3.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,664 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Jeep Compass electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Jeep Compass Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #47

Jun 212024

Compass

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost electrical and motive power, causing the vehicle to shut off. The contact was able to pull over on the shoulder of the roadway and restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Zone where it was ODB scanned and determined that the crankshaft position sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #46

Dec 222023

Compass

  • miles
We were driving down the road and the car started violently shaking, the check engine light went on and the car wouldn't move. The car needed to be pushed to the gas station and we almost got hit with my son in his car seat. I do believe this is a safety concern that needs to be looked into for a possible recall. The mechanic determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt.

- Clinton Township , MI, USA

problem #45

Jul 062023

Compass

  • miles
I bought my car in Oct 2022 and it ran fantastic until this summer (July 2023) when it shut down while drive. The shop told me it was the crank shaft sensor. FIXED it. But that didn't fix the stalling issue. Had my car towed back in and they ran it, ran a lot of test on it. Finally they let it run for 30mins and found out that when the car heats up, it stalls. They told me this has to do with the sensor/engine/transmission and basically since it's hot outside as the car heats up it sends a message to the engine/transmission to shut down.

- New Castle, DE, USA

problem #44

Jul 122023

Compass

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased the vehicle in dec 2018. The odometer read 40248. I had to replace the alternator 3 times. Last one in 2021. the vehicle would loose power on the road causing a safety hazard. Since I bought the jeep the vehicle would stutter when pressing the gas pedal. 2021 at 100,000 miles Check engine light came on and stalled driving home and had to be pushed out of the lane by police. Diagnosing code said misfiring. Took to a small mechanic and replaced engine. After repair still had the stutter. and a year and a half later stalled on highway. The vehicle code now says misfiring on po302. Parked vehicle for now.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #43

Jan 012023

Compass

  • miles
When turning key stalling to start car. Finally car wouldn-??t start and I went to auto services and they said I probably needed a new battery. So I purchased a new battery. Now it-??s about two months later and car is hesitating/stalling to start again as I try crank the car up.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #42

Dec 162022

Compass

  • miles
I have been having issues with my vehicle for the past month or so. I took it to a mechanic and they said that my Power Transfer Unit is bad and my vehicle currently doesn't have 4 wheel drive capability. My vehicle periodically stutters, slows and looses power while driving at freeway speeds. During all of my issues, not once has my check engine light or any sort of indicator has lit up letting me know I have an issue with my vehicle. I thought newer cars are supposed to know when there is an issue with the vehicle. This is completely unacceptable and now I'm looking at over $2,000 in repairs.

- Afton, WY, USA

problem #41

Nov 092022

Compass

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

11/9/2022 2016 jeep compass shaking and shuts off randomly, won't reverse, turning off and on engine fix the issue for a few minutes.

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

problem #40

Aug 152022

Compass

  • miles
Have replaced Cam Shaft AND Crankshaft Positioning sensors to no avail. Check engine light will come and go, sometimes with the traction control lights as well if the brake is engaged for any length of time. After these lights come on, the jeep loses the ability to accelerate, leaving the car in limp mode. Light goes off after each sensor is replaced, will drive fine for a day or so, and then will leave you stuck. All attempts to diagnose, end in codes that have already been fixed

- Henderson, TX, USA

problem #39

Oct 122021

Compass

  • miles
On October 12, 2021about 1:30pm, I was at my dentist office. As I was leaving, my 2016 Jeep Compass would not start. I called my wife to bring jumper cables to me. I jumped my vehicle and started towards home. My driveway has a slite income and I drove just inside the overhead door and stopped. For a moment, I took my food off the brake pedal to draw my drivers mirror inward, at that moment, the vehicle started forward. I slammed my foot unto the brake pedal and the pedal went to the floor, not stopping the vehicle before hitting my work bench. The front edge of the hood had five dents in it. I made an appointment with the local Jeep dealer for October 19, 2021. I explained to the service adviser, about the battery and brake pedal, both happening on the same day. Later in that day, the adviser called me at home. They could not find a problem with the brake system, However, they said I needed a new battery. I gave them the okay. Several times sense that time, I have felt like my pedal was going to the floor, while stopping the vehicle.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #38

Sep 052021

Compass

  • miles
Vehicle has a slow acceleration ration. I was merging onto the Freeway and pressing on the accelerator, but it does not accelerate. It takes quite sometime to pickup speed, throttle body light has just started coming on along with the check engine light. Purchased Vehicle 8/2021, no acceleration from the beginning. Check engine and Throttle Body light 2-3 weeks ago.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #37

