2018 Jeep Compass problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (259) · Power Train (112) · Electrical System (74)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Jeep Compass model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
479 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper 2018-08-09 · campaign 18V523000 · 154,335 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood 2018-08-09 · campaign 18V524000 · 12,779 vehicles
Defect: 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 o
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2018-05-01 · campaign 18V279000 · 2,761 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the lower control arm separates, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-11-21 · campaign 17V732000 · 27,210 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2017-11-21 · campaign 17V740000 · 25,823 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2017-10-24 · campaign 17V670000 · 357 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (333)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-08-25 · 08-323-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service 4wd light illuminated customers must experience a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination and the vehicle must symptom: exhibit/set the following diagnostic trouble code (dtc): ● c2260-63 - ecu internal performance - circuit component protection time-out customers may also comment on t
Engine 2026-06-18 · 112842 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
bolt - hex flange head
Electrical System 2026-05-13 · 08-208-26 REV. A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
radio message "power surge on usb detected" customers may comment on the following: ● the radio displays the message: “power surge on usb hub detected” fig. 1. note: after the message appears, no usb devices function in the hub (no charging, no data). note: hub operation does not return until the ve
Electrical System 2026-05-07 · 08-208-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
radio message "power surge on usb detected" customers may comment on the following: ● the radio displays the message: “power surge on usb hub detected” fig. 1. note: after the message appears, no usb devices function in the hub (no charging, no data). note: hub operation does not return until the ve
Electrical System 2026-05-07 · 08-208-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
radio message "power surge on usb detected" customers may comment on the following: ● the radio displays the message: “power surge on usb hub detected” fig. 1. note: after the message appears, no usb devices function in the hub (no charging, no data). note: hub operation does not return until the ve
Structure:body 2026-04-22 · S2523000003 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
door latch, handle and ajar additional service information.
Showing the 6 most recent of 333 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-27 · Unknown Or Other“when trying to start the jeep it says the hood is open and continues to act like the jeep is going to start over and over again! when it does start it runs rough! it’s is stating it needs coil 1 replaced which has been replaced and didn’t fix a thing it can’t be driven appears to be junk. also the start stop has not been working at all …”
2026-10-25 · Engine“stop safely vehicle will shut off soon…”
2026-10-16 · Unknown Or Other“•manufacturer: jeep / stellantis •year: 2018 •model: jeep compass •vin: [xxx] •nhtsa odi complaint number: 11771736 •date of formal nhtsa complaint: october 16, 2026 i am writing to formally escalate a serious and recurring electrical and starting-system malfunction affecting my son's 2018 jeep compass, identified above. information redacted purs…”
2026-10-16 · Electrical System · 104,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 jeep compass. the contact stated that on multiple occasions, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. the vehicle was towed to a service center, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. the contact stated that when the failure occurred, multiple warning lights illuminated, in…”
2026-10-08 · Electrical System“back-up camera (reverse) is inoperable. camera image is black. …”
2026-09-29 · Equipment:electrical:infotainment:video (Touch)screen/Monitor/Unit“uconnect screen/ no available back up camera has ceased to work due to condition of screen faulty thermal glue visable navigation unusable phone calls made by the system with no human interaction repeatedly operatior distraction is occuring due to these issues screen delamination screen is black or displays color block lines back up camera is not …”
2026-09-24 · Vehicle Speed Control“aux battery failed; start/stop, stopped at a red light car shut off in start/stop mode, when i went to drive my car went into limp mode and emergency break engaged and every single light on my dash came on. i had to turn car off in the intersection. once i turned the car back on every light came back on and when i shifted it into drive the transmis…”
2026-09-15 · Engine“i have a 2018 jeep compass that is experiencing an intermittent engine stall while i am driving. the engine cuts off, particularly when i am sitting in traffic or maintaining the same speed for an extended period of time. there is currently no check-engine light illuminated. this is a serious safety concern because the vehicle is losing power while…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.