IllustrationAFTER GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND COMING TO A STOP AT THE LIGHT, I WENT TO TURN AND MY CAR STALLED OUT AS I WAS TURNING. I WAS ON A ONE LANE OVERPASS WITH NO WAY TO PULL OVER. IT WOULDN'T EVEN REGISTER THAT I WAS TRYING TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE FOR A MINUTE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR AND KEEP DRIVING.
2019 Jeep Compass
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Compass years
Owner complaints for the 2019 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
630–25K
2225–50K
1050–75K
375–100K
5100–150K
0150K+
103 reports with mileage · 226 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 160 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 143 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Engine complaints
160 reportsCAR LOSSES ALL ELECTRICAL, WONT START. NOT A BATTERY PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROUTE 46 CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (1655 US-46, LITTLE FALLS, NJ 07424) WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROUTE 46 CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (1655 US-46, LITTLE FALLS, NJ 07424) WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,038.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR WILL NOT CRANK; EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS. LET CAR SIT AND IT FINALLY STARTS. DEALERSHIP SAYS NO CODES SHOW UP. HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED 12/24/19.
I BOUGHT A 2019 JEEP COMPASS LIMITED 5 DAYS AGO ALL SEEMED WELL AT FIRST THEN ON THE FIFTH DAY I WENT ON MY LUNCH BREAK AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. TRIED LOCKING, UNLOCKING, PUSHING THE START BUTTON REPEATEDLY. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES CAR STARTED ON THE WAY TO MY DESTINATION THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT TURN ON AND AFTER A FEW MI…
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I BOUGHT A 2019 JEEP COMPASS LIMITED 5 DAYS AGO ALL SEEMED WELL AT FIRST THEN ON THE FIFTH DAY I WENT ON MY LUNCH BREAK AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. TRIED LOCKING, UNLOCKING, PUSHING THE START BUTTON REPEATEDLY. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES CAR STARTED ON THE WAY TO MY DESTINATION THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT TURN ON AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES FINALLY RESTARTED. AT THE DESTINATION CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT TURN ON AFTER BEING STATIONARY.
UPDATE TO MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT: I LEASED THIS CAR ON JANUARY 12, 2019. IT IS BRAND NEW. THE CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING AGAIN TODAY AND YESTERDAY. I TURNED IT ON THE NORMAL WAY AND IT WAS FINE IN PARK, BUT WHEN I SWITCHED TO DRIVE IT SHUT OFF. THE D STARTED FLASHING (AGAIN) SO I PUT IT BACK IN PARK, AND THE CONSOLE T…
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UPDATE TO MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT: I LEASED THIS CAR ON JANUARY 12, 2019. IT IS BRAND NEW. THE CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING AGAIN TODAY AND YESTERDAY. I TURNED IT ON THE NORMAL WAY AND IT WAS FINE IN PARK, BUT WHEN I SWITCHED TO DRIVE IT SHUT OFF. THE D STARTED FLASHING (AGAIN) SO I PUT IT BACK IN PARK, AND THE CONSOLE TOLD ME TO PRESS THE BRAKE AND PRESS STOP/START, WHICH I DID ATTEMPT BUT THE BRAKE WAS LOCKED AND THIS DID NOT WORK. THE RED LIGHTNING BOLT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BOTH CAME ON. THE RED LIGHTNING BOLT WARNING LIGHT INDICATES A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. IT ALSO STALLED AND WAS HARD TO STEER AS USUAL NOW, THOUGH PUTTING IT IN 4WD MAKES IT A BIT EASIER TO CONTROL. I AM NOW EVEN MORE SCARED TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE AND FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL APART WHILE I'M DRIVING.
WE RECENTLY HAD 3 INSTANCES WHERE OUR BRAND NEW 2019 JEEP COMPASS FAILED TO START. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 WEEKS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES ON IT. WE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON EVEN THOUGH THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. WE SAW ONLINE THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE. …
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WE RECENTLY HAD 3 INSTANCES WHERE OUR BRAND NEW 2019 JEEP COMPASS FAILED TO START. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 WEEKS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES ON IT. WE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON EVEN THOUGH THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. WE SAW ONLINE THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND APPARENTLY THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH "STARTER CONTROL". THEY APPLIED A PCM UPDATE UNDER ITEM TCB 18-035-19. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A FIX, THE DEALERS AREN'T PROACTIVELY RECALLING THESE CARS. THE ELECTRONIC START IS THE ONLY WAY TO START THE VEHICLE (NO OVERRIDE) AND IT COULD CAUSE GRAVE PROBLEMS, DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, IF THE VEHICLE WON'T START. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!
THE JEEP COMPASS IS EQUIPPED WITH A VERY DANGEROUS ESS START/STOP SYSTEM. FIRST YOU MUST DEACTIVATE IT EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE. SECONDLY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, IT FEELS MORE LIKE IT STALLS THAN SHUTS OFF, A SHUDDER GOES THRU THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERS AND DIES. TAKE YOUR FOOT O…
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THE JEEP COMPASS IS EQUIPPED WITH A VERY DANGEROUS ESS START/STOP SYSTEM. FIRST YOU MUST DEACTIVATE IT EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE. SECONDLY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, IT FEELS MORE LIKE IT STALLS THAN SHUTS OFF, A SHUDDER GOES THRU THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERS AND DIES. TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MAYBE IT WILL RESTART THE VEHICLE, MAYBE NOT. MINE SPUTTERED TO LIFE BUT HAD NO POWER, VERY SLOWLY THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED INTO THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL AND QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. (I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO HUNDREDS OF JEEP COMPASS VEHICLES. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN. I WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ESS SYSTEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SYSTEM, AND JEEP SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL IT AND FIX IT, OR GIVE OWNERS A WAY TO PERMANENTLY DEACTIVATE IT WITHOUT HAVING TO UNPLUG THINGS UNDER THE HOOD THAT RESULT IN WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. EXTREMELY POOR AND DANGEROUS DESIGNED ESS SYSTEM. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES TO MAKE THEM FIX THIS!!!! IT AFFECTS ALL 20117.5 - 2019 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE ESS SYSTEM.
THIS IS A RAND NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES. INTERMITTENT STARTING. WILL NOT START CONSISTANTLY. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, NEEDS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE BUT STILL DO NOT HAVE ONE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS YOU CAN PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT THE ENGINE E RUNNING AS THE VEHICLE THINKS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING BUT…
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THIS IS A RAND NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES. INTERMITTENT STARTING. WILL NOT START CONSISTANTLY. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, NEEDS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE BUT STILL DO NOT HAVE ONE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS YOU CAN PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT THE ENGINE E RUNNING AS THE VEHICLE THINKS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING BUT IT IS NOT!. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. STAR CASE S1808000285 NO REPAIR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN 35 TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. LESTER GLENN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (1199 ROUTE 37 W, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08755, (732) 240-8832) WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT HAD BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN 35 TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. LESTER GLENN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (1199 ROUTE 37 W, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08755, (732) 240-8832) WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT HAD BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER MAY BE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL MID MARCH OF 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOANER VEHICLE OPTION WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V524000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 17V670000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 16V907000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE THE GUIDELINES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0.
Official recalls
220V208000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages
Apr 9, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
18V523000 · 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.
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
1PE22013 · False Overheat Leading To Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Dec 2, 2022 · Closed Dec 10, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine; Engine And Engine Cooling
On December 2, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22-013 to investigate allegations of loss of motive power accompanied by high coolant temperature messages on the dashboard of Model Year 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. At the time this investigation was opened, ODI was aware of fifteen Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) for Model Year (MY) 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles alleging a loss of motive power (LOMP) while driving. The LOMP events were often accompanied by a high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high message appearing on the dashboard of the vehicle. In most incidents, the high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high dashboard messages spontaneously self-corrected or were corrected after the vehicle was stopped and restarted. One complainant alleged no immediate restart, and the vehicle was towed. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) was opened to assess the frequency and potential safety consequences of these engine shut down events. On January 19th, 2023, ODI sent an information request letter to Fiat Chrysler US LLC (FCA) requesting pertinent information on the subject 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. FCA provided its full response on March 2nd, 2023. ODI has reviewed the information FCA provided as well as new reports submitted to NHTSA’s Vehicle Owner Questionnaire database. Based on a review of available information, ODI has identified 173 subject vehicles that likely experienced a shutdown event associated with the high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high dashboard messages. ODI found the 2019 Model Year (MY) Jeep Compass as having the highest failure rate while also being the oldest group of vehicles in this investigation. The 2019 Jeep Compass vehicles that experienced a failure represent an incident rate of about 0.09%. The 2020 Jeep compass vehicles that experienced a failure represent an incident rate of about 0.04%. After reviewing the information available at this time, ODI identified one allegation of a crash and no allegations of injury, fire, or fatality. The alleged crash occurred at a stop light and was able to be restarted immediately. In its response to ODI, FCA provided its assessment of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. FCA believes the alleged defect does not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. FCA stated that allegations related to this investigation involve the vehicle notifying the driver of an overheat condition, via a message and telltale lights, followed by an engine shutdown. FCA goes on to say that once the engine shuts down, the driver is instructed via an instrument cluster message to place the vehicle in park. After the vehicle is placed in park, it can then be restarted and immediately driven with no issues. This is consistent with ODI’s observations. Based on the analysis conducted by ODI indicating a low failure rate and given that the vehicles normally can be re-started immediately after the shutdown event, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. NHTSA reserves the right take additional actions if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling
On December 2, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22-013 to investigate allegations of loss of motive power accompanied by high coolant temperature messages on the dashboard of Model Year 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. At the time this investigation was opened, ODI was aware of fifteen Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) for Model Year (MY) 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles alleging a loss of motive power (LOMP) while driving. The LOMP events were often accompanied by a high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high message appearing on the dashboard of the vehicle. In most incidents, the high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high dashboard messages spontaneously self-corrected or were corrected after the vehicle was stopped and restarted. One complainant alleged no immediate restart, and the vehicle was towed. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) was opened to assess the frequency and potential safety consequences of these engine shut down events. On January 19th, 2023, ODI sent an information request letter to Fiat Chrysler US LLC (FCA) requesting pertinent information on the subject 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. FCA provided its full response on March 2nd, 2023. ODI has reviewed the information FCA provided as well as new reports submitted to NHTSA’s Vehicle Owner Questionnaire database. Based on a review of available information, ODI has identified 173 subject vehicles that likely experienced a shutdown event associated with the high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high dashboard messages. ODI found the 2019 Model Year (MY) Jeep Compass as having the highest failure rate while also being the oldest group of vehicles in this investigation. The 2019 Jeep Compass vehicles that experienced a failure represent an incident rate of about 0.09%. The 2020 Jeep compass vehicles that experienced a failure represent an incident rate of about 0.04%. After reviewing the information available at this time, ODI identified one allegation of a crash and no allegations of injury, fire, or fatality. The alleged crash occurred at a stop light and was able to be restarted immediately. In its response to ODI, FCA provided its assessment of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. FCA believes the alleged defect does not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. FCA stated that allegations related to this investigation involve the vehicle notifying the driver of an overheat condition, via a message and telltale lights, followed by an engine shutdown. FCA goes on to say that once the engine shuts down, the driver is instructed via an instrument cluster message to place the vehicle in park. After the vehicle is placed in park, it can then be restarted and immediately driven with no issues. This is consistent with ODI’s observations. Based on the analysis conducted by ODI indicating a low failure rate and given that the vehicles normally can be re-started immediately after the shutdown event, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. NHTSA reserves the right take additional actions if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Engine
On December 2, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22-013 to investigate allegations of loss of motive power accompanied by high coolant temperature messages on the dashboard of Model Year 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. At the time this investigation was opened, ODI was aware of fifteen Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) for Model Year (MY) 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles alleging a loss of motive power (LOMP) while driving. The LOMP events were often accompanied by a high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high message appearing on the dashboard of the vehicle. In most incidents, the high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high dashboard messages spontaneously self-corrected or were corrected after the vehicle was stopped and restarted. One complainant alleged no immediate restart, and the vehicle was towed. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) was opened to assess the frequency and potential safety consequences of these engine shut down events. On January 19th, 2023, ODI sent an information request letter to Fiat Chrysler US LLC (FCA) requesting pertinent information on the subject 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles. FCA provided its full response on March 2nd, 2023. ODI has reviewed the information FCA provided as well as new reports submitted to NHTSA’s Vehicle Owner Questionnaire database. Based on a review of available information, ODI has identified 173 subject vehicles that likely experienced a shutdown event associated with the high coolant temperature or coolant temperature too high dashboard messages. ODI found the 2019 Model Year (MY) Jeep Compass as having the highest failure rate while also being the oldest group of vehicles in this investigation. The 2019 Jeep Compass vehicles that experienced a failure represent an incident rate of about 0.09%. The 2020 Jeep compass vehicles that experienced a failure represent an incident rate of about 0.04%. After reviewing the information available at this time, ODI identified one allegation of a crash and no allegations of injury, fire, or fatality. The alleged crash occurred at a stop light and was able to be restarted immediately. In its response to ODI, FCA provided its assessment of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. FCA believes the alleged defect does not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. FCA stated that allegations related to this investigation involve the vehicle notifying the driver of an overheat condition, via a message and telltale lights, followed by an engine shutdown. FCA goes on to say that once the engine shuts down, the driver is instructed via an instrument cluster message to place the vehicle in park. After the vehicle is placed in park, it can then be restarted and immediately driven with no issues. This is consistent with ODI’s observations. Based on the analysis conducted by ODI indicating a low failure rate and given that the vehicles normally can be re-started immediately after the shutdown event, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. NHTSA reserves the right take additional actions if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.