Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Jeep Compass owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
speedometer doesn't work, ABS, Brakes, engine and traction light keeps on. THE SHIFT LEVER CHANGES BY ITSELF FROM D TO M while driving. ABS module has to be replaced at my cost when other 2011 jeep compass have a recall F 50 for the same issue.
In my 2011 Jeep Compass that I purchased from dave syverson' s in albert lea minnesota in 2015 has had numerous issues with the transmission starting in less than a year from the purchase date. The first time was when I was coming home, up my gradual hill, when my car stopped being able to drive more than 10 MPH and all of my gears were out up (p, n, d, r). It was "fixed" because my wiring to my transmission was completely corroded. Not once did the leaping of my car stop, the feeling of the car pushing through gears on it's in while in motion. In the winter months I took my car in to have the leaping looked at, the shop said there was nothing to fix. However this June I was driving north on highway 35 when an oil temperature gauge came on. …
I was driving the car in the freeway about 70mph . Out of no where car can not be accelerated and lost all power. I was lucky that traffic was not bad otherwise I would have got other and myself hurt. Call Jeep customer service and they advised me to pull over and put the car in neutral for 15-20 minutes to let the transmission "cool off" and to try it again. To my surprised it work. However about an hour later same thing happen. I take the car to my mechanic and he advise me to get rid of the car, he told me that Jeep knows well that this cars are transmission are overheating and losing all power but they refuse to make a recall and fix the issue. I can not express to you guys how scary is to be driving and known that at any minutes your car can lose all power and you will be hit or kill. …
Today, 4/20/2016, I heard what sounded like metal dragging the ground in my 2011 Jeep Compass. After parking, I inspected under the car to find a metal pipe hanging down to the ground near the front left tire. I easily pulled the pipe out, and discovered it is the CVT transmission fill tube. It appears the tube rotted off from wherever it belongs. I have found multiple reports of the same thing happening to other Jeep models as well, particularly the patriot. While I have yet to determine any detrimental performance effects (it just happened today, and I have yet to drive it again), the tube could have easily dislodged while driving and struck a car behind me, endangering the lives of others. My Jeep only has around 40,000 miles, and has been kept up to date on all maintenance requirements. …
Marked by an audible whine and the illumination of the transmission overheat light, the CVT on the 2.4l 4-cylinder engine in the 2011 Jeep Compass experiences significant and dramatic power loss. This is especially prevalent at sustained highway speeds creating a potentially unsafe situation. If the transmission overheats too much, the vehicle will not move until the transmission cools down. This issue first happened on my 2011 Jeep Compass in July 2014 and was temporarily rectified by Jeep. Their solution was to replace the CVT transmission fluid. However, this problem has returned this summer under highway use, especially on hot days. On Saturday, September 12, my family and I experienced not only the whine from the CVT, but significant power loss on the highway. …
On the reported date my 2011 Jeep Compass 2.4l 4x4 was remote started and ran for approximately 15-20 minutes before getting in and driving off. The engine had warmed up about half way to operating temperature. The temperature was 13 degrees fahrenheit outside. Once I left and pulled out onto the street the transmission threw out 3 small and quick jerks. This happened 3 more times before getting onto the interstate. This is a brand new CVT less than a year old. The last CVT did the same shudder in the cold before it blew out a month later with 115,000 miles on it (barely out of warranty). The Jeep CVT seems to be under built for cold temperatures because the new transmission only has about 15,000 miles on it and is doing the exact same thing. Note: I was babying the throttle to get up to operating temps when this occurred.
The Compass down shifted on it's on and would not go. Doors locked and unlock alone. When car down shifted or slowed down by itself was nearly rear-ended on interstate 10. Thinking it was transmission oil, had it changed and filter change. Nope problem continues. Almost rear-ended again. This vehicle is not safe when it has a mind of its own. They recalled TIPM module other makes of Jeep but not on the Compass, when reading car complaints from Compass owner's they have the same problem the other Jeep models experienced. Please help get this vehicles TIPM module recalled for the safety of the driver's and those driving around them. If we do get rear-ended before this is remedied, I guarantee there will be a lawsuit against Chrysler Jeep!
Vehicle is prone to CVT transmission overheating at high rate of speed in warm weather. This has happened 4 separate times now on the interstate highway system, the latest on interstate 95 south 50 miles north of the florida line in georgia. Car will stop any acceleration, transmission overheat light comes on and you cannot maintain speed with flow of traffic. Create a hazardous situation trying to exit the interstate highway, occurred at 70 MPH. Jeep dealership cannot detect any problem when diagnosing from prior similar event. In addition wheel bearings in rear axles wear out on average every 35,000 miles I have replaced twice now plus ball joint in front needed replacement at between 36,000 and 40,000 miles
In June of 2012 I was pulling out of a parking lot and as I merged on to the main road I heard a scraping noise, I pulled over and looked underneath and saw a metal tube hanging from the bottom of the engine, I took it out and noticed it was the transmission filler tube, it had snapped off. I took it to the dealer and they replaced it. The other day[April 2015] I was changing my air filter and noticed that the filler tube was gone again went to the dealer and they told me that it wasn't covered under manufacturer warranty. It is a flaw in the design of the vehicle I understand a sensor going bad but something that is not supposed to break off should be covered.
Vehicle stops moving randomly at highway speeds and must be restarted to get it to move. Will barely accelerate and rpms are extremely high st low speeds. Vehicle surges and won't accelerate. Horrible whining noises. Vehicle stalls, or won't move when trying to ascend up hill or when entering the highway. I have almost been hit multiple times due to these problems. I have taken this vehicle to ther mechanic twice and had the computer run diagnostics. The cause of these problems is the automatic transmission. There are numerous accounts of this problem regarding this make and model of vehicle. This has been happening for approximately 4 months.
Transmission complaints in other Compass years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2011 Jeep Compass?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2011 Jeep Compass, 20% of the model year's 188 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Jeep Compass transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2011 Jeep Compass, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Jeep Compass transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.