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2013 Jeep Compass

Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

80 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (34% of complaints).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)100
Severity (30%)78
Recall load (20%)95
Trend (10%)100

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20132025

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2013 Jeep Compass, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miElectrical system~57k mi · 13 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Transmission & drivetrain (27) · Airbags (16) · Engine (10) · Seat belts (9)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Transmission & drivetrain

34%

27 complaints

This vehicle before had the cvt transmission replaced as it was over heating/inoperable. Complete replacement. Flash forward not even a year I was driving and thr tran…

Airbags

20%

16 complaints

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH BENSONS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM IN GREER SC SINCE THE SPRING OF 2019 ABOUT RECALLS ON MY JEEP. FINALLY, MY DAD DECIDED TO JUS…

Electrical system

16%

13 complaints · typically near 57k mi

FAULTY TIPM SHORTLY OUT SOME ELECTRICAL RELAYS. STATIONARY COOLING FANS DON'T SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN IGNITION KEY IS OFF. AC BLOWER FANS INTIMIDATE ON AND OFF. AT CHRYSLER…

Engine

13%

10 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

Catalytic converter problem Warning engine light keeps coming on. This has happened over several years. It now comes on everyday. It is now in shop to be fixed and cod…

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Seat Belts · 16V668000

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Jeep COMPASS beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2013? See how every Compass model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Jeep Compass against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2013 Jeep Compass as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.