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 113 complaints per year with 20 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 has more power train and electrical issues, including lead frame failures. 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 is a compact SUV that, based on NHTSA data, has averaged 113 complaints per year over the last decade, with 20 recalls. Electrical and engine issues dominate owner reports, often involving vibrations, hesitation, and sudden power loss. While it has fewer complaints than the Ford F-150, the rate of problems per vehicle may still concern buyers seeking a trouble-free experience.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that has generated 11,621 complaints over 10 years—an average of 1,162 per year—along with 151 recalls. Power train and electrical problems are frequently reported, including transmission limp mode and lead frame failures. The sheer volume of complaints suggests that many owners experience significant reliability issues, though the truck remains popular for its capability.
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 | 1,130 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 55 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 23 Better | 297 |
| 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
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM476
- 02ENGINE381
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER258
- 04POWER TRAIN148
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE109
Owners report intermittent roaring noises, vibrations, and hesitation under acceleration, as well as sudden power loss while driving. These electrical gremlins can leave a driver stranded and are often difficult to diagnose.
Complaints include hesitation, vibration, and intermittent roaring noises that may be linked to engine or drivetrain components. Such issues can affect drivability and may require costly repairs.
The Power Take-Off Unit (PTU) has failed suddenly at highway speeds, according to one owner, posing a serious safety risk. Another owner noted lane departure and automatic emergency braking features that work only randomly.
Owners report that safety features like lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking may not function consistently. This unreliability could reduce driver confidence in the system's ability to prevent a crash.
“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…”
“To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding my 2021 Jeep Compass, particularly concerning recurring mechanical, electrical, and safety-related problems that have created serious concerns about the vehicle's reliability and sa…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
A recurring lead frame issue has caused sudden transmission failure and limp mode, with one owner describing a near-collision. Another owner reported the truck getting stuck in 5th gear almost daily, requiring dealer intervention.
The same lead frame defect can cause electrical symptoms, and one owner reported a rear window defroster short that led to the back window shattering. Such failures can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
A rear window defroster short caused the back window to explode outward, according to one complaint. This unexpected failure could injure occupants or cause a crash if it happens while driving.
Although not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting is a top complaint category, suggesting owners frequently report lighting malfunctions. These can affect visibility and safety, especially at night.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
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 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.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Compass vehicles. The front seat head restraints were not welded properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
The risk: Improperly welded head restraints can result in an increased risk of injury to seat occupants during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both front seat head restraints, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z36.
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
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 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
JEEP Compass or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Jeep Compass has far fewer complaints per year (113 vs. 1,162 for the Ford F-150), but both vehicles have notable electrical and power train issues. In practice, the Compass may be less likely to overwhelm an owner with problems, while the F-150's higher complaint volume reflects more frequent and sometimes severe failures.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 10 times as many complaints per year as the Jeep Compass (1,162 vs. 113), indicating a much higher reported problem rate.
- Power train complaints dominate the F-150, especially lead frame and transmission limp mode issues, while the Compass's top complaint is electrical system problems.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 20 for the Compass, suggesting more widespread safety-related defects.
- The Compass has 0 deaths reported in the data, while the F-150 has 1 death, though crash-related complaints are also much higher for the F-150 (330 vs. 55).
- During a test drive, listen for intermittent roaring noises or feel for vibration and hesitation under acceleration, as owners report these symptoms.
- Check that all electrical features work consistently, including the instrument cluster, backup camera, and safety systems like lane departure warning, which some owners say fail randomly.
- Test the transmission for shuddering, delayed engagement, or sudden limp mode; the lead frame issue is a known defect that can cause loss of power.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting or damage, as one owner reported the window shattering after use.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the F-150's lead frame and the Compass's electrical system.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission (F-150) and electrical/engine (Compass) components.
- During the test drive, deliberately test all safety features (lane departure, automatic emergency braking, backup camera) for proper operation.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and check for any recurring repairs related to the top complaint areas.
- Verify that the vehicle's software is up to date, as some issues may be addressed by dealer updates.
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 | 5 | 35 |
| 2025 | 26 | 345 |
| 2024 | 52 | 638 |
| 2023 | 46 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 222 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 80 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 141 | 44 |
| 2019 | 329 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 229 | 59 |
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
- 1,130
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- JEEP Compass total recalls
- 20
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- JEEP Compass avg complaints/year
- 113.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Compass
- JEEP Compass top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN