Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Jeep compass. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags , seat belts) was received in october of 2016. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be…
2013 Jeep Compass airbags problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
1fire
3injuries
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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2013 Compass with this recall history needs immediate verification that Campaign 16V668000 has been completed—parts were scarce for years and some owners never got repairs done. Watch for any diagnostic codes related to the restraint system, and avoid buying one that hasn't had confirmed recall work performed.
The 2013 Compass has a serious safety recall (Campaign 16V668000) affecting airbags and seat belt pretensioners. Starting in October 2016, owners got recall notices but couldn't get the parts to fix them—dealers confirmed parts were unavailable, and the manufacturer wouldn't confirm when they'd arrive. Some owners waited years without resolution, a genuine safety concern for airbag function.
Beyond the recall issue, we see three harder failures: one airbag caught fire during a low-speed crash, burning the driver's arm; two other crashes had complete airbag non-deployment despite impacts that should have triggered them. In one of those, the vehicle hit trees and rolled over at 35 mph with no airbag fire. An owner also reported a bad occupant restraint controller (diagnostic code S61) that may not work during an accident.
Most narratives describe owners contacting dealers and getting told parts weren't available—no confirmed failure rates, just unavailable remedy parts creating a backlog. The fire incident and the non-deployment incidents are documented but undiagnosed post-incident.
Same Jeep Compass airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Recall Parts Shortage — Campaign 16V668000
Owners received recall notices for Campaign 16V668000 (airbags and seat belt pretensioners) starting in October 2016, but remedy parts remained unavailable for extended periods. Dealers and manufacturer could not confirm when parts would arrive, leaving owners unable to complete the safety recall for months or years.
When: Recall notices issued October 2016 onwards; parts delays extended through at least July 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but no parts available to complete repair; Dealers unable to schedule recall work; Manufacturer unable to provide delivery timeline for remedy parts; Owners expressed safety concern given airbag/seat belt recall nature
Repairs/costs cited: Campaign 16V668000 remedy parts required but not in stock at dealers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 (Airbags, Seat Belts, Seat Belt Pretensioners); Owners told second notice would come in August 2017 when parts available; no confirmed delivery date provided
Airbag Deployment Failure — Non-Deployment in Crash
Two separate crash incidents where airbags failed to deploy despite impacts that should have triggered deployment. One incident at 35 mph with tree impact and vehicle rollover; another rear-end collision by dump truck. Vehicles not diagnosed post-incident.
When: One incident at approximately 1,000 miles; one incident mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy during crash impact; Vehicle struck from multiple angles in one incident (front, driver/passenger sides, top); Rear-end collision in second incident with significant impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles towed and deemed destroyed; no diagnosis performed
Airbag Fire During Deployment
Driver-side airbag caught fire during deployment in a low-speed crash (approximately 10 mph impact to passenger side). Owner sustained burn injuries to right arm requiring medical attention. Vehicle destroyed by fire. Cause of failure not determined.
When: At 39,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed but immediately ignited; Fire spread requiring fire department response; Owner burned during deployment event
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; fire department response required
Occupant Restraint Controller Malfunction
Owner reported occupant restraint controller does not work and may not function if vehicle is in an accident, affecting airbag/seat belt deployment capability.
Symptoms owners cite: Occupant restraint controller non-functional; Deployment capability lost
Codes mentioned: S61
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Jeep compass. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags) however, the part was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 7/11/18*jb *tr
Air bag recalls
The potential loss of air bag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability during a crash may increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Jeep compass. The contact's vehicle was rear ended by a dump truck. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact's grandson sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a nearby mechanic where it was deemed destroyed. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Jeep Compass?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 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 14 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 22,667 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/2013/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.