2018 Jeep COMPASS: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11029982 · 2017-09-26 (September 26, 2017)
I HAD MY VEHICLE DIAGNOSED DUE TO INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT DIM AT NIGHT LEAVING THE JEEP VERY BRIGHT AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE CALLED JEEP AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE OR GIVE ME A SOLUTION ON WHAT TO DO! THEY STILL REFUSE AT OF TODAY 9/26/17.
Owner-reported narrative. 680 miles reported. Look up ODI 11029982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11032767 · 2017-10-10 (October 10, 2017)
THE VEHICLE'S DASH BOARD LIGHTING DIMMING FUNCTION IS NOT WORKING AND IMPAIRING THE DRIVERS NIGHT VISION ALWAYS BEING AT THE HIGHEST SETTING. REPORTING THIS ISSUE AS THIS IS NOT ONLY AFFECTING A SINGLE VEHICLE, BUT MULTIPLES. THE JEEP HEADQUARTERS WERE CONTACTED BY MULTIPLE EFFECTED OWNER AS EVIDENT IN THE REFERENCE FORUM POST, BUT JEEP DOES CURRENTLY NOT TAKE ACTION. REFERENCE POSTS: HTTP://WWW.MYJEEPCOMPASS.COM/FORUMS/2ND-GEN-JEEP-COMPASS-FORUM-GENERAL-DISCUSSION/35673-DASH-LIGHTS-DO-NOT-DIM.HTML HTTP://WWW.MYJEEPCOMPASS.COM/FORUM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11032767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11032805 · 2017-10-10 (October 10, 2017)
IN VIOLATION OF FMVSS SECTION S 5.3.2.2 (B) THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF BEING DIMMED. THEY REMAIN AT BRIGHTEST LEVEL REGARDLESS OF ANY PARKING OR HEADLIGHT SETTINGS, AND CANNOT BE DIMMED OR TURNED OFF. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION DURING NIGHT TIME VEHICLE OPERATION. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THIS EVEN AFTER TWO VISITS, AND HAS MADE NO PROGRESS IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASED ONE MONTH AGO.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033393 · 2017-10-14 (October 14, 2017)
THE INTERIOR INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONSOLE LIGHTING WILL NOT DIM AT NIGHT. THIS LEADS TO A BLINDING SITUATION. THE DIMMER SWITCH FUNCTIONS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY BUT THE IP LIGHTS WILL GO FULL BRIGHT AFTER A SHORT WHILE AFTER A VEHICLE RESTART. THIS OCCURS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR IS MOVING OR PARKED. HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED ON. THE LIGHTS BEHAVE THIS WAY DAY OR NIGHT. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER TAKING DELIVERY ON 9-27-2017
Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 11033393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034083 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILS TO DIM PROPERLY AT NIGHT CAUSING DIFFICULTY SEEING AT NIGHT DUE TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE DISPLAY. I AM ABLE TO GET THE DISPLAY TO BE TRICKED INTO GOING INTO "NIGHT MODE" IF THE DISPLAY LIGHT SENSOR HAS NO LIGHT AT VEHICLE STARTUP WITH HEADLIGHTS ON. AT ANY TIME IF THE SENSOR IS EXPOSED TO LIGHT AGAIN SUCH AS IF A DOOR IS OPENED OR INTERIOR LIGHT IS TURNED ON THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE STOPPED, DOORS LOCKED, AND SITTING FOR ONE MINUTE FOR THE WORKAROUND TO BE SUCCESSFUL AGAIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034146 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)
THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS AND KEEPS ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS (EXCEPT DOME LIGHTS) IN FULL BRIGHTNESS ALL THE TIME WHICH MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11034146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034478 · 2017-10-19 (October 19, 2017)
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSOR CONTROLLING THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE CONSOLE AND NAVIGATION SCREEN. AT NIGHT, THE BRIGHTNESS GETS SET TO THE HIGHEST SETTING, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY BLINDING, AND THE DIMMER SWITCH DOES DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS CAUSING HARM TO MY EYES.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034574 · 2017-10-19 (October 19, 2017)
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMER SWITCH IS INOPERABLE. THE SPEEDOMETER, AND ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER, IS STUCK ON FULL BRIGHTNESS DURING NIGHTTIME DRIVING AND IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS BLINDINGLY BRIGHT IN MY FACE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11034574 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V670000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 2017-10-24 (October 24, 2017)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
Consequence: If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V732000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2017-11-21 (November 21, 2017)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The passenger side air bag assembly may have inflator mounting nuts loose within the module assembly.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, unsecured inflator mounting nuts outside of the cushion assembly are potential projectiles that may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T73.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V740000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
Reported: 2017-11-21 (November 21, 2017)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017-2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The brightness of the backlighting for the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) cannot be adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Consequence: An instrument cluster that is too bright, and cannot be dimmed, can reduce the driver's ability to see at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update IPC software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T70.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V279000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 2018-05-01 (May 1, 2018)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The front lower control arms may be incorrectly welded, potentially resulting in a control arm separation.
Consequence: If the lower control arm separates, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U42.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V523000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
Reported: 2018-08-09 (August 9, 2018)
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.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V524000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Reported: 2018-08-09 (August 9, 2018)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
Consequence: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
NHTSA campaign record ↗