2018 Jeep COMPASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
937 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
18,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 477 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 470 of 937 complaints (50.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 255 | 27.2% |
| Braking behavior | 181 | 19.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 133 | 14.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 110 | 11.7% |
| Steering behavior | 59 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 470 |
| Electrical System | 368 |
| Unknown Or Other | 193 |
| Power Train | 150 |
| Exterior Lighting | 63 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 63 |
| Service Brakes | 61 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 |
Engine: 470; Electrical System: 368; Unknown Or Other: 193; Power Train: 150; Exterior Lighting: 63; Fuel/Propulsion System: 63; Service Brakes: 61; Vehicle Speed Control: 32
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 288 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 136 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 288; 25,000 to 49,999: 136; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (288). 460 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 74 |
| 2019 | 185 |
| 2020 | 137 |
| 2021 | 98 |
| 2022 | 116 |
| 2023 | 119 |
| 2024 | 82 |
| 2025 | 61 |
| 2026 | 40 |
2017: 25; 2018: 74; 2019: 185; 2020: 137; 2021: 98; 2022: 116; 2023: 119; 2024: 82; 2025: 61; 2026: 40
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 255 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 181 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 133 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 11053535 · 2017-12-08 (December 8, 2017)
MY FUEL EFFICIENCY (MPG) IS VERY POOR MY VEHICLE, I HAVE 9.4 MPG POWER LOSS AND THE MPG'S SHOWN IN THE OFFICIAL MANUFACTURING WEB PAGE IS EPA EST. MPG 22 CITY/30 HWY. HTTPS://WWW.JEEP.COM/JEEP-CAPABILITIES/FUEL-EFFICIENCY.HTML ADDITIONALLY I AM EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER DURING THE START OF THE DRIVE OR WHEN STARTING AGAIN THE VEHICLE'S PROGRESS AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR AT THE TIME OF REVAMPING A VEHICLE, I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED SHAKING AS IF THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE WERE GOING TO TURN OFF, WITHOUT GOING THROUGH AND THE "CHECK EN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11053535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11073929 · 2018-02-20 (February 20, 2018)
I JUST LEASED A BRAND NEW JEEP COMPASS. AT ABOUT 178 MILES, I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK FOR THE FIRST TIME. AFTER LEAVING THE GAS STATION, MY CAR STALLED ABOUT .2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD WHILE GOING ABOUT 10MPH. THE MESSAGE ON THE DASH STATES TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND THEN INTO THE DESIRED GEAR, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER.FROM THERE, THE ENGINE WOULD START AND I COULD DRIVE, BUT ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SI…
Owner-reported narrative. 178 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11053541 · 2017-12-08 (December 8, 2017)
WHEN I ADJUST THE FORWARD COLLISION PREFERENCES SETTINGS IT SHOW ME "SELECTED" AND I CAN BACK TO THE MAIN MENU AND COME BACK AGAIN TO THIS OPTION TO CHECK AND CONTINUES SELECTED, BUT WHEN THE ECU SLEEPS (TURN OFF THE VEHICLE) AND I TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON AFTER 30 SECONDS THE FORWARD COLLISION PREFERENCES ARE SHOWED SET IN THE DEFAULT VALUES, MY CUSTOM VALUES ARE NOT SAVED, SO IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO TRUST THIS SECURITY FUNCTION. ALSO AT THE TIME OF STARTING THE ADVANCE IN THE MORNING, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD BY THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11053541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11065377 · 2018-01-27 (January 27, 2018)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START - ERROR MESSAGE PARKING BREAK ENGAGED. PUSH GAS PEDAL AND RELEASE BRAKE. THESE OPERATIONS WERE PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL NOT START. IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES AND ATTEMPTS TO FINALLY GET THE VEHICLE TO START. THIS IS NOT SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142254 · 2018-10-23 (October 23, 2018)
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK OR BUMP HARD ENOUGH FOR SEAT BELT TENSION SYSTEM TO JERK YOU INTO THE SEAT. WOULD MOSTLY HAPPEN AT A CONSTANT 30 MPH OR LOWER SUCH AS A SCHOOL ZONE. ALTHOUGH WOULD ALSO HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON ACCELERATION SUCH AS ON RAMP OR PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THIS AND AFTER A TOUCH SCREEN SAFETY UPDATE TO KEEP THE DISPLAY FROM FLASHING FULL BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO PRIVATE ENTRY OF WORK (GATE THAT REQUIRES RFID BADGE) AND SHUT OFF COMPLETELY IN MIDDLE OF THE ROA…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150352 · 2018-11-09 (November 9, 2018)
DAYTON ANDREWS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM, INC. SOLD ME A DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE AND REFUSE TO ABIDE BY LEMON LAW. ON APRIL 21 2018 I PURCHASED A NEW JEEP COMPASS LATITUDE 4X2 SPORT UTILITY WITH 15 MILES ON ODOMETER. AUGUST 2 I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO ENGINE STALLING, INTERMITTENT ENGINE SHUT OFFS, WARNING LIGHTS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON, ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND MULTIPLE LOSS OF PANEL COMMUNICATION FAULTS. AUGUST 6, I WAS TOLD TO PICK UP VEHICLE. UPON ARRIVAL LEAD MECHANIC STATED IT'S A LEMON AND THAT I SHOULD GO LEMON LAW.…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11065534 · 2018-01-28 (January 28, 2018)
IT MAKES A HUMMING NOISE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT'S SHIFTING DOWN. BEEN DOING SINCE I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER ON 01/19/2018. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THE NOISE IS NORMAL . I DISAGREE. I HAVE HAD A SYMBOL TWICE COME UP THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS (A)! . MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT HUMMING NOISE AND WHERE IS IT COMING FROM SHOULD I BE CONCERNED WITH THE TRANSMISSION? IT HAPPENS AROUND 25 AND HIGHER SPEED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11065534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090952 · 2018-04-30 (April 30, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD AND THE MESSAGE "SERVICE HILL ASSIST" CAME ON THE SCREEN. I KEPT DRIVING AND THE MESSAGES "SERVICE ESC" AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" CAME ON THE SCREEN. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THE SCREEN FOR THE RADIO KEPT FLASHING ON AND OFF, AND I COULD NOT TURN THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES AS I WAS TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON, AND I EVENTUALLY GOT THE VEHICLE HOME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY BY JEEP.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,641 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11307521 · 2020-02-06 (February 6, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL TANK WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF FUEL TO BE ADDED.. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER, THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANCIRA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM LOCATED AT 10807 I-10, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78230, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN FUEL TANK COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF F…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,813 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307521 at NHTSA ↗