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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2008 Jeep Compass 4X4 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
11%of 47 total for the year
Median mileage
104,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Jeep Compass 4X4, 11% of the 47 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 104,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I stopped at a stop light, began to accelerate when light turned green and the car started shaking. I pulled into a gas station, at that point my car would no longer move while pressing on the gas pedal. I had to be towed to a local mechanic and was informed my transmission had failed.”

NHTSA complaint #10454071, filed 2012-04, 104,000 miles

“While me and fiance drive down the interstate at about 65-70mph on a hot day, the transmission fluid temperature light turns on and we lose almost all power and cant get it to go. We had it looked at by a dealership and they replaced the trans cooler, trans lines,and trans fluid. But the issue is still happening. It is almost getting to the point of whether we should even try to get it fixed or what we need to do to fix it. When the problem first occurred we had only had the car for two weeks.”

NHTSA complaint #10897829, filed 2016-08, 150,000 miles

“On freeway, suddenly felt no power. Car lost power and would not go over 20 MPH. Got off freeway, put car into park, would not go in reverse, started up again, same problem. Rpms go up, but no momentum to car even with foot on floor on gas pedal. After car was turned off and key was taken out, it started up like nothing was wrong. Car repair could find nothing wrong. Has happened about half a dozen times since then, as long as key is taken out, it will work fine. Until this last time, last week. Car died again on freeway, going from 70 MPH to 20 MPH quickly. …”

NHTSA complaint #10463437, filed 2012-06, 66,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2008 Jeep compass. The contact stated that on any incline in the drive position when she took her foot off of the brake pedal the vehicle rolled backwards instead of forward or remaining steady. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. They failure was not diagnosed but the owner told her that they reprogrammed it but did not identify what component was reprogrammed. The failure and current mileages were approximately 13,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10348721, filed 2010-08, 13,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2008 Jeep COMPASS 4X4. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked to the right. Sparks and flames appeared from the rear of the vehicle. The flames extinguished themselves and the contact parked the vehicle at her residence. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brake assembly, four wheel drive, and bearing seized. The front axle failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained inoperable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10839522, filed 2016-03, 171,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2009320%
2008511%
2007117%

Other parts of the 2008 Jeep Compass 4X4

Suspension
22 complaints
Steering
11 complaints
Fuel system
6 complaints
Body and structure
6 complaints
Brakes
3 complaints
Electrical system
3 complaints
Air bags
2 complaints
Engine cooling
2 complaints
Other or unknown
2 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Electronic stability control
1 complaints
Engine
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Jeep Compass 4X4

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology