Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
20 -23 City / 23 -29 HWY
Horsepower
158 -172
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Becky B
My favorite part about the car are the leather seats. They are cream colored and look brand new.
I love my vehicle and have found little to no problems with it. It drives like its brand new. It is super comfortable and has so many great features.
accountCircle Melissa G
Love the car new lover of Jeeps.
Love comfort and all added bonuses hidden CD player nice trunk space comfortable and roomy. Cruise remote start.
accountCircle Michael M
Reliable, safe, and sturdy.
Having this Jeep for the past five years its run nearly perfect with routine oil changes and tune-ups. It's very reliable and has been my car for travelling, commuting, or just about anything in between. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a reliable gas friendly vehicle for long term.
accountCircle Abby C
The car is very easy to drive and maneuver about on highways and interstates.
The 2012 Jeep compass is a compact SUV that in my opinion is perfect for first time drivers. The car does have a few blind spots but learning where those spots are just makes you learn to be a better driver and more cautious on the road. I have had my Jeep for almost three years and to this day I still love it. I have had no real problems out of it and even though it is a compact SUV there is quite a lot of room in the car.
accountCircle Roger B
2012 jeep compass. I like the vehicle a lot but don't like the radio.
Am/FM part of radio stopped working at 68000 mi. Satellite and CD part still work. Car gets good gas mileage and does well in the snow. The car handles well and looks sporty. At 70000 miles it has a fea rattles. My only complaint so far has been the radio. The 4wd has helped me get to work in the winter each year as I am essential personnel. The car runs smoothly and I make sure I get oil changes every 3000 miles. I had a sensor go out at 35000 miles that caused the car to stall. The sensor cost about 150 dollars and 300 to install it. I like the car.
accountCircle Kendall M
Lovely, reliable, safe, and fun first car
It's super reliable and has such a good personality. It's fun and easy to drive and would recommend it for anyone. It was my first car and I feel incredibly safe in it. Sometimes it is a bit loud or clunky feeling but it was a great starter. It's super cute and is the perfect size for me. Being four wheel drive, it's very handy for cold weather.
accountCircle Jarrett C
Tough and sporty stylist but yet rugged durable.
It rides great to be a Jeep it can stand the rough roads also I just do not like the take off to me it does take off fast and I have to realize its a Jeep not a sports car recommend it if you like a small SUV that is sporty but yet stylist its roomy for its size and give you pulling power when you need it.
accountCircle giovanna R
Great mileage and helps you save money on gas
I love my car because it has great mileage and gets me where i need to be. It is pretty cheap on gas. I dislike that it's smaller than other crossovers but it gets the job done and it has everything i want in it

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Cassie L
My Jeep compass dow go well in bad weather.
The Jeep uses too much gas, uncomfortable to drive and feels like I am driving a train I have broke down several. Times and when I have it checked they say there is nothing wrong with the car, it is uncomfortable to drive because it makes very wide turns and has little power especially when going up hills and mountains.
accountCircle Annette
Not so reliable :(
I just bought a 2012 Jeep Compass and 1st day driving it just shut off well driving. It started back up after a couple of minutes but this can be very dangerous. And now the check engine light is on ..
accountCircle Shannon C
It looks pretty nice from the outside.
It just feels cheap. I have had to fix things on this car that I have never even heard of. It developed an oil leak at 70,000 miles. Needed a new antifreeze tank at 79k miles. The plastic pieces that never ever get touched that are around the bottom of the seats to cover the hardware are falling off, and the back hatch leaks.
accountCircle Megan M
This jeep has a beautiful inside.
Lots of brake problems and shakes. Always having issues and have to take it in to get fixed. Engine light constantly coming on. Transfer package needs changed etc. I believe it is a good first car or car for short distances but is not meant to travel far or for heavy use.
accountCircle Donald G
Great vehicle to own. Would buy another.
Great vehicle good on gas and has power. Great in snow. It also rises very smooth. Sounds system and controls are very user friendly. Air conditioning and heat is top of the line and has plenty of storage for long distance journeys. Overall the car is perfect for our needs.
accountCircle Lynda R
Not a smooth riding vehicle
Replaced all brake pads, 3 out of 5 motor mounts, rear rotor and brake assembly, front ball joints, ABS sensor on front passenger side, bad vibration when driving, small gas tank, bad on gas, always putting gas in it, radio and Bluetooth connection are good, a few weird electrical problems
accountCircle Rhea S
2012 Jeep Compass Review: comfortable drive.
Heavy road noise, expensive repairs. Have had several issues with rear wheel bearings. Had starter issue that costed way more than it should have in labor because of how hard it was to get to the start that Jeep had covered up. Comfortable to drive. Gets up to speed well enough. No Bluetooth and not many luxuries involved with car. FWD is great for off-roading and snow days.
accountCircle Michael D
Troubles with a jeep transmission and electrical problems.
Transmission and electrical. The car gets stuck in low gear due to electrical problems. I have to turn the car off and then turn the car back on in order for the car to run. Will get stuck in lower and will not go for 40 miles an hour. I would not purchase the same vehicle again due to the problems that I have had.

