Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 329 safety complaints
about the 2019 Jeep Compass with the US government. Of those, 13 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering visibility and the hydraulic brakes.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 160 complaints, 49% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 12,000 miles,
the median across the 103
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers February 2019 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
329 complaints on file
329
Complaints
13
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
5
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 160 · 49%
160 49%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 143 · 43%
143 43%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 84 · 26%
84 26%
POWER TRAIN 37 · 11%
37 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 37 · 11%
37 11%
STEERING 19 · 6%
19 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 15 · 5%
15 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 11 · 3%
11 3%
AIR BAGS 10 · 3%
10 3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10 · 3%
10 3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9 · 3%
9 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 8 · 2%
8 2%
065131
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 329.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2023 at 70.
76 57 38 19
192019202020212021222022232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2019 Jeep COMPASS, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
20.6%
20.2%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
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.
The risk
Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 425,599 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
Defect investigations
1 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
False overheat leading to loss of motive power
PE22013
Closed preliminary evaluation · opened December 2, 2022 · closed December 10, 2023
the engine, the engine and its 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.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed
2019 Jeep Compas Sport still under warrenty was involved in a head on collision with an estimated speed of 40 mph. The airbags did not inflate.I was not able to remove my child from vehicle to safety. Sprain of ligaments of cervical and thoracic spine ,Cervicalgia ,Precordial pain ,Thoracic pain. Two months have passed and i still have a problem picking up my 1 year old when Im actualy able to. The seatbealt injury sustaned has undeniably resulted in medical problems aswell as everyday hardship in my physical abilities. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms were noticably present.
NHTSA complaint 11480569. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 9,300 miles
MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT 55 MPH, THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAUSE STARTED BEEPING AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING ME TO CLIP A CAR WHEN I SWERVED. I LATER RECEIVED NOTICED IN MY JEEP APP OF A ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG.*DT*JB*DT*DT*JB*DT*DT*JB*JB CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED. *TR*DT
NHTSA complaint 11323322. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed
I was rear ended at a high rate of speed airbags didn’t deploy
NHTSA complaint 11753535. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
1 injured · crash · 18,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at an unknown speed and approaching a traffic light, she depressed the brake pedal but failed to stop the vehicle, causing the vehicle to rear-end another vehicle. The driver informed before the accident, multiple warnings light were illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained back injuries but did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The driver was able to drive to their residence. The contact took the vehicle to a collision shop and had the exterior of the vehicle repaired and the computer was reset. The vehicle was repaired but the same day they release the …
NHTSA complaint 11495444, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
After making a stop at a stop light the start/stop feature turned the vehicle off. When releasing the break instead of the car restarting, the vehicle stalled and applied the parking break.
NHTSA complaint 11764223. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Jeep randomly said stop/safely vehicle will turn off soon and it quit and left me stranded at 11pm. I have taken it to several shops and no one seems to know how to fix the issue.
NHTSA complaint 11763471. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The central Uconnect infotainment display completely failed, went black, and is entirely inoperable. Because the screen is dead, the rear backup camera fails to display an image when the vehicle is shifted into Reverse. This creates a severe safety hazard, drastically reduces rearward visibility, and places the vehicle in direct violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111 (FMVSS 111) regarding mandated rear visibility.Furthermore, this total hardware failure completely locks out access to all internal vehicle safety, climate, and driving settings that are exclusively controlled via the touchscreen. The system failed prematurely roughly one year after purchase under normal …
NHTSA complaint 11760980, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
When driving it will randomly stall out/shut off in the middle of an intersection or just while driving in general. While also giving a message about the coolant temperature
NHTSA complaint 11757536. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver’s side side-curtain air bag deployed unexpectedly. There was no injury reported. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
NHTSA complaint 11752494. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed April 9, 2020.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst