Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Jeep Compass owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This vehicle before had the cvt transmission replaced as it was over heating/inoperable. Complete replacement. Flash forward not even a year I was driving and thr transmission made a noise and basically locked up causing the driver to hit curb at high rate of speed along the freeway. The vehicle again is disabled with a transmission defect and requires replacement. 2nd transmission failure and will need replacement and caused injury during collision with curb at high rate of speed without any indication lights of a mechanical issue prior to impact.
The vehicle was taken in for a recall of the catalytic converters and PCM software, July 2019. May 2021, while driving at highway speeds the transmission temperature light illuminated and an un-commanded deceleration occurred to about 10 mph, it would go no faster got to the nearest off ramp and to a rest area sat for an hour, then the vehicle performed normally. May 13, 2021, took the vehicle to the repair facility no trouble codes were set but they replaced the transmission filler tube. A few days later the light illuminated again but no adverse driving conditions occurred. Oct 18, 2021, at highway speeds the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph a service engine light illuminated a transmission overtempt light also and made it home about ten miles at no more than 10mph, 19 Oct 2021 drove the vehicle at a few mph to my local Jeep dealer for check engine and no power. …
The vehicle was taken in for a recall of the catalytic converters and PCM software, July 2019. May 2021, while driving at highway speeds the transmission temperature light illuminated and an un-commanded deceleration occurred to about 10 mph, it would go no faster got to the nearest off ramp and to a rest area sat for an hour, then the vehicle performed normally. May 13, 2021, took the vehicle to the repair facility no trouble codes were set but they replaced the transmission filler tube. A few days later the light illuminated again but no adverse driving conditions occurred. June 18, 2021, at highway speeds the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph a service engine light illuminated a transmission overtempt light also and made it home about ten miles at no more than 10mph, 19 aug 2022 drove the vehicle at a few mph to my local Jeep dealer for check engine and no power.
Jeep first issues was at 89k, not shifting. Second issues was at100k transmission over heated. Dealer/ warranty had me changed the fluid and filter for transmission. Third issue, 130k transmission made a whining noise and stopped. Jeep was towed to the shop. After doing some research, turns out that the transmission on several these Jeep's have same issue. The transmission should be on manufactured recall.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Jeep Compass. While driving 70 MPH, the rpms increased to 3,200 and a whining noise was heard underneath the vehicle. The vehicle started to lose power when approaching an exit ramp. In addition, the emergency and transmission temperature warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to drive going through an intersection at 2 MPH. The contact was able to coast the vehicle into a fuel station. The contact checked the owner's manual, which indicated to allow the vehicle to idle and place the gear shifter into neutral. The contact performed the steps, but the failures recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who added transmission fluid to the transmission. Afterwards, the contact continued driving and the rpms increased to 2,700. The vehicle was coasted over to the side of the road. …
The vehicle was in motion going uphill 3 separate times, once in a 30 minute drive (70 mile round trip), the other 2 times, both 3.5 hours in( 300 mile trip one way) and the transmission light came on. The car began to decelerate rapidly and on the 30 minute trip, I had to turn around and start going down hill as the car would no longer go up hill. The 2nd time, I happened to be by a walmart, after a 3.5 hour drive, going uphill for about 15 minutes after decelerating to about 30 MPH in a 70 (3-5 degree grade), and bought some transmission fluid and added it to the transmission. It appeared to do the job ( the rest of the trip was downhill), but on the return trip home 3 days later, 3.5 hours in and going uphill 3-5 degree grade, the car started to decelerate and would not go above 50 MPH for the remainder of the trip (5 hour total trip one way). …
I already filed a complain about this incident. My purpose now is to notify the incredibly bad customer service and interest the Chrysler corp took regarding this incident. To start, they played every excuse to avoid going to the body shop to inspect the Jeep, and I kept telling them there was a burning smell right before the accident happened and the Jeep started malfunctioning and speeding on its own. When they finally got to the shop, I understand the review was a very superficial one and of course, their conclussion was that nothing was wrong with the car. In a word, they did not bother trying to find out why the burning smell, if some electrical or circuit was bad, they just did not care. …
There is a severe problem with the electronic throttle control. This started as a minor annoyance and now I cannot drive my car. Driving on the highway the red lightening light starts flashing and I lose all ability to accelerate my car. It is very dangerous driving 70mph and having to abruptly slow and pull to the side of the road. This now happens everytime I drive my car. I will be driving around town and will continuously have to pull over to turn my car off. Now I cant even turn my car on without the electronic throttle control light on. The car idles rough and the handbook say to turn the car off immediately when it does this. This almost left me stranded in the middle of the night from driving over the pass. This is a serious issue that I have come across and it is unsafe to drive with out being able to aaccelerate with the flow of traffic.
In the summer of 2016, the CVT transmission started overheating. It was a very dangerous situation, as the car would lose power on the highway. You would have to coast to the shoulder and sit there for 20 minutes for the car to cool down. However, when we would take it to the dealer it would not show any error codes. This happened many times. We finally took it to another dealer and they had heard of this issue. It would happen very oftenon days with high outside temps. The other dealer replaced the CVT transmission last summer under warranty. However, this May as soon as it started to heat up outside, it started again.again no codes when they check. This is happening every day. Now the dealer refuses to help. From what I have found on the internet, this issue is way to common on this transmission.
Early morning. Going n on I-75, exiting on exit 22 (glades parkway). Slowing down to exit, my daughter perceived a burning odor inside thecar, I tried to keep reducing the speed but the car accelerated by itself and the steering wheel locked, the exit curve was in front of us and thanks god we crashed into the sidewalk border, where the car went over the grass with the front right wheel, scratched the underneath and that allowed us to get out of the grass and stop the car. I am truly scared of getting into that car again. As a mater of fact, just thinking what May have happened, I do not want that car anymore, so I want to know what options do I have. Axle, suspension system, rack & pinion, bearings, wheel, engine supports, and more damaged.
Transmission complaints in other Compass years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Jeep Compass?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Jeep Compass, 34% of the model year's 80 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Jeep Compass transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2013 Jeep Compass, though it has 1 recall 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 2013 Jeep Compass transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.