CSR

Jeep · NHTSA safety record

2018 Jeep Compass

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

931

Complaints

28

Crashes

5

Fires

18

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Jeep Compass have filed 931 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2017 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 467 of them (50%). The typical failure was reported at 18,000 miles, the median across the 475 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

18V524000 · August 9, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 12,779 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

18V523000 · August 9, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 154,335 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

18V279000 · May 1, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
If the lower control arm separates, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 2,761 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

17V740000 · November 21, 2017

The defect
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."
The risk
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.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 25,823 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

17V732000 · November 21, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 27,210 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

17V670000 · October 24, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 357 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 931.

ENGINE 467 50%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 372 40%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 191 21%
POWER TRAIN 151 16%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 64 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 62 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 61 7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 37 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 32 3%
STEERING 28 3%
SUSPENSION 26 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 25 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 185.

2017 2019 2026
2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · fire · crash · towed · 37,000 miles

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END AND FRONT END COLLISION, THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A RED LIGHT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME REAR-ENDED THE JEEP COMPASS AT APPROX 50 MPH PUSHING ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE JEEP COMPASS. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING MYSELF TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint 11267861. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

Drivers side impact at approximately 40mph and side, floor and overhead airbags failed to deploy causing serious injury. Vehicle was parked at a stop sign when full impact occurred. There was 2 children in the rear seats and only a driver in the vehicle. There was none in the front passenger seat and only the airbag in the steering column deployed and the passenger seat airbag deployed. Airbags did not protect the children nor the driver in this impact.

NHTSA complaint 11523243. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

I was hit from behind on the interstate 2 weeks ago. My Jeep Compass was stopped in heavy traffic on the interstate. A large white pickup truck hit my car first going at least 80 mph. He did not see that traffic was stopped. This caused my jeep to roll and come to a stop on the passenger side on the ground and the driver side in the air. My airbags did deploy, but not on impact. They deployed after the jeep came to a stop on it's side. After impact and after rolling. The airbags were not useful after the jeep stopped moving. This needs to be addressed. I was hurt and did go to the ER. I did not have any passengers, thankfully, they may not have survived that. My seatbelt held me in well, it

NHTSA complaint 11562564, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed · 2 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE SWERVED TOWARDS THE CONTACT'S LANE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. AS A RESULT, THE OTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A WHITE SUBSTANCE ENTERED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH, UPPER AND LOWER BACK PAINS, AND SHOULDER AND NECK PAINS. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V523000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION. THE DEALER (MOSS BROTHERS

NHTSA complaint 11131720, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My odometer flashes since buying. Bluetooth connection causing screen to glitch and jump between settings. Screen turns blue and back up camera doesn’t work randomly. Overheating issue came out of nowhere. No check engine lights. The jerking is a hazard while driving. The vehicle has been inspected and repaired by multiple shops. All these issues have been hazardous to me and my family.

NHTSA complaint 11756084. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY

80,400 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, there was a loud booming sound coming from the vehicle. The contact parked and inspected the vehicle and discovered that the liftgate glass window had exploded, causing shards of glass to fall onto the rear seat of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 80,400.

NHTSA complaint 11753731. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS
For at least two months the driver's seat belt buckle intermittently unlatches or won't stay latched in my 2018 Jeep Compass. Because it's a critical safety component, I hope that Jeep may offer a goodwill repair or replacement, especially because the failure is due to a defective buckle.

NHTSA complaint 11751865. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The Stop/Start function malfunctions frequently. On multiple ocassions, the computer system glitches causing the automatic parking brake to engage, the gear shift to lock, and the vehicle to become stuck. This has happened several times while the car was idling at a stop light, causing traffic safety issues each time. There is no warning light or system notification. Regular mechanics are not able to diagnose or fix these issues because of the computer system, requiring a specialist that is not always accessible. There is no notification when the auxillary battery is dead or dying, the car just won't turn on.

NHTSA complaint 11751065. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle has stalled in traffic multiple times, it sends emergency messages while operating that the vehicle must pull off of the road or shut down, it is constantly displaying "service stop/ start system" messages and service lights, it sometimes doesn't start after having gotten to a location but will start up without having the vehicle jump started later, it drains the batteries quickly, as well. I was on the highway with my son in the vehicle, not near any exit and in thick traffic, when it told me to pull off the road or it may shut down. On a separate occasion, I had my family in the car, we stopped for an event and the vehicle randomly didn't restart, stranding us until we could

NHTSA complaint 11748167, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Engine stalled while driving. Battery is fine as all electrical functions remained operative.

NHTSA complaint 11747898. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Jeep Compass

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 52 0
2023 45 2
2022 219 4
2021 76 0
2020 137 1
2019 326 2
2017 228 4
2016 292 1
2015 113 1
2014 306 2
2013 80 1
2012 184 4 1
2011 187 3
2010 71 2

Other 2018 Jeep models

Every Jeep on this site — 104 vehicles, 303 recall campaigns and 7 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst