Most common 2018 Jeep Compass problems
Share of the 946 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Jeep Compass complaints by model year
Best Compass years: 2013, 2015, 2021. Years to avoid: 2018, 2022, 2019, 2014, 2016. Compare all years →
2018 Jeep Compass recalls (6)
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
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…
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
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.
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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
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."
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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.
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.
What 2018 Jeep Compass owners say
Engine & cooling all 481 →
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while his wife was merging onto the highway at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that his wife stopped depressing the accelerator pedal and the vehicle restarted. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact's wife was able to safely exit the highway however, the vehicle would not accelerate properly and exceeded 30 MPH. The contact's wife drove to an auto parts store and added two quarts of oil to the engine. The vehicle began to operate correctly. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed but no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired and the contact's wife continued to use the vehicle. The failure recurred while the contact's wife was driving approximately 30 MPH. The vehicle stalled and the contact's wife was rear-ended. …
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the message "Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon" was displayed. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle on several occasions, the messages "Service Engine" and "Stop/Start System Unavailable - Service Stop/Start System" were displayed, and the battery warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving, and the vehicle shut off while depressing the brake pedal to pull to the side of the roadway. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart on several occasions and was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. …
Electrical system all 379 →
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, both the driver and passenger side rear windows would roll down independently. The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall as several warning lights would appear on the instrument panel. The contact called the dealer about the failure and was given an estimate for a diagnostic. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who failed to diagnose the failure. The contact then stated that while driving in inclement, icy weather; the vehicle began to slide upon the depression of the brake pedal while approaching a stop light. As the vehicle began to slide, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact lost complete control of the vehicle as the vehicle crashed into a light pole. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. …
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the message "Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon" was displayed. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle on several occasions, the messages "Service Engine" and "Stop/Start System Unavailable - Service Stop/Start System" were displayed, and the battery warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving, and the vehicle shut off while depressing the brake pedal to pull to the side of the roadway. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart on several occasions and was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 151 →
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, both the driver and passenger side rear windows would roll down independently. The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall as several warning lights would appear on the instrument panel. The contact called the dealer about the failure and was given an estimate for a diagnostic. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who failed to diagnose the failure. The contact then stated that while driving in inclement, icy weather; the vehicle began to slide upon the depression of the brake pedal while approaching a stop light. As the vehicle began to slide, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact lost complete control of the vehicle as the vehicle crashed into a light pole. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. …
The contact owned a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the steering wheel column became inoperable; however, there were no warning lights illuminated on the control panel. The vehicle was inoperable, swerved off the road, and caused an accident. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was declared a total loss by the insurance adjuster. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
2018 Jeep Compass engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | AWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Jeep Compass a good car?
Based on 946 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Compass rates avoid: 7.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Compass at the same age. It is one of the Compass years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Jeep Compass?
The engine & cooling — 481 complaints, 51% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › oil/lubrication. Next are the electrical system (379) and transmission & drivetrain (151).
How many recalls does the 2018 Jeep Compass have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2018 Jeep Compass, the most recent from August 9, 2018 (front underhood). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Jeep Compass?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2015 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2022, 2019, 2014 and 2016. See the full Jeep Compass years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Compass problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 19,000 miles; 89% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.