JeepCompass, Patriot20122.0L/jeep/compass-patriot/2012/2-0l/
MK platform

2012 Jeep Compass, Patriot — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Compass, Patriot 2.0L.

Body SUVEngine 2.0LTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot share Jeep's MK platform as compact SUVs powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder paired with an automatic transmission using variable gear ratios, returning EPA figures of 23 city, 27 highway, and 24 combined mpg while calling for 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 API oil with a filter change. The model year lands in a middling-to-poor stretch of the Compass/Patriot reliability record, with 184 owner complaints led by fuel and propulsion system issues and four recalls — enough to warrant a careful look at service history before considering one.

Model year20172016201520142013201220112010

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/27/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 04892339BE. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 86 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04892339BE
Engine air filter04593914AB
Spark plugSP0ZFR5F11
BatteryBB34A901AA alt BB86F101AA
Front wiper blades68002028AA discontinued · alt 68002029AA
Thermostat68676480AA alt 55111016AC
Cabin air filter05058693AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 27 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-20 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.1 Pints
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter
Power Steering FluidATF +4

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsM8 Bolts: 22 ft-lbs, M6 Bolts: 9 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts155 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs180MM

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug TypeZFR5F-11
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque20 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.31 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)53-63 psi
Injector Primary Resistance11.4-12.6 @ 68 degreesF ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle52 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.040 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in / 0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0024 in / 0.0016 in / 0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.386 in / 1.02 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.402 in / 1.028 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Bolts should be checked for stretching using a straight edge. Ay bolts that show stretching should be replaced. · If your bolt has the short head, use the following torque specifications:

125 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
254 ft. lbs.54 ft. lbs
354 ft. lbs.54 ft. lbs
490 degreesCAUTION:Do not use a torque wrench for the Fourth step.; If your bolt has the long head, use the following torque specifications:; The front two cylinder head bolts require washers to be installed with the beveled edge facing up. Do not reuse old bolts. Lubricate bolts with clean engine oil90 degrees
145 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
245 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
390 degreesCAUTION:Do not use a torque wrench for the Fourth step.90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5122 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Bolts stamped with the letter B or the number 6 use the following torque procedure.

111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20 ft. lbs., Step 3: 45 degrees; Bolts that are not stamped with the letter B or the number 6 use the following torque procedure.11 ft. lbs
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 33 ft. lbs., Step 3: 45 degrees11 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 8,000 mi; spark plugs every 32,000 mi; coolant at 104,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 104,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 8,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 16,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 16,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 24,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 32,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 48,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 64,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 96,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
At 104,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2012 Jeep Compass, Patriot top in one area — the fuel/propulsion system, 25 of 184 reports (14%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 4 recall campaigns target the fuel/propulsion system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 3 of the reports describe a crash and 5 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the fuel/propulsion system pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
147
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
184
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 184 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel/Propulsion System25
Power Train19
Air Bags,Seat Belts15
Unknown Or Other12
Engine11
Air Bags9
Fuel System, Gasoline8
Electrical System7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V668000Seat Belts:PretensionerReported 15/09/2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016…

13V120000Fuel System, GasolineReported 03/04/2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 Jeep Patriot and Compass vehicles manufactured October 18, 2011, through May 7, 2012. Due to an incorrectly manufactured transfer tube, the transfer of… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank transfer tube free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on May 30, 2013. Owners were notified by…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 147 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
U67 Combo Rev112026-06-18EngineEmissions Recall U67 - Catalytic Converter Efficiency - Dealer Notification (Revision 11)
91006452025-08-15Unknown Or OtherVerify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders…
91006532025-08-15Unknown Or OtherVerify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders…
1039542025-04-02Unknown Or OtherACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER
1040872025-04-02Unknown Or OtherACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Compass, Patriot. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Compass, Patriot 2.0L take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Compass, Patriot have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 27 highway / 24 combined mpg.