We were driving down the road and the car started violently shaking, the check engine light went on and the car wouldn't move. The car needed to be pushed to the gas station and we almost got hit with my son in his car seat. I do believe this is a safety concern that needs to be looked into for a possible recall. The mechanic determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt.
2016 jeep Compass powertrain problems
moderate 40 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING IT STUTTERS AND ACTS LIKE IT CAN'T CATCH UP TO THE SPEED THAT I'M GOING.
I have been having issues with my vehicle for the past month or so. I took it to a mechanic and they said that my Power Transfer Unit is bad and my vehicle currently doesn't have 4 wheel drive capability. My vehicle periodically stutters, slows and looses power while driving at freeway speeds. During all of my issues, not once has my check engine light or any sort of indicator has lit up letting m…
MY CAR POWER TRAIN WENT OUT AS I ONLY HAVE THE CAR FOR 11 MONTHS AND TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING WELL I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CAR RPM WAS GOING TO 6
AS A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, THE YOUNGEST ONLY BEING TWO YEARS OLD, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY 2016 JEEP COMPASS. EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE MOTOR RANDOMLY STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES. MY CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN EASILY AND EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL UNDER LIGHT LOAD IT STALLS OUT LEAVING ME IMMOBILE OR THE VEHICLE MISFIRING AND JERKING FORWARD V…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 jeep Compass?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 40 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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