Far more Within ±30% year on yearNHTSA has received 944 owner complaints about the 2018 Jeep Compass, or 107.4 per year on the road — far more complaints than typical (complaint index 2.66, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #68 of 76 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Jeep models its rate is 61% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 78% higher.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2017-09-26 and 2026-10-08. Median delay from incident to filing: 7 days.
944Complaints
107.4Complaints per year on the road
2.66Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
6Recalls
3.4%Share involving a crash or fire
55Last 12 months
Analysis
The following model year (2019) drew 42.4 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 284 complaints, 231% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (50.8% of complaints), followed by Electrical (19.3%) and Transmission / powertrain (7.9%). Engine complaints are 2.3 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 32 reports (3.4%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 18 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 37 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (28% of incidents). In the last 12 months 55 new complaints were filed, versus 72 in the 12 months before — down 24%.
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for this model year.
Safety recalls (6)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD Campaign 18V524000 · 2018-08-09
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER Campaign 18V523000 · 2018-08-09
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM Campaign 18V279000 · 2018-05-01
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The front lower control arms may be incorrectly welded, potentially resulting in a control arm separation.
Risk: If the lower control arm separates, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U42.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL Campaign 17V740000 · 2017-11-21
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017-2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The brightness of the backlighting for the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) cannot be adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk: An instrument cluster that is too bright, and cannot be dimmed, can reduce the driver's ability to see at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update IPC software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T70.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE Campaign 17V732000 · 2017-11-21
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The passenger side air bag assembly may have inflator mounting nuts loose within the module assembly.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, unsecured inflator mounting nuts outside of the cushion assembly are potential projectiles that may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T73.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Campaign 17V670000 · 2017-10-24
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
Risk: If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
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