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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2016 Jeep Compass Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
44about this part
Share
15%of 293 total for the year
Median mileage
55,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 44 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Jeep Compass, 15% of the 293 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Abs 4wheel drive and traction control light stay on and won't come off and since they popped up I've been having issue with my acceleration. It's been causing my car to randomly stop accelerating while I was driving on the highway. My 4wheel drive light pops on a few minutes after I start driving but the other 2 lights stay on all the time.”

NHTSA complaint #11328071, filed 2020-06, 48,950 miles

“Jeep will not start with key. Then I had to press on gas to get car to start, now it doesn't start at all with key. I have to use my automatic starter to get my car to start then put my key in. This should be recalled. This is not safe, and obviously a Jeep problem. I have researched this, and so many Jeep owners have this problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11242735, filed 2019-08, 36,000 miles

“My mechanic believe's I have a sensor issue going on with my transmission. It seems to have the same issues as other certain model years as mine. Every drive I take, the transmission slips. He has ruled out everything else, and one or two of the sensors are pointing to my transmission issues. This problem has almost caused me an accident multiple different times. At this point I don't feel comfortable driving it.”

NHTSA complaint #11093498, filed 2018-05, 48,000 miles

“All of my lights came on out of nowhere then car wouldn't turn back on. After diagnostics it was determined to be an electrical issue with the wiring harnesses & also was told that there were issues with my airbags being able to properly deploy. Vehicle was on. Vehicle was in motion at about 30-40mph. I was fortunate enough to make it home and be able to park my car and I was fortunate I wasn't on a highway or it could have been a very dangerous accident.”

NHTSA complaint #11363321, filed 2020-10, 52,000 miles

“Vehicle will without warning stall in the middle of driving, in city traffic, on country roads, starting up a hill as well as driving on flat straight road. I've been driving 55mph, 45 MPH 25 MPH and it will stall, the traction control light will come on. Sometimes the car will not restart for 10+ minutes after stalling. Each time I was driving in traffic, and had children in the vehicle with people behind me. Engine just cuts all power, power steering is lost. …”

NHTSA complaint #11221969, filed 2019-06, 39,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202527%
2024611%
2023612%
2022198%
2021911%
20202920%
20193711%
201815116%
20174218%
20164415%
2015109%
20143511%
20132734%
20122614%
20113720%
201046%
200949%
20081213%
20072911%

Other parts of the 2016 Jeep Compass

Engine
135 complaints
Electrical system
62 complaints
Other or unknown
48 complaints
Vehicle speed control
30 complaints
Engine cooling
26 complaints
Fuel system
18 complaints
Steering
16 complaints
Electronic stability control
15 complaints
Air bags
13 complaints
Seat belts
12 complaints
Seats
10 complaints
Brakes
9 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Jeep Compass

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology