Two hours into highway driving, transmission overheated and would not accelerate above 40 MPH. Took the nearest exit and cooled down and made the rest of the trip without problem.
2012 Jeep Compass powertrain problems
moderate 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 26 powertrain complaints filed for the 2012 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
Owners have filed 26 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Jeep compass. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle independently came to a complete halt without warnings. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on three different occasions. The technician diagnosed that the power train module and core return needed to be replaced. The remedy failed to correct the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
A month or so after buying my car (used) it started to struggle going up hill. As time went on the struggle uphill turned into stalling. Then it progressed to extreme difficulty getting up to speed when just getting on the freeway. Soon it started to over heat if driven longer than an hour. With all of the issues put together it ha become very stressful and scary to drive. We took it into the…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2012 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 powertrain problem on the 2012 Jeep Compass?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 26 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 44,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 84,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 44,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2012/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.