Jeep Compass Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Sport
158-172 HP 24-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
Latitude
172 HP 21-23 MPG 5 Seats
car
Limited
172 HP 21-23 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Jeep Compass Owner Reviews

4.06
212 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 37%
4 stars 38%
3 stars 20%
2 stars 4%
1 star 1%
accountCircle Ashley J on June 12, 2021
In love with a jeep compass.
I love my jeep compass. It is the perfect size for my needs, comfortably seats 4-5 with plenty of storage area in the trunk. I have heated seats and a sunroof, perfect for any season! This vehicle has been extremely reliable, minor repairs/upkeep as with any vehicle, and great gas mileage. I am over 90k miles now and still loving what my car has to offer!
accountCircle Taylor P on June 7, 2021
Excellent speed even after so many miles.
My jeep handles excellently. It drives smoothly and is very easy to keep up with. I have had next to no issues since I bought it in 2017 with only one prior owner. I even got it with the original tires! If I ever make another vehicle purchase, I'll definitely highly consider another jeep first and foremost.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Lyle R.

Comfortable with nice features. Pretty smooth ride. There is a defect with the gas cap sensor, which seems to be a problem with some jeeps I have learned. Check engine light stays on because of the gas cap no matter how tight or many times you spin the cap. Another con is when driving the acceleration and rpm drop significantly switching between, I think its 2 and 3rd gear before picking back up. Otherwise great car with an amazing sound system(at least in mine).

likeFilled Michelle C.

1. Four wheel drive. 2. Descent MPG. 3 Comfortable. 4. Has excellent torque, quick off the line. 5. Body style is appealing. 6. Reliable. 7. Good value for the price. 8. Good cargo space. 9. Great turning radius.

likeFilled Diana E.

4 Wheel drive makes this vehicle easier to drive in the snow. It has a strong battery that has always started in cold temperatures. The Compass has heated seats for when it is cold outside. This Jeep Compass has been a very reliable vehicle.

likeFilled Andrew L.

It is a compact SUV that can carry five passengers with plenty of legroom. The back seats fold down so you can carry some medium size loads. The seats are comfortable for long trips. There is a rack on the roof that allows you to put luggage on top and can be strapped down.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Lyle R.

The acceleration and rpm drop significantly between, I think its 2nd and 3rd gear before picking back up. Another would be check engine light stays on because it thinks the gas cap isn't on Orwell. Turns up this is in many jeep vehicles it may turn off but comes back on eventually.

dislikeFilled Michelle C.

1. Inside cabin noise is loud. 2. Radio antenna is old school and not visually appealing. 3. Interior is of medium quality ie cloth and plastic raw materials utilized are of average quality. 4. Interior lighting color is not pretty.

dislikeFilled Diana E.

This Jeep Compass is a smaller vehicle and does not have a lot of storage areas. The seat belts in the back seat are small. There is the potential of electrical issues with the windows and radio. These vehicles do not come with a dipstick to check the transmission fluid and the process is confusing.

dislikeFilled Andrew L.

Because the car is build on a small frame it does not handle rugged terrain. There are frequent transmission problems. The steering wheel has terrible adjustments so when you move it you cannot see the speedometer. The seats only be adjusted back and forth but not up and down.

Ranks #18 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2012 Jeep Compass has an average owner rating of 4.13 out of 5 which ranks it #18 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
4.67
2
car
4.52
18
Tie
car
4.06

Ranks #9 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Jeep Compass has a combined MPG of 29 which ranks it #9 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
32 MPG
1
Tie
car
32 MPG
9
Tie
car
27 MPG

Is The 2012 Jeep Compass A Good Car?

