2020 Jeep Compass Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine shutting off unexpectedly — sometimes alongside a "coolant temperature too high" message — and several link the stall to the automatic stop-start feature. A second common theme is the infotainment/radio screen going blank, distorted or losing the rear camera image. Reports arrive early: many engine stalls are filed under 10,000 miles, while screen and battery complaints tend to appear later.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving or at a stop

   • 67 complaints (47%)
   • median 8,000 mi at 1.4 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out at traffic lights, at intersections and occasionally at highway speed, sometimes without any warning light. In several accounts the vehicle restarts after being put in park, while others report it would not restart immediately. Owners who took the vehicle to a dealer say the fault often could not be reproduced or that no cause was found, with some having check-engine codes cleared. Frequently reported at low mileage, many under 10,000 miles and some within the first weeks of ownership; also appears in the 40,000-70,000 mile range.

   What to check: Ask whether any stall-related diagnostic codes or stop-start repairs are on the service history, and whether the stop-start system has been serviced. Drive the car through several stop-and-go cycles and restart cycles during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my car on july 22nd 2020. The very first day while I was driving home I noticed that the car shut off while I was stopping. I thought perhaps that it was the auto off that triggered a little too early. Since then it happened twice and most recently while I was driving and making a turn the car just shut off. The only way to get the car going west for me too put the car in neutral and start the car again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11352760, filed 2020-09, 1,072 miles

   “Twice now, the vehicle has completely shut off while driving. The first time happened at a red light. This vehicle has automatic engine shut off when you press on the brake, but when you release the brake, the engine is supposed to come back on. When I was at the red light, the entire vehicle shut off and I needed to put the car in park and restart the vehicle. This happened again while I was making a u turn a few weeks later. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11338949, filed 2020-07, 2,600 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   High coolant temperature message with loss of power

   • 60 complaints (42%)
   • median 69,342 mi at 4.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe a sudden "coolant temperature too high" or "pressure overheating" warning, sometimes with the gauge still reading normal, followed by loss of power or the engine shutting down. Some owners say the message clears by itself after a few minutes, while others report coolant loss, an oil cooler failure that mixed oil and coolant, or service visits that did not resolve it. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to about 100,000, often during warm weather or stop-and-go driving.

   What to check: Check the coolant reservoir level and look for discoloration or signs of mixing with oil. Ask for the coolant system repair history, and note whether the temperature gauge and warnings behave normally on a warm test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The first incident happened with my 2020 jeep Compass on 12/27/23 while on the freeway the temp light flashed the gage didn't indicate overheating I got off the freeway check the engine no sign of overheating waited for awhile then started the car again within five minutes car gage went to overheating had it towed the oil cooler went out out mixed with the coolant paid big bucks for the repairs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11567866, filed 2024-01

   “car always go to coolant temp high when driving and goes back down to middle mark, i will put antifreeze in the car and it will be okay for about two weeks and starts back up again. i always have to put antifreeze in my car and more frequent when the weather gets warmer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11580033, filed 2024-03
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stop-start system leaves engine off or unavailable

   • 25 complaints (17%)
   • median 18,500 mi at 1.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report the automatic stop-start shutting the engine down and then failing to restart it, with messages such as "Stop-Start Unavailable" or the system's indicator lamp appearing after a restart. Some describe disengaging the feature each time they drive to avoid the problem; dealers reportedly could not duplicate the fault. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 40,000 miles, and also within the first months of ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the stop-start feature repeatedly during the test drive and ask whether the battery and intelligent battery sensor have been serviced; a service bulletin covers start-stop charging warnings and battery sensor accuracy.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle has shut off while driving on two occasions. Both times I had slowed to a stop and when I hit the gas to reaccelerate at a green light the car shut off. The infotainment screens remained on and the lights on the shift knob started to blink. I had to put the car into park, turn it off and restart it all while sitting at an intersection. It was not a quick process. The car has an idle feature to save on gas however this was not the feature in action the car was off completely.”

   NHTSA complaint #11348490, filed 2020-08, 700 miles

   “The (A) this automatically temporarily pause the idling of the engine when stopping at a light or stop sign. I’ve noticed that it’ll shut my car off completely as if the battery has died. I’ve been put in scary situations due to heavy traffic. I’ve held up traffic for at least 3-10 minutes. ( my battery is less than 2-3 yrs old). So, for now I’ve started turning that function off upon starting the car before I put it in gear. Any complaints about that anyone know of?”

   NHTSA complaint #11676770, filed 2025-07
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen and rear-view camera failure

   • 13 complaints (9%)
   • median 47,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the radio screen developing discoloration, pixelation, moving lines or going fully black, which also takes out the rear-view camera image and some vehicle controls. Owners say dealers diagnosed the radio as needing replacement, while others report the screen recovered intermittently. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 70,000 miles, though some occur earlier.

   What to check: Check the screen in several menus and in reverse, and look for discoloration or lines along the edges. Ask whether the radio or USB hub has been replaced, and note that a service bulletin addresses a USB power surge message.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “8/30/2022 Started the vehicle in the drive way foot still engaged on break and the vehicle accelerated forward with my foot on break and damaged my home and vehicle. 8/28/22 Emergency Break engaged on its own and we couldn’t move the vehicle it was turned off and restarted. 8/27/22 vehicle information screen was blank and black after starting the vehicle..this happened at least three times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11482006, filed 2022-08

   “My cameras quit working first. 2nd time in the shop, due to stalling when driving. 3rd time loosing power/stalling while driving. Loosing all power to center console. Radio, heat, phone wouldn't connect, screen wasn't working. Nothing. Came.back on when driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11394687, filed 2021-02, 3,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery drain, no-start and starting problems

   • 35 complaints (24%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners report the vehicle failing to start, requiring a tow, and batteries being replaced; some describe recurring no-start conditions after a new battery. Complaints also mention messages such as "Service 4WD" and charging warnings, and one owner reported a corroded wire found under the battery. Reported from roughly 32,000 to 68,000 miles and beyond, sometimes after the vehicle sat unused.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check battery age and ask for charging system and battery sensor service records; a service bulletin describes addressing start-stop charging warnings and inaccurate battery sensor readings.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Minutes after leaving my garage, dashboard lit up ENGINE OVERHEAT, and immediately the car shut DOWN. Obviously, I had no control of the vehicle. Car would not attempt to start after that. I had it towed to a Jeep dealer. They said there was no signal to the engine computer, and later found a corroded wire under the battery that was the cause. The vehicle was 3 and a half years old and just ready to turn 50K miles. Kept in a garage. Repair bill was $602.000 plus tow!”

   NHTSA complaint #11519869, filed 2023-05

   “The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11548391, filed 2023-10, 40,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection include a scan for stored codes and a check of the coolant system, battery sensor and stop-start operation, and ask for the full service history so you can see whether stalling or starting issues have already been raised. These complaints concentrate on engine shutdown behavior rather than wear items, so a thorough test drive in traffic is worth doing.

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.