2014 Jeep Compass Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine losing power or stalling while driving, frequently accompanied by the electronic throttle control, stability control, or check engine lights, and sometimes a no-restart until the vehicle sits for a few minutes. Active headrests deploying without an impact and premature transmission noise or failure also come up repeatedly in the sampled complaints.

1. 1
   Engine

   Stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 85 complaints (28%)
   • median 74,530 mi at 5.5 yrs old (68 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle stalling at various speeds, sometimes on a highway, with the accelerator becoming unresponsive; some owners say it restarts after a few minutes and then repeats. Others describe the engine cutting out at stoplights or on acceleration, occasionally with the check engine light coming on briefly. Several report that dealers or mechanics could not reproduce the problem or found no stored codes. Reported from very low mileage up past 150,000 miles, with many cases between 50,000 and 100,000 miles and no clear seasonal pattern.

   Recall 13V552000

   What to check: Ask whether engine oil pressure warnings or the 2.4L balance shaft bearing recall (13V552000) have been addressed, and check oil level and pressure at idle. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a road test at highway speed is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I was driving yesterday my vehicle just randomly stalled out on me and after searching I find that this was an issue that lead to a recall. My vehicle at times will shutter/hesitate or whatever you want to call it which is also described in the recall. I don't believe this issue was properly resolved when the previous owner supposedly had it fixed”

   NHTSA complaint #11337334, filed 2020-07, 94,500 miles

   “While driving my Jeep continues to stall and stutter and gives off multiple error codes. I get my 4 wheel turned on, ABS, fuel pump, and an electrical code that is a lighting bolt in a set of parenthesis. This is happening each time I am driving and the car slows to about 10 MPH then begins to stop driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329359, filed 2020-06, 69,481 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle body failure and limp mode

   • 65 complaints (21%)
   • median 74,030 mi at 5.6 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the electronic throttle control (lightning bolt) light coming on along with the check engine and stability control lights, the vehicle dropping to roughly 20 mph or less, and the pedal doing nothing. Several say a throttle body replacement restored normal operation, and some report the same failure returning a few years later. A snapping noise during idle warm-up followed by reduced-power limp mode is also described. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 110,000 miles, at varying speeds including idle and highway driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced and keep records of it, since repeat failures are reported. Scan for throttle-related codes and confirm the vehicle accelerates cleanly under load.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the etc light came on and car lost speed to 20 MPH. Also the engine light came on. I pulled over got out my manual and it said to put in park and turn off car. Cycle? It and try to start again. It worked for the next 5 miles and did it again. Air conditioner stopped putting out cool air. I drove home at 20 MPH”

   NHTSA complaint #11342107, filed 2020-07, 74,000 miles

   “My truck stalled out while I was driving on I-75. I tried to restart it, and it came on but the electronic stability control signal and the electronic throttle control signal was flashing. The truck wouldn't go over 20 MPH, and the signals never went off.”

   NHTSA complaint #11270192, filed 2019-10, 140,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission noise, shudder, or failure

   • 59 complaints (19%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (49 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe shuddering or jerking during acceleration, noise from the transmission, and in some cases the vehicle dropping speed or refusing to move out of gear. Several report transmission repairs or rebuilds, with the same noise coming back later, and one describes a fluid leak soon after purchase. Shifting into neutral and back to drive is sometimes used to keep driving. Spread from nearly new vehicles to past 150,000 miles, with many reports between 50,000 and 130,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and listen for whine or shudder under acceleration, and ask for any transmission service or rebuild records. An overheating message on the instrument panel is worth investigating before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car was driving fine. I was going down a 45mph road and then the transmission meter needle rises and then drops to 0. My car engine shuts off completely. I try to turn it on but it makes a sound with no start. Eventually after about 5min it starts up again & I hit the gas peddle to only get shut down again and the check engine light finally comes on. This isnt the first time & I recently got it check by the dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11315805, filed 2020-03, 85,000 miles

   “Bought the vehicle brand new with 30ish miles on it, on 12apr14. On 19apr14 (about 420 mileage on it) the vehicle stopped in the middle of an intersection. Would not shift/move. My wife had to floor the gas pedal to get it to chug out of the intersection. I got there an hour after she called me. The hood was so hot I could barely hold it when I opened it. Transmission fluid was pouring out. When the tow truck picked it up it poured more fluid out. It was in the shop until 16may14. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10592723, filed 2014-05, 420 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Active headrest deploys without impact

   • 31 complaints (10%)
   • median 47,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the front seat active headrests firing forward on their own, sometimes while parked with nobody in the vehicle and sometimes when the seat is bumped or while driving. Owners say the plastic clips break and the headrest cannot be reset, and some report being pushed forward or poked in the neck. Dealers reportedly could not repair it or told owners the vehicle was not covered by a recall. Mostly reported between about 19,000 and 103,000 miles, often without any collision and sometimes while the vehicle was off.

   What to check: Check both front headrests for looseness or a headrest that has already deployed and will not lock, and ask whether either seat has been repaired. Verify recall status by VIN, since owners report the airbag recall not covering this symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Both active head restraints deployed without impact. Appears to be under investigation on other chrysler vehicles. This is one of our public school owned vehicles. I am the fleet specialist for loudoun county public schools.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328106, filed 2020-06, 19,442 miles

   “I was driving 35mh when passenger side headrest deployed forward for no reason. Now I am very worried the driver's side could deploy forward while driving and resulting in an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11372701, filed 2020-11, 49,000 miles
5. 5
   Seat belts

   Airbags and seat belts not deploying or not holding

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe airbags failing to deploy in a frontal collision, and seat belt or child seat mounting points that owners say did not hold the child seat securely. Others report the Occupant Restraint Control recall repair being delayed because parts were unavailable at the dealer. The horn and steering wheel center are also mentioned as not working in one case. Reported from roughly 45,000 to 150,000 miles, with the recall parts-availability complaints filed from 2016 onward.

   Recall 16V668000

   What to check: Confirm by VIN that the Occupant Restraint Control recall (16V668000) has been completed, and check that the airbag and seat belt warning lamps behave normally on start-up. Inspect seat belt buckles and child seat anchor points for damage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I been having issues with my seatbealt restraint and my newborn driving in her seatbelt. Several times I have complained about her car seat not being held firmly and flips when I turn. The company is yet to remedy the situation. As a mother is is very uncomfortable for me and they have not find a solution. I do not believe my investment in this car was worth my now lack of safety for me and my child. This situation happens while my car is in motion and she begins to scream.”

   NHTSA complaint #11005221, filed 2017-07, 45,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the repair for NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags) was excessive. The contact received a recall notification in september of 2016. The dealer stated that the part was not available for repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.”

   NHTSA complaint #10947558, filed 2017-01, 69,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic scan for stored codes and road test at highway speed, since stalling and throttle-related loss of power are the most frequently described issues. Confirm recall completion by VIN, particularly the airbag control module and 2.4L engine recalls, and ask for transmission and throttle body service records.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.