When I drive the car jerks and often speeds up or slows down on its own, it hesitates and sometimes I am afraid some one will hit me from behind
2018 Jeep Compass
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Compass years
Owner complaints for the 2018 Jeep Compass are substantially higher than the model-year median of 126.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Compass years →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
478 reports with mileage · 463 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.
- Engine. Review the 473 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 375 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
473 reportsI purchased the vehicle on [XXX] from Mall Chevy in Cherry Hill NJ. From the first day, i was getting an intermittent A! warning for the vehicle start/stop function. The vehicle would feel like it is trying to turn off when not active. Finally on [XXX], it stayed on. The entire time i have been trying to get the dealership to fi…
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I purchased the vehicle on [XXX] from Mall Chevy in Cherry Hill NJ. From the first day, i was getting an intermittent A! warning for the vehicle start/stop function. The vehicle would feel like it is trying to turn off when not active. Finally on [XXX], it stayed on. The entire time i have been trying to get the dealership to fix it, they refused to look at it. The transmission keeps slipping, jerking forward and back, wants to take off at a stop. They refuse to acknowledge. I finally took it to Performance Dodge in Woodbury NJ, they determined it was a defective IBS( Intelligent battery sensor). Then a BCM issue was determined and 2 wires had insulation exposed, an OHMED was needed as well as HVAC and DTCM updates. It still needs ABS and TCM module work. The vehicle still feels like it wants to shut off, jerks while accelerating and makes a banging sound INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle loses oil, 2k-3k miles after each oil change a quart or more must be added then the same after each 1,000 miles after.
CAR HAS BEEN STOPPING WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR ROADWAYS. REQUIRES A RESTART IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY AND DOES NOT EVEN MAKE IT TO THE ROADSIDE TO RESTART. UPON BRINGING IT IN TO BE CHECKED, IT HAD 0 BUT NO REPORTED LEAK AND OIL LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON. PURCHASED USED JUST 2 MONTHS AGO AND ONLY DROVE 6K MILES. WAS TOLD TO CHANG…
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CAR HAS BEEN STOPPING WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR ROADWAYS. REQUIRES A RESTART IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY AND DOES NOT EVEN MAKE IT TO THE ROADSIDE TO RESTART. UPON BRINGING IT IN TO BE CHECKED, IT HAD 0 BUT NO REPORTED LEAK AND OIL LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON. PURCHASED USED JUST 2 MONTHS AGO AND ONLY DROVE 6K MILES. WAS TOLD TO CHANGE OIL EVERY 5K MILES BECUASE THIS MODEL CONSUMES EXCESSIVE OIL. I SEARCHED AND FOUND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE HOWEVER MY VIN # DOES NOT SHOW A RECALL.
Coolant light comes on without car actually overheating and car stalls for 2-3 seconds and then comes back on. While driving at higher speeds there is a partial stall and then cuts back on. When going from stoped with brakes and then pushing on gas, car fully stalls including unable to press on brakes and wheel is stiff. Problem…
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Coolant light comes on without car actually overheating and car stalls for 2-3 seconds and then comes back on. While driving at higher speeds there is a partial stall and then cuts back on. When going from stoped with brakes and then pushing on gas, car fully stalls including unable to press on brakes and wheel is stiff. Problem continuously but randomly occurs and has been looked at by 2 different dealerships, oil consumption test is normal, and oil is topped off every 2,000 miles. Significant accident and safety concerns regarding car stalling while driving.
i bought my jeep compass 2018 5 months ago and is a defected car and has been getting into issues and the dealer ship no cooperating at all and car now is parked cuz the TCM denied (transmission control module )also the engine coolant revoir broke suddenly and they made me pay for that when I don't really drive and the car came …
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i bought my jeep compass 2018 5 months ago and is a defected car and has been getting into issues and the dealer ship no cooperating at all and car now is parked cuz the TCM denied (transmission control module )also the engine coolant revoir broke suddenly and they made me pay for that when I don't really drive and the car came like that and I don't know what to do the people at the dealership...... has been so rude to me and am about to loose my job I haven't been able to work and don't have money plus other privileges as two keys I should get when I got the car that I never got them only one ,the hidden the warranty papers etc and I need help. You i want to sue them I've been paying for a defected car they never told me about I had road assistance and I got pay out of pocket they also charged money when didn't have to and they been placed me on where now I'm getting a heart monitor cuz I'm not doing good they have to take their bad car ,pay the bank the debt and pay me back the payments I've been making plus indemnización due the mental and emotional and health damages this has caused on me and all money out of pocket I've pay for stuff in the car (fixing it) when they have told me multiple times the car was on great condition they also got me. Paper saying I bought the car as is and I never signed that paper and none of them are notarized either There's been a lot time where the car has stopped by itself and placed the emergency brake on while I'm with my 1 year old baby,driving on the hwy multiples times does that suddenly and people about to hit me vehicle ,I feel really frustrated I don't have car I've been loosing work, appoiments,errands one of my kids has cevere asthma and can't me walking in this weather help me please,one air bag is bad and keeps giving me a light but I don't know which one it's and they didn't do anything am afraid about something happen to me while am with my kids
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.
Burning through oil! No light on for oil and not to mileage for oil change. Happened to check oil this morning and there was only a tiny bit on stick like hardly any. This is not the only issue with this vehicle.
My car has completely shut off at an intersection/stop light twice. Shuts off while in drive tells me I need to start again. Emergency brake engages. One of the times I had to be towed out of the intersection. I spent $500 replacing both batteries thinking it may be that. A month later (today) car strands me at a stoplight again…
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My car has completely shut off at an intersection/stop light twice. Shuts off while in drive tells me I need to start again. Emergency brake engages. One of the times I had to be towed out of the intersection. I spent $500 replacing both batteries thinking it may be that. A month later (today) car strands me at a stoplight again. Same thing car cuts off and emergency brakes engages. This time after 4 attempts I was finally able to start it to get out of way of traffic’s.
See attached document for complaint
Official recalls
618V523000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Aug 9, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
18V524000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Aug 9, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
18V279000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
May 1, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The front lower control arms may be incorrectly welded, potentially resulting in a control arm separation.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the lower control arm separates, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U42.
17V732000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Nov 21, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The passenger side air bag assembly may have inflator mounting nuts loose within the module assembly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, unsecured inflator mounting nuts outside of the cushion assembly are potential projectiles that may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T73.
17V740000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
Nov 21, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017-2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The brightness of the backlighting for the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) cannot be adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An instrument cluster that is too bright, and cannot be dimmed, can reduce the driver's ability to see at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update IPC software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T70.
17V670000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Oct 24, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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