Yes! I love it. It is been a wonderful first car for me. It is super safe and fun to drive and it feels like it has a personality.
Kendall M.
Yes very reliable and fits my family of threes wants and needs. Simple maintenance I can do myself. Good gas mileage.
Rick B.
Yes I love my jeep. It is a great vehicle. Does really good in snow and mud. I would recommend to anyone.
David M.
Yes and no. Yes because it has great mileage but no because it is not spacious it is too compact. It needs more space.
Kelley L.
I believe it is a good vehicle, I purchased the car used and it have had it for multiple years. Still runs great and it is low maintenance. Drives smooth and handles well in the snow and ice.
Adrian B.
Very good it gets great gas mileage ride very good and handles great on the road and cheap to operate
Kenny D.
Yes. Turns on and off on the fly. Automatic start heated seats moonroof. Good air conditioned and heated
Heather E.
Yes, it is a very reliable car. It gives the Jeep feel without the entire commitment of a wrangler. It drives nicely and is wonderful in the snow and tough terrain!
Erica D.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Jeep Compass?

It is my first car so it seems very reliable and trustworthy. It is kind of sluggish but it just adds to its personality.
Kendall M.
Noi have not had any problems with it so far I can do maintenance myself and if I can it does not cost a lot to have it done.
Rick B.
Yes it is reliable. And no not at the moment it does not . It is the best jeep I have had. The 4wd works great in the snow.
David M.
It is very reliable. My car has had no problems other than the windshield has a very bad blind spot but it is very easy to get use to.
Kelley L.
I have not had any major issues with the car. There was a small issue with the exhaust pipe but it was an easy, quick, and cheap fix.
Adrian B.
It is very reliable and very cheap to operate with no problems repairs have been very little normal for a 100,00 miles car
Elizabeth D.
Yes. The rear light casing cracks with extreme cold to extreme heat. Sold without an antenna. Moon roof leaks
Mary M.
No. The only problem I have faced is the small gas tank. Although this doesn’t turn out to be much of an issue, I just seem to be refilling my gas more frequently.
Rachel B.

Is The 2012 Jeep Compass A Good Value?

I bought it from a friend for 15k back in 2014 and it is been a great value so far! It is not the most fuel efficient but it is a pretty cheap car overall.
Kendall M.
I paid 12000 for it I do not know what it cost new but I am sure it is relatively inexpensive because of blue book value was not much more than what I spent when I pay for my used vehicle it is a good... Read More
Rick B.
About 9000.00 dollars. Yes it is a very good deal. Like I said before I would give it a 5 star rating.
David M.
It is cost around $17,000. It is good value however I feel like it could come down on the price. It was easy to pay off.
Kelley L.
I purchased my car for roughly $8500 used. The car has good value because I have been offered the same amount to sell my car.
Adrian B.
We paid 18,000 with a trade I feel very good value compared to a ford maybe not as good as a Chevy but a good car
Rachel L.
$15,000.00 bit only worth $7,000. Not worth it for the gas mileage. Would like a better fuel efficient car
Wanda J.
We got our 2012 Jeep Compass used for 19,000. It was a good price as the car was in good shape and very lightly used.
Karin S.

Related Articles for 2012 Jeep Compass

From the Vehicle History blog

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2019 Jeep Compass Review: Average Compact SUV With Some Reasonable Ownership Costs
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2018 Jeep Compass Review: Unreliable Small SUV With High Ownership Costs As It Ages

Frequently Asked Questions

2012 Jeep Compass: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2012 Jeep Compass oil type and capacity iS5w-20 and 4.5 quarts. Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't replace it, there will be issues...

Does the 2012 Jeep Compass have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: The 2012 Jeep Compass does have a timing chain. You will come across many issues with an engine. A spark plug may pop off, causing engine trouble. A gasket may be loose and that needs to be tightened up...

Does the 2012 Jeep Compass have Bluetooth?

Answer: Yes, the 2012 Jeep Compass can be available with bluetooth. To make use of this system You will first need to make sure that Your phone or laptop is able to connect to bluetooth. This will be a little different...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Not Rated

Rollover

Side

Not Rated
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Not Rated

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety