10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,585 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #284

Nov 072023

Compass

  • miles
The driver side headlight went out approximately 8 months after purchasing the vehicle used which was out of the 6 months that the dealer had a warranty. I have replaced the headlight and ballast and it is still not working properly. I have checked and confirmed voltage by testing the driver side against the passenger side which does work and all voltages match going into the rear plug of the headlight assembly. Looking on forums, I am not the only individual with this problem and the dealership wants to charge $170 dollars to run a diagnostic. This problem is certainly not due to lack of preventative maintenance, this appears to be a defect in the vehicle itself.

- Oakmont, PA, USA

problem #283

Feb 282024

Compass

  • miles
While driving I often get an oil warning light and have had my engine system entirely and randomly shut down while driving. I have the oil changed regularly and serviced regularly and still have this problem. The entire system shuts down while driving and I-??m left unable to move. It-??s incredibly dangerous!

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #282

Feb 132024

Compass

  • miles
My Radio has formed a bubble in it which is causing it to glitch and my backup camera to malfunction when driving and backing up I hit my fence because my radio glitched and keep having to replace the auxiliary battery in my jeep it-??s been replaced several times

- Taylor, MI, USA

problem #281

Jan 272024

Compass

  • miles
With absolutely zero prior indication of a problem, the car became completely immobilized in drive while attempting to turn after being stopped at a traffic light on a busy four lane road. Every imaginable code was cycling through on the dash and all warning code lights came on. I was unable to shift the car into any gear. Meaning, I could not shift into neutral to push the car safely out of the way of traffic. Additionally the car could not be turned off. I could not roll down the windows and the touchscreen was inoperable. After approximately 6-8 minutes I was able to shift into neutral to push the car to a safer area. The same immobilization issue happened 3 days later after the battery and alternator were replaced. This time, I put the car in reverse and it became immobilized in exactly the same way. The car turned itself off after approximately 10 minutes and was towed to the dealership where it has been for 30 days. The dealership scanned the codes on the car and the result was 300+ error codes. The dealer cannot diagnose the problem but they have been able to replicate the issue. The car is well maintained and there were no warning messages or other symptoms of any problem prior to the first incident January 27, 2024. The car remains at the dealer and it is available for inspection.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #280

Feb 232024

Compass

  • miles
Multiple times now while driving the vehicles emergency park comes on by its self. The vehicle stops and turns off while in the middle of the road. Other vehicles have had to quickly stop and go around. Recently the engine light has appeared. It happens 1-3 times while driving. Mainly while turning a corner.

- Bedford, OH, USA

problem #279

Jun 102023

Compass

  • miles
Sway bar links are unsafe. Electrical system makfunctions after idling vehicle and at other random times, causing vehicle warning lights to illuminate abd vehicle won't function properly. Vehicle loses oil, 2,000 miles after each oil change a quart or more must be added then the same after each 1,000 miles after.

- Allison Park , PA, USA

problem #278

Feb 102024

Compass

  • miles
Car randomly shuts off while driving regardless of speed

- Tyrone, PA, USA

problem #277

Jan 312024

Compass

  • miles
I leased a 2018 jeep compass in the month of September that year brand new. light kept appearing on my dash that I was not familiar with. Basically it had to do with parking on a hill indicator, the radio wouldn-??t always work either, and a loud boom on Highway. However we parked the car on flat grounds at all times. That was the beginning of the malfunctioning with this vehicle. I had just got an oil change end of 2019, one day driving in an alley area with my 2year old daughter, my car literally shut off on me while driving at speeds of 10 mph. Everything shut off. Fortunately I was able to turn it back on and the next day took it to the dealership. The result was I needed a brand new engine. WHAT, it-??s a little over a year old how can this be? The oil was gone all cylinders were shot, not sure what that meant but a month without my car I received it back with a new refurbished engine. Fortunately all was covered under the manufacturer warranty. Thought the problems were solved. Nope it constantly has malfunctions with the radio, reverse camera doesn-??t always work, a loud bang happens when I-??m on the highway at the highway speed, let my foot off the accelerator and a loud bang happens. On [XXX], in the middle of an intersection my foot was on the brake and the on/off engine thing went off. Then I proceeded to accelerate and the car shut off. This time all the lights were on inside the dash area but my brake locked up so hard and the steering wheel along with the windows wouldn-??t work. I placed the car in park and the e brake and for 15 minutes tried turning it back on. It was terrifying, it turned on and brought it to the dealership and explained the situation. It-??s currently there now and at the moment they say it-??s the battery. I DO NOT feel safe in this car being that I always have my children in the car all the time. An investigation needs to be seriously opened with these vehicles. I-??ve been paying for a car that has potentially risked my families life. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

- West Covina, CA, USA

problem #276

Jan 162024

Compass

  • miles
I have spent over $2500 on my HID headlights. They keep blowing I have replaced the headlight assembly along with bulbs many times. From what I can read it is an ongoing problem with this model. Also my lane departure system goes from side to side does not keep my jeep centered in the lane.

