Since I bought this car from the dealer, all the from tires making noises when I press the break to stop, I spoke with the dealer but he don't want to help me out. Also the engine light showing up since I got the car from the dealer, the electrical system too is not working perfectly and the ac system is not too good.
2014 Jeep Compass airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Jeep Compass have filed 85 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 42,656 miles 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 →
Failure mileage
Complaints
85
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Compass | 17 |
| 2011 Compass | 16 |
| 2012 Compass | 26 |
| 2013 Compass | 14 |
| 2014 Compass (this page) | 85 |
| 2015 Compass | 14 |
| 2016 Compass | 11 |
| 2017 Compass | 6 |
| 2018 Compass | 15 |
12crashes
1fire
18injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 85 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Jeep Compass, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Of the 16 model years of Jeep Compass we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 85.
Owners have filed 85 airbags 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint is the Takata recall 16V-668 (occupant restraint controller replacement). Owners received recall notices starting October 2016 but faced a critical supply chain failure: dealers universally reported parts unavailable with no confirmed delivery dates. Many owners waited 6+ months, then years, with no resolution. Several dealerships falsely documented recall completion on paperwork while admitting to customers the parts never arrived.
Owners report airbags and seat belt pretensioners failing to deploy in actual crashes—rear-end collisions, angular impacts, and front-end crashes at speeds between 5 and 70 mph—even after they believed the recall was complete. A 12-year-old child, an 87-year-old driver, and others sustained serious injuries (broken neck, head trauma, shoulder and arm injuries) when airbags did not deploy. One crash involved ejection of metal fragments from an airbag.
Separate from the recall issue, multiple owners report headrests deploying spontaneously while the vehicle was parked or without any impact, striking occupants in the head. Plastic clips or pins broke; one mechanic said these cannot be reset, only replaced.
Seat belt retraction failures also appear, consistent with the recall's scope. Owners frustrated by extended downtime, false completion documentation, and inability to drive safely—with children aboard—resorted to trading or surrendering vehicles to lenders, damaging their credit.
Same Jeep Compass airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Occupant Restraint Controller failure (Takata recall 16V-668)
Loss of airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability due to a shorting condition in the occupant restraint controller, triggered by voltage transients traveling from front impact sensor wires.
When: Across model years 2014; most complaints filed 2016-2017
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Airbags fail to deploy in crash events despite recall service being performed; Seat belt pretensioners fail to deploy; Repeated recall notices despite dealership claims of completion
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000, S61/NHTSA 16V-668
Repairs/costs cited: Recall remedy requires replacement of occupant restraint controller. Owners report parts on backorder for extended periods (6+ months); many complaints cite parts unavailable indefinitely. One owner paid $2500 at dealership with no actual work performed. One dealer charged $140 for inspection, over $800 to repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V-668 issued October 1, 2016. Chrysler/Jeep service centers universally report parts unavailable with no estimated delivery dates. Some owners advised parts would be available by August 2017, April 2017, or June 2017—estimates that proved unreliable. One owner reported Chrysler stated 'no fix at this time.' Dealership in complaint #1 falsely documented recall service as complete and charged customer while admitting parts were not in stock.
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Airbags fail to deploy when vehicle is involved in crashes at moderate to low speeds, resulting in occupant injuries.
When: At time of crash; mileage 40,000 to 87,000 miles documented
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light present before crash; Complete absence of airbag deployment on driver or passenger side; Occupant injury due to lack of airbag protection; Failure occurs in 5 mph rear-end, 15 mph frontal, 25 mph frontal, and 35 mph angular crashes
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; vehicles involved in crashes where airbags failed to deploy were either not taken to dealers for diagnosis or were towed/totaled. One owner (40,000 miles) suffered head and neck injuries plus stroke after 35 mph crash; another suffered broken neck after rear oblique impact (87 years old); one 12-year-old child sustained shoulder, neck, and arm injuries when passenger-side airbags did not deploy in 70+ mph side impact.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V-668 addresses occupant restraint controller replacement to restore deployment capability. However, owners filing complaints about non-deployment in crashes had either not yet completed the recall (parts unavailable) or completed the recall yet still experienced non-deployment (suggesting recall completion was not verified or was falsely documented).
Headrest spontaneous deployment
Driver or passenger headrest deploys without vehicle impact or accident, striking occupant in the head.
When: While vehicle parked or during normal driving; mileage 87,000 documented
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest springs forward suddenly while vehicle is parked; Headrest deploys when entering or exiting vehicle; Plastic clip or pin holding headrest breaks; Multiple headrests on same vehicle deploy (driver and passenger side); Occupant struck in head by deployed headrest
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report plastic clips or pins broke. One dealer quoted $140 inspection fee and over $800 to replace deployed headrests. Owners state clips or pins cannot be reset. One owner's mechanic stated parts cannot be fixed, only replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One complaint indicates vehicle VIN was not under any recall for this issue. Dealers referred owners to other facilities but no repairs were completed. Manufacturer not contacted in most complaints.
Seat belt failure to retract
Front driver or passenger side seat belts fail to retract properly, leaving belt extended.
When: During normal vehicle operation; mileage 14,000 documented
Symptoms owners cite: Front driver side seat belt fails to retract; Front passenger side seat belt intermittently fails to retract; Seat belt remains extended
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000
Repairs/costs cited: One owner report cited recall 16V-668 addressing this failure. Parts were unavailable at dealership (Napleton Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Kissimmee, FL).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V-668 issued to address this. However, parts were unavailable for repair at time of complaint (October 2017).
Takata airbag inflator hazard (ejection)
Airbag inflates and ejects metal or plastic fragments at high velocity, causing injury to occupants.
When: During crash event; right-front impact documented
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deploys and ejects material at high velocity; Occupants struck by ejected fragments; Head trauma (large knot on forehead); Lacerations to hand; Back injury; Lung compression and chest displacement in passenger
Repairs/costs cited: Occupants transported to trauma center emergency room. Injuries documented but vehicle not reported for dealer diagnosis or repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint flagged as 'Takata inflators recall' but no specific recall number or manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 85 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Jeep compass. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (seat belts, air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to vero beach Dodge Jeep Chrysler located on 855 south us-1, vero beach, fl 32962, and was informed that the part had to be ordered. An appointment was scheduled with the dealer. The…
A recall was issued on these two parts, recall s 61, on october 1st 2016. I received no notification on this recall until I went to sell my car to a dealership on 12/19/2016. I called Chrysler customer service and was told there will not be a remedy for this situation until april 2017. Jeep, and it's parent company, isn't displaying the type of urgency I should see associated with a recall that…
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Jeep compass. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (seat belts, air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact called arrigo Dodge (5851 s us highway 1, fort pierce, fl 34982) and was informed that the dealer was awaiting parts. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Jeep compass. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags, seat belts). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Jeep compass. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN…
2014 Jeep compass. Consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to complete the recall repair. Updated 12/8/2017*js
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Jeep Compass?
It's a meaningful issue. 85 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?
Across the 27 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 17,000 and 68,000 miles, with the median around 42,656. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,000; a quarter make it past 68,000. 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 $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/2014/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.