2008 Jeep COMPASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
93 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
95,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 74 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 93 complaints (26.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 10.8% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 9.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 7.5% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 25 |
| Structure:Body | 20 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 5 |
Suspension: 25; Structure:Body: 20; Engine: 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Power Train: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12; Steering: 9; Structure:Frame And Members: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 24 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 19 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 9; 2015: 15; 2016: 23; 2017: 11; 2018: 9; 2019: 15; 2020: 6; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 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 10565344 · 2014-02-21 (February 21, 2014)
CVT TRANSMISSION CAUSING WHINE UPON ACCELERATION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 70K MILES. WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT 70K MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584321 · 2014-04-22 (April 22, 2014)
HAD TO HAVE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED IN DEC 2013. WHEEL BEARING REPLACED JAN 2014 AND NOW AM TOLD NEED NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10625838 · 2014-08-17 (August 17, 2014)
DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. JUNE 18,2014 DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. JULY 10,2014 DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. JULY 29,2014 DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. AUGUST 6,2014 DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. AUGUST 16,2014. THIS IS THE LAST STRAW!!! I WAS ON A FOUR LANE AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. EVERYONE WAS PUTTING ON BREAKS AND HONKING THEIR HORNS AT ME. I HIT THE EMERGENCY FLASHER FAST HAVING GETTING TO KNOW WHERE IT WAS FROM THE OTHER TIMES I STALLED OUT OF THE BLUE! IT IS A WONDER I WASN'T KILLED. WHAT IS WRONG WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 241,748 miles reported. Look up ODI 10625838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854472 · 2016-04-08 (April 8, 2016)
SO THIS AMONG OTHER ISSUES START LATE LAST YEAR WITH OUR 2008 COMPASS. WAS SITTING AT STOP LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT. JEEP STARTED RIGHT UP AND WAS FINE THE REST OF THE DAY. MY WIFE DRIVES IT MORE THEN I DO AND SHE SAYS IT STUTTERS QUITE FREQUENTLY AND OFTEN TRIES TO STALL OUT. MOST RECENTLY, IT STALLED OUT DROPPING THE KIDS OFF IN THE DROP OFF LINE. THIS TIME IT TOOK 1-2 MINUTES TO RE START. NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING, NOTHING. TOOK IT TO A JEEP DEALERSHIP THAT DAY FOR THEM TO TAKE IT A LOOK AT IT. BUT OF COURSE LIKE MANY CONSUME…
Owner-reported narrative. 119,245 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874314 · 2016-06-15 (June 15, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPEWED OUT OF THE REFUELING ENTRANCE HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE WAS FAULTY AND THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10928895 · 2016-11-30 (November 30, 2016)
I GOT MY 08 COMPASS IN 2014, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF RUSTING, BOLTS, ARM BEARINGS ETC...I HAVE FOR PAST 2 MONTHS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL MY GAS TANK AS IT ONLY TAKES ABOUT .20 CENTS AT A TIME. TRIED 4 DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS. MY MECHANIC HAS TRIED ALL VACUMM SEALS, PUMPS, HOSES,VENTS, VAPOR CANISTER, VAPOR PURGE SOLNOID,AND CHECKING EVERYTHING FROM A TO B. SAID ONLY THING IT COULD BE WAS GAS TANK. WENT ONLINE AND GOOGLED FUELING ISSUES WITH JEEP COMPAS, THOUSANDS....AND THIS ISNT A PROBLEM FOR CHRYSLER. IF JEEPKNOWS ABOUT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10562344 · 2014-01-31 (January 31, 2014)
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LITE COMES ON RANDOMLY WHEN STARTING OR DRIVING LOCKS THE CAR IN LIMP MODE THEN ABS LITE COMES ON AND THE CAR SHAKES TILL YOU STOP AND TURN IT OFF. WHEN THE CAR IS IN LIMP MODE YOU CAN ONLY GET THE RPM'S UP TO 2000. CAR WENT FROM 60MPH TO 30 MPH IN ABOUT 100 YARDS ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED THE JEEP FOUR MONTHS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10594871 · 2014-05-29 (May 29, 2014)
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL, TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INCORRECTLY (STUCK IN WRONG GEAR), AND MELT ELECTRICAL WIRES INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRST SYMPTOM WAS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THIS CAN BE OVERRIDDEN WITH A RELEASE SWITCH. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, THE BRAKES LIGHT FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED AS WELL AS CAUSING EXTREMELY POOR PERFORMANCE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, WHICH CAUSED SPEED AND CONTROL IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,155 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10749524 · 2015-08-18 (August 18, 2015)
I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED A MUFFLED HUMMING NOISE, LOCATED IT UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS COMING FROM THE T.I.P.M. THEN MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP, INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, DOOR LOCKS AND SECURITY SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, A/C STOPPED COOLING, WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS STOPPED. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, AND THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF WORKED. I TRIED TO LEAVE QUICKLY TO GO HOME, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T COME OUT OF PARK BECAUSE APPARENTLY THAT IS ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED ALSO. I LOOKED UP …
Owner-reported narrative. 85,490 miles reported. Look up ODI 10749524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10822412 · 2016-01-26 (January 26, 2016)
THE K FRAME IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE. OUR MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE THIS, BUT STATES THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT HE CAN PUSH A SCREWDRIVER THROUGH WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. IT NEEDS REPLACED. WE CONTACTED OUR DEALER, AND WERE TOLD THAT ONLY THE 2007 MODELS ARE COVERED BY A SAFETY RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10846368 · 2016-03-14 (March 14, 2016)
CAR DROVE FINE. WENT TO WORK FOR 8 HOURS. CAME OUT AND THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER. STILL NOTHING. CALLED A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE WIRELESS CONTROL MODULAR. AFTER REACHING IN THE INTERNET LOOKS LIKE MANY 2008 JEEP COMPASS' HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10846368 at NHTSA ↗