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2008 Jeep Compass Fwd

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

29 reports with mileage · 3 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Structure complaints

6 reports
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112,000 miles · Apr 10, 2019
Structure

OUR 2008 JEEP COMPASS HAS A CLUNKING NOISE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE FRONT WHEEL WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING THE WHEEL. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THE SUBFRAME IS HEAVILY CORRODED AND IS RUSTING OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND WAS COVERED UNDER AN 'EXTENDED WARRANTY' BULLETIN THAT WE W…

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OUR 2008 JEEP COMPASS HAS A CLUNKING NOISE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE FRONT WHEEL WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING THE WHEEL. WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THE SUBFRAME IS HEAVILY CORRODED AND IS RUSTING OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND WAS COVERED UNDER AN 'EXTENDED WARRANTY' BULLETIN THAT WE WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT AND NOW THAT HAS EXPIRED AND IT IS NOT COVERED ANYMORE. I WAS TOLD THE BULLETIN EXPIRED 9/2017 SO NOW 1 YEAR AND 7 MONTHS LATER MY VEHICLE WITH ONLY 112K MILES IS GOING TO NEED AN EXPENSIVE FIX OR BASICALLY BE JUNKED. THE 2007 VEHICLES HAD A RECALL AND EVEN THOUGH MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2007 THERE IS NO RECOURSE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11195476

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2018
StructureSuspension

MY FRONT/REAR CROSSMEMBERS ARE RUSTED BADLY AND SWAY BAR RUSTED OFF. I BOUGHT THIS FROM A PRIVATE SELLER IN END OF 2016,I WAS JUST INFORMED FROM MIENIEKE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THAT THERE IS A 10 YEAR RECALL ON THIS. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID RECALL WARRANTY EXP MAY 2018. I WAS NEVER INFORMED IN A TIMELY MANNER ABOUT THE R…

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MY FRONT/REAR CROSSMEMBERS ARE RUSTED BADLY AND SWAY BAR RUSTED OFF. I BOUGHT THIS FROM A PRIVATE SELLER IN END OF 2016,I WAS JUST INFORMED FROM MIENIEKE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THAT THERE IS A 10 YEAR RECALL ON THIS. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID RECALL WARRANTY EXP MAY 2018. I WAS NEVER INFORMED IN A TIMELY MANNER ABOUT THE RECALL TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR FROM MY TWO CHILDREN AND MYSELF. I NEED THIS FIXED,I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR AS I'M DISABLED AND CANT WORK ANYMORE. PLEASE HELP ME. PLEASE THIS ISN'T FAIR I WANT INFORMED ABOUT THIS. I SHOULD'VE GOT THE RECALL AS THE NEW OWNER. MY NAME IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11142855

120,000 miles · Sep 5, 2018
SteeringStructureUnknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING ALONG. HIT MY BRAKES. AND THEN MY DRIVER FRONT WHEEL SCREECHED AND WENT INTO THE WHEEL WELL. AFTER I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP THEY SAID IT WAS A ROTTED OUT SUB FRAME. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS I WOULD HAVE WRECKED AND POSSIBLY NOT BE ALIVE NOW. I WAS LUCKILY ON A BACK ROAD SO THERE WAS NOT ANY …

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I WAS DRIVING ALONG. HIT MY BRAKES. AND THEN MY DRIVER FRONT WHEEL SCREECHED AND WENT INTO THE WHEEL WELL. AFTER I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP THEY SAID IT WAS A ROTTED OUT SUB FRAME. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS I WOULD HAVE WRECKED AND POSSIBLY NOT BE ALIVE NOW. I WAS LUCKILY ON A BACK ROAD SO THERE WAS NOT ANY INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #11124658

111,000 miles · Apr 21, 2016
Structure

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE TO A LOCAL PLACE (NOT DEALER). HE TOLD ME THAT THE CRADLE/K FRAME WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND LOOKED DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, HE RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED THERE AT NO CHARGE TO ME, HE SAID AN 8 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THAT MUCH RUST. I MADE AN APPOIN…

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I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE TO A LOCAL PLACE (NOT DEALER). HE TOLD ME THAT THE CRADLE/K FRAME WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND LOOKED DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, HE RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED THERE AT NO CHARGE TO ME, HE SAID AN 8 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THAT MUCH RUST. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT GANDRUD JEEP (GREEN BAY, WI) TODAY AND THEY CONFIRMED THE CRADLE/K BAR WAS THOROUGHLY RUSTED AND HAD A LARGE CRACK IN IT. THEY TOLD ME THE 2007 JEEP COMPASS HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND JEEP EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS ON THE FRAME SO THIS COULD BE REPAIRED FOR NO CHARGE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT AND THAT I SHOULDN'T. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR TOMORROW TO HAVE IT REPLACED, IT'S GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY $1200 TO REPLACE THAT PIECE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS SITES/BLOGS/COMMENTS ON OWNERS OF THE 2008 JEEP COMPASS HAVING A COMPLETELY ROTTED FRAME AND FRUSTRATION THAT THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MODEL WAS RECALLED/EXTENDED WARRANTY SO IT COULD BE REPLACED. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS FAULTY PIECE THAT THE OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF AND REPLACED. I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, THERE IS CLEARLY SOME ISSUE WITH THE COATING ON THIS PIECE THAT CAUSES IT TO RUST SO QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY. I AM LUCKY THAT THE GUY CHANGING MY OIL MENTIONED IT TO ME, I USUALLY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE BUT THEY'RE OUT OF THE WAY. I ALSO AM CONCERNED THAT EVERY 3-4 MONTHS I GET AN OIL CHANGE AND GANDRUD NEVER MENTIONED IT TO ME, I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY THIS PART RUSTED OR IF THEY NOTICED. PLEASE CONSIDER RECALLING THIS PART, THIS RUSTED BAR COULD CAUSE MANY ISSUES (EVEN FATAL) IF LEFT ALONE. I ALSO TOOK A FEW PICTURES THAT I WILL BE SENDING INTO JEEP.

NHTSA ODI #10860750

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2010
StructureVisibility

I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WATER COMING IN THROUGH THE MAP LIGHT, MY 2008 JEEP COMPASS HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIME'S, THE WHOLE SUN ROOF AND EVERYTHING AROUND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED, I WAS TOLD TOO MUCH INSULATION WAS PUT IN BY THE DOOR AREA. WHO KNOWS THE REAL PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370435

20,000 miles · Sep 30, 2010
Interior LightingStructure

AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, THE MAP LIGHTS BECOME FILLED WITH WATER AND LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358394

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.