10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,279 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.

2020 Jeep Compass drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2020 Jeep Compass Owner Comments

problem #18

Oct 182024

Compass

  • 98,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

- Manteno, IL, USA

problem #17

Aug 172024

Compass

  • miles
2020 Jeep Compass ran hot and started beeping. First was told it needed a system flush by mechanic. There was no prior warnings of any sort as the car has has had regular fluid changes (Oil etc) it appeared on 8/17/2024. Now its a 'transmission coolant fail' I have no idea how this happened at 91k miles.

- Savannah , GA, USA

problem #16

Aug 222024

Compass

  • miles
This issue has been happening sporadically over the last couple of years, but it's starting to happen more often. When driving normally, the check engine light will flash, a message "Coolant temp too high" will appear in red, and the car turns off. Sometimes it will turn back on immediately and drive fine, other times I have to leave it turned off for up to 2 minutes. This happened to me twice on my drive to drop off my kid at school, and on my way to the office, on a busy highway during traffic. All maintenance has been done on time, and there are no error codes when I get it scanned. I get met with shrugs and "could try..." I see others have been having similar issues, so I am going to post here as well.

- South Jordan, UT, USA

problem #15

Aug 192024

Compass

  • miles

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

I was driving home and got an error message that the coolant temperature was too high, even though the gauge showed it to be right in the middle at the normal level. The car then locked up and I was unable to turn the steering wheel for a terrifying few seconds. The car then restarted itself and I was able to drive home. a while later, I tried to start the car and it would not start and kept giving me the error message that the coolant was too high even though the gauge shows the level to be The very bottom of the temperature on the cool side. I checked the coolant levels and they were a little low so I added more coolant up to the max level and waited a few hours. Then I tried to start it again and it still will not start. Additional error messages are now popping up, including saying, the emergency brake needs to be serviced. I am going to have to get it towed into the service shop tomorrow.

- Cruttenden, KY, USA

problem #14

Jun 212024

Compass

  • miles
The driveshaft failed at only 32,000 miles and the engine is failing. The dealership confirmed this is happening for other vehicles of my make and model.

- Eugene, OR, USA

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problem #13

Jun 182024

Compass

  • miles
I was dropping someone off at work, stopped at the front door, after it said high coolant temperature and my car shut off and rolled, I was about to get in a parking spot. Then I had to get my car towed because I did not want to risk it happening again. My engine and whole car shut off. It was towed to a certified dealership upon request, and is still being checking out. I could have put anyone at risk being in a public area with other cars and people around me but luckily no one was injured. The problem has not be confirmed yet. No the Vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance. It was given to Jeep. The only warning sign was the high coolant then it shut my car off. It first appeared right before it happened.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #12

May 112024

Compass

  • miles

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

We drove to the grocery store 5 minutes away. After being in the store for about 15 minutes we returned to go home. We tried starting the car and it wouldn-??t start, message -??High coolant temperature-?? came on with orange engine light. We waited 5 minutes, started again and all the warning lights flashed and the car locked up. Nothing would engage, even the brakes. We had to abandon the car in the lot and walk home.

- Walden, NY, USA

problem #11

Feb 262024

Compass

  • miles
Coolant mixing with oil three times in a month span with new parts being replaced. With further inspection, driver was not at fault. Vehicle malfunctioned. Overheating after replacement of thermostat, head gasket, and water pump. Auto start/stop goes on and off requesting service.

- Elmwood Park , IL, USA

problem #10

Jun 012021

Compass

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, a low oil pressure warning light illuminated intermittently, and the gears failed to shift as designed. The contact also stated that the front of the vehicle was shaking, causing an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to a dealer the low oil pressure sensor was replaced. After the repair, the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was taken to another dealer, Harr Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (110 Gold Star Blvd, Worcester, MA 01606) where the service tech was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #9

Apr 192023

Compass

  • miles
Unknown as to exact issue. In August 2021, spark plug blew (according to dealer) in the middle of an intersection after the auto -??off-?? and the engine would not turn back on at approximately 8K miles. The spark plug was replaced under warranty. Starting in April 2023, around 31K miles, on two separate occasions after the auto start/stop is in use. It will turn off unexpectedly and without warning after the vehicle has come to a stop. Both times the vehicle could not be turned completely off and restarted for at least one minute. No messages appear on screen. Both issues appear to be related to the Stop/Start feature. Two different dealers have not been able to identify issue.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #8

Apr 092023

Compass

  • miles

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

Minutes after leaving my garage, dashboard lit up ENGINE OVERHEAT, and immediately the car shut DOWN. Obviously, I had no control of the vehicle. Car would not attempt to start after that. I had it towed to a Jeep dealer. They said there was no signal to the engine computer, and later found a corroded wire under the battery that was the cause. The vehicle was 3 and a half years old and just ready to turn 50K miles. Kept in a garage. Repair bill was $6020 plus tow!