Jun 172022

Compass

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Friday 06/17/22 Parked care to go to excise class for 1 hour, when returned the car was running/had been started, I thought maybe the key control hit another set of keys in my pocket however, when I arrived home, and cut car off, and went in house the car started again and this happen several times that day.06/18/22 went to Walmart and parked car, when returned to car and unlocked the car door, the car automatically locked it self, I unlocked it and it locked itself again.then when got home locked the car and went inside the house, the car then started up and was running again. also, the Radio AM/FM stations not working, only the Sirius radio stations are.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #36

Feb 192022

Compass

  • miles
I was recently driving my vehicle at a speed of 50mph when all of a sudden the engine light and the electrical light came on and I was unable to accelerate. I was able to pull over. Restart the car and get to my mechanic. A diagnostic was run and it was determined it was the throttle body actuator. I said fix the part. Apparently it is on backorder and there is nothing Jeep can to and the only way you can get one emergently, is to have your car break down The following day I was driving and my vehicle completely stopped without warning. I was able to pull over. My car was not drivable and had to be towed. I called Jeep and the service manager laughed and said the part was on backorder. My brother was able to find an aftermarket part to replace it. I filed a claim with Jeep to cover it and replace the part and they told me there is no recall and they will not do it. My car is 6 years old, which is not old for a Jeep. Upon looking on-line, this is an ongoing issue with Jeep Compasses since 2015. Jeep knows this is a SAFETY issue and they are not recalling the part. If I was on the highway when this happened, I would have been killed. There is no warning at all. You are at a speed and then the car just shuts down. There is no warning. This needs to be investigated as it is a serious safety defect with the vehicle that Jeep knows about and is refusing to put the safety of their customers first.

- Horsham, PA, USA

problem #35

May 262021

Compass

  • miles
Occasionally, while driving, the vehicle will exhibit catastrophic electrical system failures. I was driving home just last night, and my headlights, turn signals, horn, windshield wipers, dash lights, hazard lights, and cruise control all turned off. I was able to limp it home with the help of someone driving in front of me, because I could not see. Imagine doing 45 mph on a turn at night, in an area with no streetlights, and all of a sudden your headlights and running lights turn off. I'm lucky I didn't hit a tree. No hazards means no one would have seen me on the road waiting for help until it was too late.

- Hayes, VA, USA

problem #34

Feb 022021

Compass

  • 35,305 miles
When vehicle is idling at a stop, park, gear select in reverse or drive then intermediately stalls

- Plumerville, AR, USA

problem #33

Mar 052021

Compass

  • 64,505 miles
I was driving my car and I turn on the "air conditioner" I hear this awful noise coming out of my glove box area, it was so startling that it took my eyes off the road and I hit a tree. I have the sound coming on every time I drive my crashed car.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #32

Aug 052019

Compass

  • 0 miles
For a while now when my car accelerates between 3 and 3.5 rpms the throttle control sensor goes off, and when that happens traction control turns off check engine light goes on and I cant go over 20mph.

- Epsom, NH, USA

problem #31

Oct 262020

Compass

  • 105,000 miles
Radio stops working when it wants and then comes back on, but only a few stations end up working then after. Only wants to work 40% of the time. Have not been to the dealer ship yet. Also the passenger seat when there is an actually passenger in the seat says there is not and the Jeep dings the whole car ride, even though they are buckled up. The car thinks that they are not.

- Elk River, MN, USA

problem #30

Oct 162020

Compass

  • 68,000 miles
All warning lights flashing on and off randomly and dinging while in motion. Also vehicles doesn't want to accelerate and rpms jumping up and down.

- Cohocton, NY, USA

problem #29

Sep 192019

Compass

  • 62,000 miles
The electronic throttle control is defunct and the car has low mileage. I stall out while driving!

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #28

Oct 012020

Compass

  • 52,000 miles
All of my lights came on out of nowhere then car wouldn't turn back on. After diagnostics it was determined to be an electrical issue with the wiring harnesses & also was told that there were issues with my airbags being able to properly deploy. Vehicle was on. Vehicle was in motion at about 30-40mph. I was fortunate enough to make it home and be able to park my car and I was fortunate I wasn't on a highway or it could have been a very dangerous accident.

- Worcester, MA, USA

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