combine to make an unbearable experience for owners, which is why I am placing this model in 4th place.

#5 Worst Year: 2012 Jeep Compass

I am placing the 2012 Jeep Compass in 5th place because it is quite similar to the 2014 model, in regards that it does not have any major problems but has many small, annoying ones that hurt the user experience.

Apart from getting slapped with four recalls, the model’s brakes were prone to failure and grind.

The car would jerk on acceleration and overheat over long distances. Engine stalling returned, and with it, tapping noise on startup.

#6 Worst Year: 2011 Jeep Compass

One year before the release of the 2012 model was the 2011 Jeep Compass which had nearly the same amount of problems but just slightly less that it was able to get lower on this list but enough to secure 6th place.

This model only had three recalls but was unfortunate enough to have a faulty TIPM chip and faulty ignition.

There would be a loud noise from the engine, and it would sometimes shut off without warning.

The front-end suspensions had various issues while the rear subframe was rusting again.

#7 Worst Year: 2016 Jeep Compass

Despite the 2016 Jeep Compass sharing the same number of problems as the 2015 model, the issues of the 2016 model were far greater than the 2015 model, which is why I decided it was best to place it above it.

The 2016 Jeep Compass had a big stalling problem and would stutter intermittently, ending with throttle body failure.

The PMS Fuse box was defective, and there was constant grinding and clunking from the transmission along with slow acceleration and stuttering, which would end up in transmission failure.

#8 Worst Year: 2015 Jeep Compass

Taking last place on this list is the 2015 Jeep Compass, which has been placed here on the account with the lowest problem count.

While this number is shared with the 2016 model, the issues surrounding the 2015 model are nothing compared to the 2016 model.

The 2015 Jeep Compass had a faulty engine which would rev up and shut down and lose power on steering. It had a habit of dying while driving and would constantly shut off.

What Are The Most Common Problems With The Jeep Compass?

The Jeep Compass has had many ups and downs over the years and goes from putting out a solid model to a plethora of problems.

I will be going over the common problems that affect the Jeep Compass here.

1. TIPM Electrical Problems

The Integrated Power Module is the heart and soul of the car’s electrical system, so you can imagine the horrors that occur when it gets damaged or is faulty, to begin with.

These defective chips caused the door and power windows to no longer control the user. The horn would go off randomly, and the engine would stall. Airbag deployment was also affected.

2. Water Leaking Into Interior

Due to weird, bad, and horrible design choices, many people owning a Jeep Compass found themselves drenched inside their car as the vehicle’s design allowed water to leak into the car.

Customers have reported getting leaks from the dome lights, which is just astounding. This problem has been reported long and has not been fixed via a recall.

3. Crash Sensor Defects

Due to a design choice, or flaw, the TRW Control units of the ACUs did not have a circuit protecting diode.

This meant that if too much voltage or current was supplied to the ACU, it would shut down and disable the airbags and pretensions.

The loss of airbags is a very big problem, and this issue has believed to be the cause for at least eight deaths.

4. Excess Emissions

The FCA filed against various vehicles for excess emissions, which included many models of the 2nd generation of the Jeep Compass, where the FCA went into contact with the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board.

While a recall seems likely, it has not occurred yet. This is mostly because it is not a safety issue, so the NHTSA cannot enforce it.

5. Excess Oil Consumption

Many customers of the Jeep Compass with the 2.4L Tigershark Engine complained about losing a quart of oil every 1000 miles, which is both irritating and expensive.

What’s worse is that the engine had a 5.5-quart capacity, so after 5,000 miles, you would need a severe oil change.

This issue affects various cars of different brands because it is so easy to occur.

Related: Why Won’t My Jeep Compass Start?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is Jeep Compass Good In Snow?

If you live in a snowy environment and want an SUV that performs great in the snow, then make sure to get your hands on the Jeep Compass, as it is amazing in the snow due to its AWD system.

The Jeep Compass is great for going slightly off-road, which also helps in traversing in the snow, making it a great option to consider when looking for an SUV to drive in snowy places.

Q2. What Are The Different Jeep Compass Models?

There have been many different models and editions released for the Jeep Compass, all of which have their unique features and feel that separate them from each other.

Models like the Sport, Latitude, Altitude, and High Altitude have become well known, while limited edition and premium models like the Trailhawk and Limited are well sought after.

Q3. Why Is My Jeep Compass So Loud?

There could be many reasons why your Jeep Compass is running loud.

For the sake of this question, I will be answering concerning the engine as even though other parts can get noisy, they aren’t necessarily loud.

Your engine could be abnormally loud due to bad and dirty Spark plugs, malfunctioning oxygen sensors, or simply due to a fault in the engine itself.

Q4. Is Jeep Compass Expensive To Maintain?

For the first ten years of its service, the Jeep Compass will cost you around $10,000, which is $1,151 more than the industry average of other SUVs.

There is a 31.13% chance of the car requiring a major repair during that time which will naturally bump up the price.

This means that the Jeep Compass is quite expensive to maintain.

Q5. Do Jeep Compasses Hold Their Value?

The value of the Jeep Compass will reduce to 62% after five years. This means a 48% loss in its value in 5 years which is roughly half.

A car that loses half its value in 5 years will drastically drop by seven years, which means that the Jeep Compass cannot hold its value in the market.

However, it will provide you with years of reliability and safety.

Conclusion

The Jeep Compass is an excellent vehicle that prioritizes safety and reliability, offering you and your family the safest and most comfortable driving experience, that is, only if you have a good model of the lineup.

For this series of SUVs, I think it is integral that you know the best and worst years for Jeep Compass so that you can avoid the worst years as they are very problematic and have a lot of issues such as the 2007 model, and so that you get the best models available such as 2020 one.