Yesterday I had the Crankshaft Position Sensor replaced because of the ongoing stalling while idle and stalling while in motion issues. Today it has stalled 5 times while in motion on surface streets and the highways going over 40 mph and twice in a parking when sitting idle or initial startup. For the times when in motion and it stalled I was able to get off the road and avoid any collisions.…
2016 Jeep Compass steering problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Avoid this model. Owners report stalling with loss of steering at highway speeds, severe front-end wobble, premature tie-rod and tire failure, and transmission shift problems—often with Chrysler denying warranty coverage and repairs costing hundreds when they do occur.
The 2016 Jeep Compass steering complaints cluster around several distinct failure patterns. Most critical: unannounced engine stalling at highway speeds, sometimes above 40 mph, that kills power steering assist and leaves drivers unable to steer or brake properly. Owners at 57k to 107k miles report stalls lasting seconds to minutes; some dealers replace crankshaft or camshaft position sensors but the problem recurs. No check engine light often illuminates, and diagnostics sometimes show nothing wrong, frustrating repair attempts.
Front-end instability appears as severe "death wobble"—unpredictable violent shaking at highway speeds—developing around 86k miles. Early mechanics cannot reproduce it; one owner's second shop found suspension components, hub bearings, and axles already severely worn.
Premature tire and suspension wear dominates other complaints: rental cars show completely worn inside edges at 12k miles despite low mileage and no accident history, with alignment reports confirming improper toe; owner vehicles need tie-rod replacement at 51k miles when tires fail prematurely.
One incident describes a transmission shift lever spontaneously dropping out of Drive while moving, causing uncontrolled shimmying and vehicle damage. A separate complaint documents power steering return hose rubbing against the suspension sway bar by design—a flaw reported to Jeep in 2014 that persists, risking fluid leakage and fire.
Same Jeep Compass steering reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Stalling with loss of power steering
Engine shuts down while driving at various speeds, causing complete loss of power steering assist and inability to decelerate normally. Vehicle sometimes restarts after several minutes; sometimes requires extended waiting period or multiple restart attempts.
When: 57,000 to 107,000 miles; occurs at highway speeds (40+ mph) and during idle; unpredictable timing
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning while driving; Loss of power steering assist during stall event; Difficulty braking or slowing vehicle; Check engine light may or may not illuminate; Vehicle may not restart immediately; All dash lights illuminate during restart attempts
Codes mentioned: P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor), P0339 (Camshaft Position Sensor)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #3 paid over $400 for crankshaft position sensor replacement; symptom recurred. Owner #2 dealership quoted $540 for sensor repair plus $200 diagnostic. Owner #12 replaced 2 camshaft position sensors and connector; problem recurred after 2 weeks.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler recall program exists per owner #2; owner reports dealership denied coverage. Owner #4 states Chrysler claims nothing is wrong and vehicle has been repaired. No recalls found by some owners despite widespread online reports of same issue.
Death wobble / severe front-end instability
Unpredictable violent shaking and loss of control of the vehicle, primarily at highway speeds. Occurs most often after 15+ minutes of driving but timing is erratic.
When: 86,000 miles; generally above 45 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Severe front-end wobbling and shaking; Loss of vehicle control; Unpredictable occurrence timing; Safety hazard at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #1 first mechanic unable to reproduce. Second mechanic changed driver brake line to caliper; noted front suspension, hub/bearing, axle, and spring coils all severely worn despite relatively low mileage. Brake line replacement appeared to resolve wobble.
Severe and premature tire wear with alignment failure
Both front tires wear completely on the inside edge while exterior tread appears acceptable, hidden by tire side wall. Occurs with very low mileage and no apparent impact or event.
When: 10,417 to 12,250 miles on rental; 51,000 miles on owner vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Inside edge of both front tires completely worn; Tire pressure warning light; Tire pressure loss in one or both front tires
Repairs/costs cited: Rental car required wheel change; alignment shop reported toe completely wrong requiring realignment. Owner #14 driver-side tie rod severely worn at 51k miles; shop would not permit driving; 90k-mile-rated tires required replacement at 30k.
Transmission shift lever dropping out of gear
Gearshift spontaneously moves below Drive position while vehicle is moving or stationary, causing vehicle to shimmy uncontrollably. Requires manual shifting back into Drive to regain control.
When: Low mileage (not stated)
Symptoms owners cite: Gearshift lever shifts into lower range without driver input; Vehicle shimmies and loses control; Inability to proceed forward
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #6 experienced two separate incidents; second incident caused right side scraping damage and left taillight crack. Dealership has service records.
Power steering hose contact with suspension sway bar
Power steering return hose contacts front suspension sway bar by approximately 2 inches, creating a rubbing interface. Design flaw allows hose to wear through, causing power steering fluid loss and potential fire hazard if fluid sprays onto hot exhaust.
When: Present from 2014 model year onward
Symptoms owners cite: Hose visibly contacting sway bar at stationary curb; Potential power steering fluid leakage from hose wear; Fire risk if fluid contacts exhaust
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner #11 reports flagging this design violation to FCA in 2014; issue persists unchanged through current model year.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While driving the vehicle shut down, I lost all steering. It has a history of stalling while driving, stalling while idle, and not restarting for random periods of time. After getting the vehicle restarted it stalled again two more times while driving. I parked in a parking lot for a shopping center. When I cam out after a period of 30-45 minutes - the vehicle will not start and just turns over…
Had steering trouble with your 2016 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 steering problem on the 2016 Jeep Compass?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 37,800 and 65,000 miles, with the median around 55,213. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,800; a quarter make it past 65,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2016/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.