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U.S. public vehicle records

Jeep COMPASS 4X4 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

218 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

71,045 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2007 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 194 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 71 of 218 complaints (32.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation4018.3%
Fuel system concerns3114.2%
Steering behavior3013.8%
Braking behavior188.3%
Transmission and shifting146.4%
Electrical and battery issues20.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Suspension
71
Steering
45
Fuel/Propulsion System
42
Suspension:Front
27
Structure:Body
21
Engine
13
Power Train
13
Electrical System
12
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension71
Steering45
Fuel/Propulsion System42
Suspension:Front27
Structure:Body21
Engine13
Power Train13
Electrical System12

Suspension: 71; Steering: 45; Fuel/Propulsion System: 42; Suspension:Front: 27; Structure:Body: 21; Engine: 13; Power Train: 13; Electrical System: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
18
25,000 to 49,999
44
50,000 to 74,999
39
75,000 to 99,999
23
100,000 to 149,999
54
150,000 and above
16
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00018
25,000 to 49,99944
50,000 to 74,99939
75,000 to 99,99923
100,000 to 149,99954
150,000 and above16

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 54; 150,000 and above: 16

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (54). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2007
1
2008
2
2009
6
2010
25
2011
35
2012
13
2013
9
2014
11
2015
22
2016
26
2017
22
2018
29
2019
17
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20071
20082
20096
201025
201135
201213
20139
201411
201522
201626
201722
201829
201917

2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 6; 2010: 25; 2011: 35; 2012: 13; 2013: 9; 2014: 11; 2015: 22; 2016: 26; 2017: 22; 2018: 29; 2019: 17

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 40 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 31 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10433803 · 2011-11-01 (November 1, 2011)

AS I WAS ACCELERATING (AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN), THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. I ATTEMPTED TO TRY TO RESTART AND THAT'S WHEN A LIGHTNING BOLT ICON WAS DISPLAYED. I LOOKED IN THE MANUAL AND FOUND OUT THAT THE LIGHTNING BOLT ICON MEANS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, I TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED, HOWEVER I DECIDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER DUE TO GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE ISSUE RECURRING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. ABOU…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433803 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10536159 · 2013-08-19 (August 19, 2013)

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35MPH MY CAR BUCK AND ALMOST STALLED OUT. IT SEEMED LIKE IT LOST A LITTLE POWER AFTER THAT. WHEN I REACHED A STOP SIGN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, I HAD NO POWER AND COULD NOT BREAK 10MPH. MY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOW FLASHING AND THE ESP/TCS LIGHT IS ON STEADY. THE ONLY ERROR CODE I AM GETTING IS FOR THE #1 O2 SEOR BECAUSE I DAMAGED IT TAKING IT OUT TO ELIMINATE A CLOGGED CADTILAC CONVERTER. AT TIMES IT TAKES 3 SECONDS FOR MY CAR TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO START…

Owner-reported narrative. 85,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536159 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10416364 · 2011-07-30 (July 30, 2011)

WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2007 JEEP COMPASS, WHEN THE PUMP SHUT OFF, A LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS REGURGITATED FROM THE FILLER NECK SPILLING ALL OVER ME, THE GROUND AND MY CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10416364 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10418397 · 2011-08-10 (August 10, 2011)

FUEL OVERFLOWS AND SPILLS OUT OF GAS TANK OPENING WHEN FILLING UP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10418397 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10314624 · 2010-02-26 (February 26, 2010)

MY WIFE'S 2007 JEEP COMPASS 4X4 LTD WAS TAKEN TO OUR LOCAL JEEP DEALERSHIP IN EDGEWOOD, MD FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. A MECHANIC ON DUTY NOTIFIED US THAT IN ADDITION TO THE OIL CHANGE, WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT (LOWER) REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS "LOOSE". THE MECHANIC DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS SOMETHING SERIOUS THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY SINCE THE WHEEL COULD FALL OFF IN EXTREME CONDITIONS. LESS EXTREME CONDITIONS WERE DESCRIBED TO US AS LEADING TO A POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE MECHANIC ALSO M…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314624 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10332490 · 2010-05-27 (May 27, 2010)

