2016 Jeep Compass · symptom sheet

Check engine light or misfire

47owner reports
80,000median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Jul 31, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

201 of the 293 complaints on this car are about the engine. 47 of those describe misfire. Only stalling is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 47 reports

rough idle or shaking

a catalytic converter code

the light flashes

it came back after repair

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the sensor (24 reports) and the catalytic converter (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

16V-907Dec 16, 2016

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016. The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall.

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S89.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Compass

PE22-013opened Dec 2, 2022

Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2019 to 2020

False overheat leading to loss of motive power. Closed dec 10, 2023.

NHTSA summary

On December 2, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22-013 to investigate allegations of loss of motive power accompanied by high coolant temperature messages on the dashboard of Model Year 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. At the time this investigation was opened, ODI was aware of fifteen Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) for Model Year (MY) 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles alleging a loss of motive power (LOMP) while driving. The LOMP events were often accompanied by a high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high message appearing on the dashboard of the vehicle. In most incidents, the high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high dashboard messages spontaneously self-corrected or were corrected after the vehicle was stopped and restarted. One complainant alleged no immediate restart, and the vehicle was towed. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) was opened to assess the frequency and potential safety consequences of these engine shut down events. On January 19th, 2023, ODI sent an information request letter to Fiat Chrysler US LLC (FCA) requesting pertinent information on the subject 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. FCA provided its full response on March 2nd, 2023. ODI has reviewed the information FCA provided as well as new reports submitted to NHTSA’s Vehicle Owner Questionnaire database. Based on a review of available information, ODI has identified 173 subject vehicles that likely experienced a shutdown event associa

RQ22-002opened Jul 22, 2022

Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2015 to 2016

Stall from crankshaft\camshaft failure. Closed jun 16, 2025.

NHTSA summary

On December 13, 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received recall 16V-907 from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) that identified a safety defect involving crankshaft or camshaft sensor failures on certain 2016 Model Year Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles. The failure of the crankshaft or camshaft sensor may lead to a loss of motive power (LOMP) in the recalled vehicles. Following the receipt of recall 16V-907, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received 127 vehicle owner’s questionnaires (VOQ), in which consumers allege experiencing crankshaft or camshaft failures on similar vehicles not included in the recall. On July 22, 2022, this Recall Query was opened to further assess the scope, frequency, and safety consequences of the alleged defect described in the recall. During this investigation, ODI sent two information request (IR) letters to FCA. The first letter was sent on August 15, 2022, and the second on July 12, 2024. Responses to these IR letters, that included manufacturer claim data related to the alleged defect, were received on September 26, 2022, and September 6, 2024, respectively. Analysis of ODI and FCA claim data identified two failure modes relating to intermittent crankshaft and camshaft sensor loss of signal. The first failure mode involves a faulty crankshaft or camshaft electrical connector, as identified in recall 16V-907. The second failure mode involves a faulty crankshaft and/or camsh

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 59,000 and 100,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.

418

319

820

221

1222

923

524

125

326

What owners wrote

“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.”
Filed Dec 28, 2023

“Engine cuts out while driving. Had to pull over to the side and reset by instructions from Google. Took the car to a local garage and he said it was a computer issue. This part was replaced 3-4 years ago and is failing again. A red symbol like a lightning bolt and the check engine light was on.”
Filed Nov 20, 2023

“Driving on the highway, the check engine light came on as well as the abs, 4wd, and the traction light came on, than the car lost all power, stalled and cut out, try to restart it than it begin to shake very hard.”
Filed Oct 28, 2022

“Vehicle has a slow acceleration ration. I was merging onto the Freeway and pressing on the accelerator, but it does not accelerate. It takes quite sometime to pickup speed, throttle body light has just started coming on along with the check engine light. Purchased Vehicle 8/2021, no acceleration from the beginning. Check engine and Throttle Body light 2-3 weeks ago.”
Filed Jul 3, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 47 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.