NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
329 reportsMileage unknown · Apr 26, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance
The vehicle flashes that it is overheating and then shuts off, no matter what speed the vehicle is at. You then have to pull over and restart the vehicle. It is a very dangerous situation and I’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of similar stories online with the 2018-2022 jeep compasses. This issue needs to be resolved and Je…
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The vehicle flashes that it is overheating and then shuts off, no matter what speed the vehicle is at. You then have to pull over and restart the vehicle. It is a very dangerous situation and I’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of similar stories online with the 2018-2022 jeep compasses. This issue needs to be resolved and Jeep needs to recall these vehicles before someone is seriously hurt.
NHTSA ODI #11519171
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2023
Unknown Or Other
Purchased vehical from a Spitzer CJDR dealership February of 2022. 4 months later returned to The dealership with a strong syrupy coolant smell coming from the hood. Was told by the dealership they could not find any issues. Returned back to the dealership multiple times complaining about the smell. Dealership replaced coolant c…
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Purchased vehical from a Spitzer CJDR dealership February of 2022. 4 months later returned to The dealership with a strong syrupy coolant smell coming from the hood. Was told by the dealership they could not find any issues. Returned back to the dealership multiple times complaining about the smell. Dealership replaced coolant cap and reservoir stated they still couldn't find a leak or why it smelled. Vehicle is not overheating. This past Thursday, I was driving and the vehicle shut off as I was pulling into oncoming traffic, almost causing a major accident. Dash light illuminated: "engine coolant temp. too hot" and the car would not start. I had the vehical towed by my insurance company to the dealership, as it still would not start. After dealership having the vehicle for almost a week, with no update, I called them. My Advisor states they cannot find an issue an not showing any codes.
NHTSA ODI #11517934
Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2023
Electrical SystemEngine
The vehicle just shuts off while driving. Typically occurs while approaching a stop or slowing in speed. This puts our safety at risk at it typically happens at an intersection where other cars are crossing or waiting to cross. This vehicle is available for inspection upon request and has not been looked at by a dealer. The auto…
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The vehicle just shuts off while driving. Typically occurs while approaching a stop or slowing in speed. This puts our safety at risk at it typically happens at an intersection where other cars are crossing or waiting to cross. This vehicle is available for inspection upon request and has not been looked at by a dealer. The auto start stop function warning light has been coming on when this happens.
NHTSA ODI #11517283
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2023
Unknown Or Other
While I am driving or waiting for a light to change a message on dashboard states the vehicle is coolant temperature too high, which is a false over heating warning. Then the car will either stall/shutoff and has rolled back while my foot is on the brake. I would have to put it on park and restart vehicle. This has happened whil…
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While I am driving or waiting for a light to change a message on dashboard states the vehicle is coolant temperature too high, which is a false over heating warning. Then the car will either stall/shutoff and has rolled back while my foot is on the brake. I would have to put it on park and restart vehicle. This has happened while my kids are in the car. I have taken it to 2 different auto repairs and nothing show up in there scanner.
NHTSA ODI #11517230
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2023
Unknown Or Other
Car signals overheating warning then engine ceases and will not let me drive. After 10-20secs engine goes back to regular temperature and I can then continue driving fine. Last time it overheated I was stuck at a traffic light and my car turned the e brake on by itself. I had to turn on my emergency lights, turn e brake off then…
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Car signals overheating warning then engine ceases and will not let me drive. After 10-20secs engine goes back to regular temperature and I can then continue driving fine. Last time it overheated I was stuck at a traffic light and my car turned the e brake on by itself. I had to turn on my emergency lights, turn e brake off then put the car in park. I then turned my car off and once I restarted it the temperature was back to normal and I was able to drive it to work fine. I am extremely scared about this as it is a safety hazard.