2007 JEEP COMPASS ISSUES WITH BRAKES PADS, ROTOR SUSPENSION ,TIE RODS,BALL JOINT, STRUTS, SWAYBAR, SWINGBAR FULL FRONT SUSPENSION AND FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 1/20/10 I BROUGHT ME JEEP COMPASS IN BECAUSE OF NOISE FOUND OUT THAT I NEED STRUTS FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS OUTER TIE RODS A WHEEL ALIGNMENT IT CAUSE ME OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS NOW 4 MONTHS LATER I HAVE MORE ISSUES WITH THE CAR SO I BRING IT BACK NOW THEY SAID THAT I NEED BALL JOINT SWAYBAR SWING BAR AND BEARINGS AND THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS ETC THIS IS GOING TO COST ME 1300 NOW THAT …

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10332490 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10219559 · 2008-02-28 (February 28, 2008)

MY NEW JEEP COMPASS HAS A $120 OPTIONAL FULL SIZE SPARE. THE CAR HAS 18" TIRES ON THE GROUND. THE SPARE IS A 17" TIRE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD A FLAT WHEN I CAME OUT OF WORK AT 10:30PM IN SNOW\ICE STORM AND HAD AAA COME AND CHANGE IT. DUE TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS I HAD TO HAVE THE 4WD ENGAGED ALL THE WAY HOME[33MILES]. THE ESP SYSTEM CONTINUALLY APPLIES THE BRAKE ON THE SMALLER TIRE SINCE THE SYSTEM SENSES IT IS SPINNING FASTER. I THINK THIS IS HAZARDOUS TO VEHICLE CONTROL ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE EQUIPPE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10219559 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10295219 · 2009-12-10 (December 10, 2009)

WAS DROPPING DAUGHTER OFF AT THE BUS STOP WHEN FIRST NOTICED THAT SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR WAS DIFFICULT. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR, WAITED AND PUMPED THE CLUTCH AND IT WENT IN. NEXT DAY WAS LEAVING HOME AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT AFTER I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND RETURNED HOME AFTER THE CAR FINALLY WENT INTO GEAR. MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE SLAVE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING PROFUSELY. OUR 2007 JEEP COMPASS 4X4 MANUAL TRANSMISSION ONLY HAD 38,121 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295219 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10296951 · 2009-12-25 (December 25, 2009)

CVT TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING NOISE AND NOT SHIFTING AT 42000 MILES. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT SINCE JEEP/DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE ON CVT TRANSMISSIONS IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO ISSUES WITH JEEP/DODGE A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE BEEN ON BACKORDER FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO WAIT THAT LONG SO I FOUND A LOW MILEAGE TRANSMISSION IN A SALVAGE YARD AND HAD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSTALL IT. BECAUSE I PURCHASED MY JEEP APPROX. 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WAS INIT…

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296951 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10223182 · 2008-04-02 (April 2, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED PLASTIC BURNING AND THEN SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. BEFORE SHE COULD STOP THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS BELIEVED TO BE ELECTRICAL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223182 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10980063 · 2017-04-24 (April 24, 2017)

THE CAR WILL NOT START. GET IN THE CAR, TURN THE KEY, NO SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO CLICKING, NOTHING. THE RADIO WORKS, THE FAN WORKS, THE LIGHTS WORK. HAVE CHECKED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, NONE OF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH JEEPS BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH. HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. DOES NOT PUT OUT A CODE FOR A CODE READER TO SCAN AND REPORT.

Owner-reported narrative. 101,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980063 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2007
1
2008
0
2009
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20071
20080
20090

2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2009: 0

Year-by-year records

Jeep COMPASS 4X4 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20071561Not available
2008470-1
20091500