2018 Jeep Compass Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine shutting off while driving — at stoplights, during low-speed turns, or at highway speed — and many link it to the 2.4L engine consuming oil between changes. A second, overlapping theme is electrical trouble: dead or weak batteries, start/stop and charging messages, dash displays going dark, and warning lamps with no stored explanation. Most of the sampled complaints were filed below 50,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 413 complaints (44%)
   • median 19,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (245 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $950 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out without warning while moving — after braking for a light, while turning at low speed, or at highway speed — sometimes with power steering assist and dash lights dropping out. Restarts are often possible, sometimes only after waiting or repeated attempts. Dealers are said to have replaced ignition switches, updated or reprogrammed the powertrain control module, and replaced batteries, with owners reporting the stall returning afterward. Mostly reported between roughly 10,000 and 50,000 miles, with some at very low mileage.

   Recall 18V524000

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the powertrain control module was reprogrammed and whether the battery was replaced, and confirm the condition of the start/stop system on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving at night the car stalled out with no warning light or anything just completely shut off turned it back on then did it again and again luckily I was able to get home cause I wasn't very far then the next day took it to the dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11387416, filed 2021-01, 34,000 miles

   “Vehicle has randomly shuts down while driving street or highway. Service transmission light comes on while driving and car decelerates which is extremely dangerous at highway speeds. Back up camera instrument panel intermittently does not work. I am sure there is more but at this time this is all I can think about as my daughter, son-in-law and grandbabies are stuck on the side of the road 250 miles from home. Most recent occurrence today with transmission light.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353361, filed 2020-09, 35,073 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Oil consumption and low-oil stalls (2.4L)

   • 299 complaints (32%)
   • median 16,600 mi at 2.0 yrs old (184 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Many complaints describe the 2.4L engine using large amounts of oil between changes, with some owners adding multiple quarts well before the next service. They report the low-oil pressure warning arriving late or not at all, and the engine stalling when the level drops — dealers are said to have run oil consumption tests, topped off the oil, reset or reconfigured the control module, and in some cases replaced the engine. Reported from a few hundred miles up through the 80,000s, with many between 10,000 and 40,000 miles.

   Recall 17V6700002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick, and ask whether an oil consumption test or the 2.4L warranty extension was performed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle consumes too much oil and will fail to have enough oil pressure and emergency parking brake will engage randomly while driving and car will stop. Oil pressure light will engage also and car can fail to start. Took to dealership to replace pcv valve since I had similar issue with my 2015 chrysler 200 and the pcv valve was culprit. Dealership advised to reconfigure PCM and come back for oil consumption test after 1500 miles. Took back to dealership after the 1500 miles on 2-2-21and vehicle was found to be low on oil. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11394454, filed 2021-02, 310,000 miles

   “Oil burns through oil excessively, 2,900 miles after oil change, every oil change the vehicle starts alarming oil pressure low and will just shut off in the middle of driving. I've almost got into multiple accidents due to this. It's dangerous, no warning except the alarm which comes on as the vehicle shuts off”

   NHTSA complaint #11413510, filed 2021-04, 33,260 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery, start/stop and charging system faults

   • 263 complaints (28%)
   • median 26,917 mi at 2.3 yrs old (139 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report no-starts, batteries that go flat or need repeated jump starts, and messages about the charging system, start/stop being unavailable, or the vehicle needing to be shifted to park. Some describe all warning lamps lighting at once before the engine cuts out. Complaints mention dealer replacement of one or both batteries, PCM updates, and fuse or wiring repairs, with problems recurring in some cases. Spread from under 20,000 miles to the 80,000s, appearing at cold starts and at idle stops.

   Recall 18V5240003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system load-tested and ask for the service history on battery and control-module replacements; a service bulletin covers inaccurate battery sensor readings and charging warnings.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Battery died and requires jump starting every time I turn the vehicle off. It took an hour to start my vehicle today. It is believed to be a voltage regulator issue just like other models of this vehicle but my VIN says it isn't eligible for the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343380, filed 2020-08, 49,895 miles

   “Driving and the whole panel went dark, radio and everything - came back on approx 2 hours later. This only happened once. Then my start/stop stopped working. When I try to start my vehicle it does not start but says engine is running. I had to go outside my vehicle to remote start it in order to go. Vehicle stalled while driving down the street. This all recently started to happen. A lightning bolt symbol appeared on my gage as well as my engine light.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327481, filed 2020-06, 38,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission warning messages, jerking and limp behaviour

   • 143 complaints (15%)
   • median 21,975 mi at 2.2 yrs old (86 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe a service transmission message appearing at start-up or while driving, followed by harsh or delayed shifts, jerking when selecting drive or reverse, and a drop to low speed or a no-acceleration condition. Several owners report the dealer being unable to duplicate the fault, while others say a plug, wiring or software repair was attempted and the message returned. Commonly reported between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test-drive from cold through several gear changes and ask whether any transmission software updates or the reaction shaft bushing service were performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the vehicle is parked after being in motion, I often get an error message for the transmission followed by a check engine light. When this happens, the vehicle has a hard time shifting. By this, I mean that whenever I shift into another gear the vehicle stalls then has an abrupt shift that moves the entire vehicle. If the vehicle is not turned off for a minimum of 30minutes, the vehicle will not exceeds speeds of 35 MPH. The vehicle also continues to make a noise that sounds like it is being forced into motion.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351989, filed 2020-08, 35,000 miles

   “Auxiliary battery in this causing major other issues within the car. Causing power to transmission to be delay and resulting in both your check engine and check transmission lights to be activated.”

   NHTSA complaint #11378440, filed 2020-12, 34,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Dormant or glitching dashboard and infotainment electronics

   • 171 complaints (18%)
   • median 25,900 mi at 2.3 yrs old (86 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the center display switching apps on its own, going blank or cutting out, doors and windows behaving unexpectedly, and warning lights for airbag or stability control that come and go. Dealers are said to have replaced wiring harnesses and control modules or been unable to reproduce the fault. Reported from a few thousand miles into the 80,000s, often intermittently.

   Recall 17V7400002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Operate every screen function, door lock and window during the test drive, and ask whether harness or module replacements are documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The service airbag system warning light keeps illuminating. It will stay on for about 30 seconds and then turn off. I have brought the Jeep to the dealership for this issue 5 times. They cannot find the problem. They have replaced the wiring harness and then occupant restraint controller. The airbag light still comes on and off. Jeep has done nothing to rectify the situation, they have told me that I simply have to deal with it. I have filed for arbitration and they have claimed that it is not a safety issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11378202, filed 2020-12, 48,000 miles

   “The Jeep has gone into limp mode twice. First time was almost rear ended. Jeep was towed to dealership same day. Repaired once advised there was a mother board issue. The second time dealer unable to replicate no repair made. Turn started to get stuck around the same time. Turn signal keeps getting stuck has been sent to dealer several times issue still not repaired.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323334, filed 2020-05, 13,806 miles

Buying note. Look for documented oil consumption testing and any engine or control-module work, and verify the start/stop and battery systems behave correctly on a cold start and a long test drive. A pre-purchase inspection that includes an oil level check and a scan for stored codes is worth the cost on this model year.

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.