NHTSA ODI #11517182
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash
On my way to work my 2019 Jeep compass all of a sudden started flashing all these error messages while I was driving (check shifter, service transmission, service ESC, AWD warnings, check coolant, car shutting down) my car seemed to be stuck in 1st gear, and my parking brake came on. While panicking trying to get off the road, I…
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On my way to work my 2019 Jeep compass all of a sudden started flashing all these error messages while I was driving (check shifter, service transmission, service ESC, AWD warnings, check coolant, car shutting down) my car seemed to be stuck in 1st gear, and my parking brake came on. While panicking trying to get off the road, I turn left but my car is going so slow a truck comes over the hill and slams into my passenger side. I've had my car less than 2 years and it did this exact same thing a few days after I bought it , I took it back to the dealership I bought it from, but they couldn't replicate the issue, the car corrected itself and was fine until April 6 when it started again while I was driving and caused me to be in an accident. This has been very traumatic, I've never been in a automobile accident, and I feel like it's all because of my car wouldn't accelerate so I could get off the road safely
NHTSA ODI #11516138
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2023
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
Coolant overheating error message then Jeep stalls/shuts off while driving. Has happened multiple times. First time at a stoplight. Another incident occurred backing out of a driveway. A third time happened while driving on the highway going 75mph was able to power through and not shut off by pressing the accelerator. Another t…
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Coolant overheating error message then Jeep stalls/shuts off while driving. Has happened multiple times. First time at a stoplight. Another incident occurred backing out of a driveway. A third time happened while driving on the highway going 75mph was able to power through and not shut off by pressing the accelerator. Another time happened while turning off the exit ramp from highway, again was able to push through the system by pressing the accelerator. Note-the coolant temperature is not actually overheating. If the Jeep turns off the coolant temperature goes back to normal, this is also the case if it stalls but doesn’t shut off. No mechanic has been able to diagnose why this is happening.
NHTSA ODI #11515889
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2023
Unknown Or Other
I have taken my 2019 Jeep Compass into the dealership because my vehicle completely STOPS, SHUTS OFF and STOPS MOVING when I am driving the vehicle or coming to a stop without any warnings or alerts. The gas peddles will lock up will not move forward or back. Although the vehicle is "on" the vehicle will not move unless the ge…
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I have taken my 2019 Jeep Compass into the dealership because my vehicle completely STOPS, SHUTS OFF and STOPS MOVING when I am driving the vehicle or coming to a stop without any warnings or alerts. The gas peddles will lock up will not move forward or back. Although the vehicle is "on" the vehicle will not move unless the gear is switched back to park and restarted. This has occurred on multiple occasions while my vehicle is on the road and I have brought my vehicle into the closest authorized Jeep Service Station with no resolution other than oil consumption tests. This keeps occurring and this is unsafe for me and others on the road.
NHTSA ODI #11515148
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
Engine shut down in an intersection due to “high coolant temperature” This was a false error and almost caused me to get into an accident. Once I could get power back, I moved over the the side of the road and inspected my coolant further. There were no leaks and reservoir had adequate pressure and fluid. Coolant temps read reg…
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Engine shut down in an intersection due to “high coolant temperature” This was a false error and almost caused me to get into an accident. Once I could get power back, I moved over the the side of the road and inspected my coolant further. There were no leaks and reservoir had adequate pressure and fluid. Coolant temps read regular. I continued to drive to work while monitoring the digital coolant temps. The temperature fluctuated between 192 and 198. I reached my destination safely, but following this event, I do not feel this vehicle is safe to drive. Vehicle is up to date on maintenance and has 34k on the odometer
NHTSA ODI #11514479
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineService BrakesCrash
We were stopped at a traffic light, began to move when the driver instrument display went red, said coolant was high, the car stalled, and we were hit from behind by another SUV. After we were able to restart it, the display returned to normal. We waited for the police to arrive, got an accident report and now the car is at the …
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We were stopped at a traffic light, began to move when the driver instrument display went red, said coolant was high, the car stalled, and we were hit from behind by another SUV. After we were able to restart it, the display returned to normal. We waited for the police to arrive, got an accident report and now the car is at the dealer. Also, before that the radio display was acting up with lines in i like a bad television then it would shut off. The dealer says it needs a new radio (on a 4-year-old Jeep), and they want to apply updates that SHOULD fix the issue.
NHTSA ODI #11514066
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.
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