New Safety Recall Advanced Communication ? N01060613 Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) announced a safety recall on certain 2010 through 2012 model year (MK) Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles. Some of the above vehicles were built with a software error in the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module. The ORC software error may result in delayed or non-deployment of seatbelt pre-tensioner or side airbag curtains involved in certain low-speed rollover events. Chrysler will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all involved vehicles to reprogram the ORC module with the corrected software. Dealers will be notified of the launch of this safety recall by way of established methods used in the past. We a
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Jeep Compass airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Jeep Compass have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Compass | 7 |
| 2008 Compass | 6 |
| 2009 Compass | 3 |
| 2010 Compass | 17 |
| 2011 Compass (this page) | 16 |
| 2012 Compass | 26 |
| 2013 Compass | 14 |
| 2014 Compass | 85 |
| 2015 Compass | 14 |
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 16 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Jeep Compass, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
New Safety Recall Advanced Communication ? N01060613 Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) announced a safety recall on certain 2010 through 2012 model year (MK) Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles. Some of the above vehicles were built with a software error in the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module. The ORC software error may result in delayed or non-deployment of seatbelt pre-tensioner or side airbag curtains involved in certain low-speed rollover events. Chrysler will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all involved vehicles to reprogram the ORC module with the corrected software. Dealers will be notified of the launch of this safety recall by way of established methods used in the past. We a
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗New Safety Recall Advanced Communication ? N01060613 Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) announced a safety recall on certain 2010 through 2012 model year (MK) Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles. Some of the above vehicles were built with a software error in the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module. The ORC software error may result in delayed or non-deployment of seatbelt pre-tensioner or side airbag curtains involved in certain low-speed rollover events. Chrysler will conduct a voluntary safety recall on all involved vehicles to reprogram the ORC module with the corrected software. Dealers will be notified of the launch of this safety recall by way of established methods used in the past. We a
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue here is NHTSA Campaign 16V668000, a recall affecting airbags and seat belts that requires replacement of the occupant restraint controller (ORC). Owners received recall notices in late 2016 and early 2017, but the replacement parts were chronically unavailable. Chrysler and dealers gave conflicting information—first saying the fix hadn't been released, then sending urgent repair cards despite parts still being out of stock. One owner was told by a dealership he'd have to pay $400 out of pocket for the ORC module after the software installation failed on his vehicle; Chrysler opened a case but never called back.
Beyond the recall bottleneck, two owners reported actual airbag failures. One had a side-impact collision where the passenger-side airbag curtain never deployed, leaving his wife unconscious with a concussion from hitting the door glass. Another had a low-speed frontal collision at 25 mph where the front airbags didn't fire. One owner also noted an airbag warning light that stayed on for over two years, tied to the same recall.
This isn't just inconvenience—owners are driving vehicles where critical safety systems either won't work or remain unrepaired under a recall notice.
Same Jeep Compass airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) Recall Delay
NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 addresses a defect in the occupant restraint controller that could prevent front airbags and seat belts from deploying in a crash. Multiple owners received recall notices starting in 2016, but the replacement ORC parts remained unavailable for an extended period. Chrysler/Mopar communicated conflicting messages—first stating the fix had not been released, then sending urgent repair notices despite parts still being unavailable.
When: Recall notices issued October 2016–April 2017; parts status unresolved months after initial notification
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on; Recall notice received but repair unable to be completed; Front airbags may not deploy in crash; Seat belt pretensioners may not activate
Codes mentioned: 16V668000
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC); one dealer quoted $400 for ORC module; parts remained unavailable through mid-2017 despite recall issuance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 (Airbags, Seat Belts); Chrysler/Mopar issued recall notice and urgent follow-up card but could not provide remedy or estimated timeline for parts availability
Side Airbag Curtain Non-Deployment in Side Impact Collision
In a reported side-impact collision, the side airbag curtain failed to deploy when the vehicle was struck on the passenger side. The owner's wife was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion from hitting the passenger door glass when the airbag system did not function.
When: Side impact collision; vehicle mileage/timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Side airbag curtain did not deploy during passenger-side impact collision; Occupant struck door glass, sustained concussion and loss of consciousness
Front Airbag Non-Deployment in Low-Speed Frontal Collision
Owner reported a low-speed frontal collision at approximately 25 mph on slippery road conditions. Front airbags did not deploy despite the impact force being sufficient to cause damage and create need for a stop.
When: Collision at approximately 25 mph; timing/mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Front airbags did not deploy in low-speed frontal collision
Airbag Control System Malfunction Preventing Software Update Installation
A dealership in Virginia Beach attempted to install recall software on a 2011 Compass but the vehicle would not accept the installation. The dealership then demanded owner payment ($400) for a new ORC module, claiming it was a customer responsibility rather than warranty/recall work. Chrysler assigned a case number but did not follow up despite daily contact attempts.
When: Recall software installation attempted; timeline unclear
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rejected recall software installation; Dealership stated owner responsibility for ORC module replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted $400 for new ORC module; Chrysler case number assigned but no resolution provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall software installation available; Chrysler assigned case number but provided no follow-up or resolution
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Jeep compass. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Jeep compass. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags, seat belts) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the contacts vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact had not…
Involved in side impact vehicle collision on passenger side of my 2011 Jeep compass. Side air curtain did not deploy resulting in my wife being knocked unconscious and suffering a concussion from hitting the passenger door glass. Impact was to her door and should have set off the air bag system and avoided her injury. *tr
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 Jeep Compass?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2011 Jeep Compass?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 54,230 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Jeep/Compass.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.