Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Compass vs FORD F 150
How the JEEP Compass and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
JEEP Compass vs FORD F 150: The Compass averages 205 complaints per year, with frequent engine and electrical failures, while the F-150 averages 1,131 complaints, mainly for transmission issues. The Compass has 20 recalls, the F-150 has 145. Choose based on your tolerance for electrical gremlins vs. transmission repairs. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Compass or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Compass
The Jeep Compass, over the last decade, has accumulated a high rate of complaints, averaging over 200 per year, with a heavy concentration in the engine and electrical system. Owners frequently describe sudden power losses, stalling, and electrical gremlins like screens going black or wipers activating on their own. These issues suggest that while the Compass may be affordable, it can be unpredictable and potentially leave you stranded, making it a risky choice for a first-time buyer.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, despite its popularity, also shows a significant reliability burden, with over 1,100 complaints per year on average. The dominant problem area is the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report as shifting harshly, hesitating, and even failing. Electrical issues and exterior lighting problems also appear frequently. This indicates that while the F-150 is a capable workhorse, its modern complexity can lead to costly and frustrating repairs.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Compass | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,050 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 83 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 205.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 41 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
JEEP Compass
- 01ENGINE849
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM844
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER448
- 04POWER TRAIN297
- 05SERVICE BRAKES161
Owners report engine hesitation, vibration, and intermittent roaring noises, sometimes accompanied by a black navigation screen. In some cases, the engine shuts off completely while driving, which is a serious safety concern.
Sudden electrical failures are common, including the windshield wipers activating on their own, the GPS screen flashing between dark and bright modes, and the vehicle losing all power. These issues can be distracting and dangerous.
The Power Take-Off Unit (PTU) can fail suddenly at highway speeds, leading to a loss of drive. Additionally, safety features like lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking may not work reliably, increasing the risk of accidents.
“The vehicle was purchased in Dec of 2023. It had a slight vibration and hesitation under acceleration a few miles after leaving the dealership, just assumed everything needed to “break in”. About a month later, we had noticed an intermittent roaring noise com…”
“What component or system failure or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? When I started my vehicle I noticed that my navigation screen was black, and then when I put the vehicle in drive and slowed down to make a turn, the engine sh…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even complete loss of power while driving. This can be both annoying and hazardous.
Electrical issues often manifest as warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck is started. These malfunctions can disable safety systems and require dealer intervention.
Problems with headlights are frequent, which can reduce visibility at night and increase the risk of accidents. Owners may need to replace headlight assemblies or deal with intermittent failures.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
JEEP Compass — 20 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Compass vehicles. The brightness level of the instrument panel cluster (IPC) may not be adjustable due to incorrect software in the body control module (BCM). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Veh…
The risk: An IPC display that is not bright enough may not clearly show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the body control module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 29, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Dodge Durango, 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Chrysler Voyager, 2022-2023 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and Ram Promaster vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rear…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the radio software or the software will be OTA, "Over-The-Air," free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 9, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, L…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Compass, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Jeep Grand Wagoneer L, Ram Promaster, Ram Promaster EV, Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid, Chrysler Voyage…
The risk: A rearview camera image that fails to display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Radio software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler'…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500, 1500 Classic and Jeep Compass vehicles. The windshield wiper arm or arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to not operate properly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.
The risk: Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W25.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
JEEP Compass or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
Based on NHTSA data, the Jeep Compass has a much lower complaint rate per year (205) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131). However, the Compass's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like sudden power loss and electrical failures, while the F-150's problems are largely transmission-related. In practice, the Compass may be less reliable overall, but the F-150's transmission issues can be very expensive to fix.
Key differences
- The Compass has a higher rate of engine and electrical failures, including sudden shutdowns, while the F-150's main issue is harsh shifting and transmission failures.
- The F-150 has a much higher total number of complaints and recalls, but that's partly due to its higher sales volume.
- The Compass's electrical problems can affect safety systems like wipers and screens, while the F-150's electrical issues often disable driver-assist features.
- The F-150's powertrain problems are more likely to lead to expensive repairs, whereas the Compass's issues may be more intermittent and harder to diagnose.
- Test drive the Compass and listen for unusual engine noises or hesitation during acceleration, and check that all electrical accessories (screen, wipers, lights) work consistently.
- Ask for service records related to engine stalling or electrical system repairs, as these are common and may indicate recurring problems.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th and 8th gears, for any harshness or delay.
- Check if the dashboard shows any warning messages for camera or pre-collision assist, and verify that all exterior lights function properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Compass's engine and electrical system, and the F-150's transmission and lighting.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic.
- Ask for maintenance records and any documentation of previous repairs.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty to cover potential major failures.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | JEEP Compass | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 24 |
| 2025 | 24 | 329 |
| 2024 | 52 | 617 |
| 2023 | 45 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 220 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 77 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 138 | 33 |
| 2019 | 327 | 36 |
| 2018 | 936 | 56 |
| 2017 | 228 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific JEEP Compass or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Compass vs FORD F 150
- JEEP Compass total complaints
- 2,050
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- JEEP Compass total recalls
- 20
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- JEEP Compass avg complaints/year
- 205.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Compass
- JEEP Compass top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN