2022 Jeep Compass Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2022 Jeep Compass most often report electrical and display problems: the instrument cluster and center screen staying dim in daylight, and the engine shutting off instead of restarting when the Auto Start/Stop feature engages at a stop. Many of these complaints are filed at low mileage, often within the first year of ownership. A smaller but consistent group describes unintended or unwanted automatic emergency braking and steering noises.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Instrument panel stuck dim or in night mode

   • 107 complaints (48%)
   • median 12,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the instrument cluster and center display staying very dim or dark during daytime driving, so speed, fuel level, tire pressure and warning lights cannot be read. Some owners report the display works at start-up but dims once the vehicle is shifted into drive, and others say it stays bright at night instead. Several owners were told by the dealer that a software fix or wiring jumper was needed but not yet available, and some note that the vehicle was not covered by NHTSA campaign 23V058000. Often reported between roughly 7,000 and 26,000 miles, frequently within the first year of ownership and in daylight driving.

   Recall 23V058000Recall 23V5760001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the cluster and center screen in daylight with the engine running and headlights on and off, and confirm whether the brightness adjuster works. Ask whether any software update or wiring jumper related to the cluster illumination has been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The digital dashboard lights automatically dim instead of brighten at night so I'm unable to see the speedometer and other instrumentation on the dashboard. I had my vehicle serviced during a recall for this and it fixed it but the problem has reoccurred. This is extremely dangerous because I cannot see the dashboard at night.”

   NHTSA complaint #11620022, filed 2024-10

   “Every morning the instrument panel and the radio/navigation screen are very dark. All of a sudden it will turn on. Sometimes a mile down the road and sometimes 5 miles down the road. Sometimes it never turns on. If I need to use the gps/navigation directions this is a big issue as I cannot see the screen. I cannot see the gas guage or instrument warnings. I cannot see the spedometer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11535010, filed 2023-07
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Auto Start/Stop shuts engine off and it will not restart

   • 71 complaints (32%)
   • median 7,000 mi at 1.7 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners report that when the Auto Start/Stop feature stops the engine at a light or stop sign, the vehicle does not restart when they release the brake, sometimes leaving it immobilized with the parking brake applied and warning messages on the screen. Several describe needing to shift to park and restart manually, and some say it happened repeatedly at low mileage. Dealers have replaced the battery, body control module, starter or alternator according to the complaints, and some owners were told the vehicle was operating as designed or that the cause could not be duplicated. Reported from very low mileage (a few hundred miles) up to around 31,000 miles, typically in stop-and-go traffic, at lights and stop signs.

   What to check: During a test drive, stop fully with the engine warm and let the start/stop feature cycle a few times, confirming the engine restarts every time. Ask whether the batteries, body control module or start/stop components have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my Jeep Compass latitude 2022 brand new for a dealership in november of 2021. Since then my random dashboard lights have come on and off, the call has stalled numerous times all relating supposely to the batteries going bad. I had both batteries changed less than 2 years. I feel there is an issue that needs to be addressed”

   NHTSA complaint #11692491, filed 2025-10

   “There have been multiple instances where the engine has locked up in the middle of me driving (usually at stop lights) where the only fix is to completely shut the car off and on again which has resulted in me almost being in an accident. This poses an extreme safety risk.”

   NHTSA complaint #11761145, filed 2026-08
3. 3
   Forward collision avoidance

   Unwanted automatic emergency braking

   • 46 complaints (20%)
   • median 6,193 mi at 0.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the automatic emergency braking engaging when there is no obstacle ahead, including on the highway, and sometimes the system reports itself as unavailable or turns the feature off. In some cases the vehicle braked hard enough to stop abruptly with no warning light, while others describe warning messages for blind spot and forward collision systems appearing repeatedly. Dealers were often unable to reproduce the condition or find a cause. Reported at very low mileage, some within the first few hundred miles, at highway and city speeds.

   What to check: Confirm the forward collision and pedestrian detection settings can be reached and changed through the radio, and ask whether the owner has experienced any phantom braking. Test drive at highway speed with attention to any unexpected braking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My instrument cluster has went dark. It stays in dark mode during the day. I am unable to visually see my speed while I’m driving. My AEB system is also having issues. I have tried to remedy this at the dealership, but they say there is no resolution.”

   NHTSA complaint #11513674, filed 2023-03

   “This vehicle has two dangerous issues: 1) It brakes unexpectedly and for no reason during drive. This has happened to me at least 3 times while driving on the freeway without any cars close in front or around me. Bells and whistles just go off all of a sudden and vehicle brakes for no legitimate reason, throwing me forward. 2) This vehicle stalls while driving. This has happened to me 6 times. Engine just falls dead while in drive. I have to put it in park and restart the engine. This could get me killed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11493177, filed 2022-11
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerking and loss of drive power

   • 22 complaints (10%)
   • median 5,386 mi at 1.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe harsh shifting, jerking and sudden loss of motive power while driving, sometimes accompanied by a Service Transmission message or a flashing drive indicator. Owners report having to stop and restart the vehicle, and some say the dealer was unable to duplicate the condition. In one case the transmission failed to shift while moving at speed. Mostly reported between roughly 1,500 and 12,000 miles, at various speeds including around 40 mph.

   What to check: Test drive through several gear changes at low and moderate speeds and watch for harsh shifts or hesitation. Ask whether any transmission control module reprogramming or repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH making a left turn, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the drive(D) light flashing. The driver shifted the vehicle into park(P) and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11531773, filed 2023-07, 1,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the contact felt the steering wheel going to the left. While shifting gear, the vehicle was experiencing hard shifting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The mechanic performed an alignment on the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11478246, filed 2022-08, 5,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Noise or looseness from the steering column or rack

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a thumping, clicking or vibration felt through the steering column or wheel while turning or driving straight. Some complaints state the dealer replaced the steering column or steering rack, and in some cases the noise returned after repair. One owner reported the wheel moving on its own at low speed. Reported from about 5,000 to 37,000 miles, both at low speed in parking situations and at highway speeds.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while stationary and at low speed and listen for clicking or thumping. Ask whether the steering column or rack has been replaced and keep any repair records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while attempting to turn the steering wheel, there was an abnormal vibration with a clicking sound coming from the steering column. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the steering column had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure persisted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11626353, filed 2024-11, 11,963 miles

   “The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a constant thumping sound coming from the steering column. The thumping sound occurred while turning in either direction and while driving straight. The vehicle was taken to an independent service center, where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 37,420.”

   NHTSA complaint #11764758, filed 2026-09, 37,420 miles

Buying note. Check the dashboard displays carefully in daylight and exercise the start/stop system on the test drive, since both are the most commonly reported concerns. Ask for the service history and whether any software updates or recall work have been completed on the vehicle.

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.