Compact SUVs · 8 model years, 2014 to 2022
Jeep Cherokee vs Jeep Compass: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Cherokee looks better on 4 and the Compass on 1, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2022 | Cherokee | Compass |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.3% | 3.7% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.0% | 0.9% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.3% | 2.4% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 40,000 | 34,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 4.6 | 2.2 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 4 | 5 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Cherokee owners complain about most is transmission and drivetrain; for the Compass it is engine. Complaints citing transmission and drivetrain make up 51% of all Cherokee complaints, against 14% on the Compass. The Compass leans the other way on engine: 42% of its complaints, against 21% for the Cherokee.
Jeep CherokeeJeep Compass
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Cherokee is stalling (20% of its complaints), and the Compass shares it (33%).
| Problem | Cherokee | Compass |
|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 20% 1,958most in 2014 · 36k mi | 33% 849most in 2018 · 33k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 5.4% 523most in 2019 · 38k mi | 14% 346most in 2018 · 22k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 6.4% 612most in 2014 · 31k mi | 6.9% 176most in 2018 · 25k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 11% 1,083most in 2014 · 32k mi | 2.0% 51most in 2018 · 19k mi |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 3.5% 332most in 2019 · 33k mi | 9.3% 236most in 2018 · 36k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 4.2% 402most in 2014 · 45k mi | 8.5% 216most in 2018 · 53k mi |
| Multiple warning lights come on at once | 6.1% 589most in 2017 · 42k mi | 5.8% 147most in 2018 · 36k mi |
| Burns oil or oil level rises | 2.3% 218most in 2016 · 32k mi | 6.6% 169most in 2018 · 13k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Compass owners report problems earlier. Half the Compass complaints that give a mileage come before 34,000 miles; for the Cherokee the halfway point is 40,000. 59% of Cherokee reports and 66% of Compass reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Jeep CherokeeJeep Compass
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 5,995 for the Cherokee and 1,266 for the Compass.
Worst and best years
The 2019 Cherokee draws 1.6 times the complaints of a typical Cherokee year for its age. The 2018 Compass draws 4.8 times the complaints of a typical Compass year for its age.
Jeep CherokeeJeep Compass
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Cherokee draws more recalls: 4.6 campaigns per model year against 2.2 for the Compass. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Jeep Cherokee
37 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (11), electrical (5) and airbags (4).
- 18V-332 (electrical) covers 5 model years
- 20V-343 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 4 model years
Investigations
- PE22009: Electronic parking brake water ingress (closed)
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
- RQ15004: Software security vulnerability (closed, led to a recall)
Jeep Compass
18 recall campaigns and 5 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (4), engine and engine cooling (2) and equipment (2).
- 17V-740 (electrical) covers 2 model years
- 18V-523 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- PE22013: False overheat leading to loss of motive power (closed)
- RQ22002: Stall from crankshaft\camshaft failure (closed)
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Compass complaints report a crash: 3.7%, against 2.3% for the Cherokee. Fire reports: 93 for the Cherokee and 22 for the Compass.
Jeep CherokeeJeep Compass
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Jeep Cherokee or the Jeep Compass more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Cherokee looks better on 4 and the Compass on 1, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Cherokee has 9,618 complaints and the Compass 2,550 for the 8 model years from 2014 to 2022 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Cherokee or the Compass?
The Cherokee has 37 recall campaigns and the Compass 18 across the 8 model years from 2014 to 2022 that both have on file. The Cherokee draws more recalls: 4.6 campaigns per model year against 2.2 for the Compass.
What are the most common problems on the Cherokee and the Compass?
The most reported problem on the Cherokee is stalling (20% of its complaints), and the Compass shares it (33%).