- North Dinwiddie, VA, USA

problem #275

Jan 152024

Compass

  • miles
Driving at freeway speed, the engine dies. Steering wheel locks up and I coast to a stop. Very dangerous. After 10-15 minutes, Jeep will start and drive an unknown amount of time and same thing will happen. I took to a local garage because it is out of warranty. The shop manager said there is no engine code or direction for them to determine what is wrong. Internet search shows this is a huge problem with 2017-2019 Jeep Compass. However apparently not enough people know they can file a report with NHTSA or there would be a gigantic number more complaints than there are. Someone will die in a crash because of this well known issue. Hopefully something will be done before its too late. Batteries replaced, car serviced, and still continues to happen. Has happened around 5 times in last 2 weeks. An issue all over the internet and clearly a fault in manufacturing.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #274

Dec 302023

Compass

  • miles
I was getting my car serviced, I was getting a State inspection the mechanic told me they could not inspect the vehicle due to the fact that a headlight was not working.. they tried replacing the headlight it still did not work.. I had to leave without getting my vehicle inspected!! I was going to try to take it to the dealer to try and get it fixed.. I checked on line and found several other Jeep owners of this make and model also 2018 Jeep Compass had electrical problems involving the headlights.. at times I would turn vehicle on and both lights would be on. On other times only one headlight would be working. Some times if I would cycle thru the switch both lights would come on, other times not.. This is unsafe driving around with one headlight and not knowing when it will happen.I have spoken to both dealerships in the area, and they are no help.. they want me to bring vehicle in to troubleshoot the problem openended I do not have the money for this and Since it is happening to other people with this particular year and make vehicle I think it is a problem that should be looked into..by Jeep! This just started on my vehicle when the mileage reached approximately 32,000 miles I have owned this vehicle since 2019. Thanks for any help available..

- Richford, VT, USA

problem #273

Nov 012023

Compass

  • miles
Jeep Compass shut off without warning at highway speeds, in the middle of highway route 1 while I was going 50 miles per hour. State police had to stay while I got car towed out of road hazards way. When this has happened, the vehicle was no longer able to accelerate, and the power steering did not work. Loss of power steering made the vehicle difficult to steer off the roadway to safety.

- Ruther Glen, VA, USA

problem #272

Jan 092024

Compass

  • miles
In middle of driving, the vehicle suddenly shifts out of gear and won-??t accelerate, multiple warning lights appear in dash all at the same time and car at times the vehicle won-??t even turn off

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #271

Nov 132023

Compass

  • miles
Head lights not working.

- Waukegan , IL, USA

problem #270

Jan 022024

Compass

  • miles
When the vehicle halts at a red light or stop sign, it activates the auto stop/start feature, causing the engine to shut off. However, when I release the brake to accelerate, the car might briefly restart and then stalls. This has happened several times.

- Williamstown, NJ, USA

problem #269

Jul 012023

Compass

  • 21,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the 4-WD, ABS, Hill Assist, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the differential malfunctioned due to a tightening and then releasing that occurred while attempting to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed and determined that the rear ABS sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and then confirmed that parts were not available nor longer in production. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000.

- Hurley, VA, USA

problem #268

Apr 262023

Compass

  • miles
High Coolant Temperature Message appears on the dash and engine shuts off regardless of speed. Happens very often

- Westminster, CO, USA

problem #267

Nov 142023

Compass

  • miles
Car struggles to start, Dashboard shows coolant temperature high then does not start. Usually it will start again once battery is jumped. It has happened 3 times since August 2023. Unsafe because it happens unpredictability and has left me stranded with a child in the car. It cannot be reproduced because it cannot be predicted. It has happened in different weather each time and at different times of the day.

- Lubbo, TX, USA

problem #266

Nov 022023

Compass

  • miles
My car stalled as I was about to turn after stopped at a red light. I tried to restart it several times and then I looked down and noticed the emergency brake light was on. I turned it off, tried starting it again and then it seemed fine. Later as I was mid turn going left through an intersection the car partially stalled where I could not finish my acceleration through the intersection ( it was still on but I could not accelerate however I was able to get it to sort of drift to the side of the road where it then stalled completely). Thankfully there were no vehicles headed through the intersection as I was trying to get out of the way. When I looked down the emergency brake light was on again. I did not receive any warning lights prior to this happening. I currently have it in the shop to have the issue looked at but I have had numerous issues with this vehicle since I bought it. Previous issues were not as scary as this one.

- Vernon Hills, IL, USA

problem #265

Oct 292023

Compass

  • miles
After 40,000 miles on the vehicle The stereo screen went black. By doing so, the backup camera does not work enabling us to see what is behind the vehicle.

- Windsor, CO, USA

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