2021 Jeep COMPASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
79 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 79 complaints (41.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 20.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 16.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 10.1% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Unknown Or Other | 28 |
| Engine | 18 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
Electrical System: 33; Unknown Or Other: 28; Engine: 18; Power Train: 8; Steering: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Exterior Lighting: 4
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 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 67 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 15 |
2020: 1; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 18; 2024: 17; 2025: 18; 2026: 15
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 11408037 · 2021-04-14 (April 14, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A SIDE BARRIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED A MONTH PRIOR AND WAS RELATING THE CRASH TO THE TIRES BALDING. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO STEVE LANDERS TOYOTA (10825 COLONEL GLENN RD, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72204). THE VEHICLE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11465353 · 2022-05-19 (May 19, 2022)
My 2021 jeep Compass transmission and front camera has been causing me problems. My car for months has been jumping out of gear and jerking forward. The jerk get to a point where it feels as if someone just hit me from behind. These jerks almost caused me to get into about 3 accidents where I almost hit the person in front of me. In addition one time when I was at a red light and switched from brakes to gas as I was in drive my car did not go forward but reversed instead. My car has been in the shop for over 150 days with 7 different service or…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11465353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11439717 · 2021-11-08 (November 8, 2021)
On Friday, November 5th I was driving my 2021 Jeep Compass when it suddenly stopped in the middle of the road and the message came on 'vehicle not in park' and 'key fib not found.' I pulled into a shopping complex and called the dealer Napleton Chrysler in Clermont, FL and was advised to call Chrysler Roadside Assistant. I called and a tow truck came and took the vehicle to the dealership. On 11/06 Greg serviced my vehicle and he said that the battery was faulty and he changed it and he also changed a part in the glove compartment. I asked …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11439717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11556152 · 2023-11-20 (November 20, 2023)
Just driving down the highway at the speed limit the car will suddenly say over heating coolant level low and shut off for 1 second. Has done this 3 times in last few weeks. This was after I just had to replace the 2nd battery that controls all the extra functions on the car and a temperature sensor. The coolant level is fine
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11556152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11521849 · 2023-05-13 (May 13, 2023)
When the vehicle is in fuel economy it turns off completely and I have to change the transmission to park to turn it back on. This happens when I stop at a light, at a stop, or just stop to wait for someone to cross the street. Both the dealer and the manufacturer are aware and have not been able to find the reason why this is happening to the vehicle. This situation has been occurring since 2021 and the alert appears in the bus cluster. It is a risk for my family to have a vehicle with this situation, since we could have an accident that could…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11521849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11440929 · 2021-11-18 (November 18, 2021)
A noise, coming front the front end of my 2021 Jeep Compass is generated while is driving at low velocity (15 mph or slower). The noise intensity increases when the jeep is driven for over an hour. I took the jeep to dealer on Nov 3, 2021, with 701 miles to have it checked and repaired. At that moment, the service manager indicated me that the noise is coming from the rack and pinion and the manufacturer has indicated that this noise is normal, but they are consulting this with their engineers. See attached service invoice dated. Nov 3, 2021.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11440929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442050 · 2021-11-29 (November 29, 2021)
When driving this car, the steering wheel sometimes pulls strongly to the left or the right, making it more difficult to control the direction of the vehicle. This is particularly problematic when on a freeway with narrow lanes and lots of traffic. Sometimes it simply pulls left or right for a brief moment. Other times, such as when going around a tight curve at a high speed, it pulls strongly for a protracted time. It didn't cause an accident. I was able to overcome the pulling forces exerted on the steering wheel by the car, but it made …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11545252 · 2023-09-18 (September 18, 2023)
Error message on dash "Coolant Temperature Too High" and vehicle shuts down. This is happening multiple times. Sometimes it happens multiple times in a week and won't do it for a couple months and then it starts to happen again. Sometimes the vehicle will self resolve after 5-10 seconds and let me keep driving, other times it will shut down and make me restart the vehicle. After restarting, the vehicle is fine as if nothing happened. This has happened going 5-10mph and has also happened driving down highways at 60mph. In some instances, this is…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11545252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11546727 · 2023-09-26 (September 26, 2023)
When I was driving all a sudden it started having a weird chugging feeling. I was going 40 MPH. Then when I got to a stop sign, my vehicle completely shut off. I have to hit the button to turn back on as it was not the Auto Start and stop feature. I made it home and as I pulled into my driveway it shut off again. When I start it, just it warming up it shuts off. When I come to a stop sign or traffic light it shuts up in the middle of the intersection. All while this is happening the emergency brake flips on without me turning it on. I have to …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11546727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11684207 · 2025-08-31 (August 31, 2025)
Every single time I seen the climb McDonald pass in Helena, Montana the car freaks out says service transmission now no matter if I do it at 55 miles an hour or 75 miles an hour, which is about as fast as it’ll go up the pass, it goes in the limp mode, shuts off the fuel pump says service transmission now every single light on the dash that could come on comes on. I don’t know what’s going on with it. I’ve taken it to the dealership. They can’t seem to figure it out.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11684207 at NHTSA ↗