- New Franklin, OH, USA

problem #7

Mar 052023

Compass

  • miles
On 4 occasions, months apart, my 2020 Jeep Compass has given me a dashboard alert stating -??coolant temperature too high-?? and the engine immediately stalls and shuts down. The first 3 times this occurred, the check engine light would come on and the vehicle would not restart and other alerts such as -??service 4WD system-?? and -??EBS not available-?? would display. At no time was the vehicle overheating or the actual coolant temperature above normal operating temperature. After sitting in the middle of an intersection for 5-10 minutes, the vehicle would finally turn on with the check engine light being off and no alerts displayed. The vehicle would then drive like nothing ever happened for a few months. The most recent time this unexpected shutdown occurred, as I slowed to approach a left hand turn the vehicle gave the coolant temperature error and shut down, losing power steering and making the break pedal incredibly hard to depress. I came to a stop in the turn lane and put it in park, only this time the vehicle could not be restarted at all and it had to be towed home and then the next day towed to the dealer for service. The vehicle is still in the dealers possession for servicing. This issue needs to be investigated and reconciled. If this were to happen on the freeway numerous lives would be at risk.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #6

Nov 012022

Compass

  • miles
Engine stalling, false overheating reading, battery failing. Radio screen getting stuck with review camera, radio not shutting off after vehicle shuts off, car in park but is not recognized by the system, TIMP issues stop and start function not working properly, losing oil, ESC needs attention. A whole lot of headache. Car has been broke down for a month with 27000 miles and making payment unable to drive.

- Okmulgee, OK, USA

problem #5

Sep 282022

Compass

  • miles
Just bought vehicle at 33k miles, 1 owner. Records show they changed oil and maintained vehicle ever 3500-4000k miles. Test drove a certified vehicle from big chain dealer, 4days later decide to purchase. Driving home car didn't feel right. Felt jumping" While driving like bubbly" Anyway got home. Lift hood. I hear engine knocking, I hear hissing under hood on top, also and clank clank nosies underneath by cat converter. A certified vehicle a 125 point inspection by a major dealership. I feel I been scammed. There's no way this should have passed inspection at all.

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #4

Aug 102022

Compass

  • miles
I did an oil change mid august and found bits of metal in the oil at 50,000 miles, Ive change the oil every 5000 miles. I haven't been rough with it and also every time I get on the highway or rev my engine up to 4000 rpm the transmission slips hard on the 4th gear usually. If I have it on FWD it slips as well. The Blind spot warning goes off randomly sometimes as well.

- Hubert, NC, USA

problem #3

Jul 092022

Compass

  • miles
Vehicle jolts back and forwards while shifting while driving

- Fort Dodge , IA, USA

problem #2

Jul 072021

Compass 4-cyl

  • 12,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that her son was driving at undisclosed speeds when he arrived at his destination turn into a parking lot. Placed the gear actuator in park, within second a warning indicated that the vehicle was not in park however, the contact stated that the vehicle was in park. The gear actuator seized not allowing the contact to change gears. The contact attempted to turn the vehicle off however the vehicle failed to turn off. Unknown if any odor appeared. The police department was contacted and came out and try to assist. Within a second the vehicle went up in flames. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the flames. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention contacted was contacted. The vehicle was towed by the police department to a tow yard (unknown location). The police department deemed the vehicle a total loss. USAA was contacted and will collect the vehicle but as of now, no further information was provided to the contact. The manufacture was informed of the failure however no further assistance was taken at this time. The failure mileage approximately 12,000.

- Montville, NJ, USA

problem #1

Mar 282021

Compass

  • 4,021 miles
I was filling up my gas tank, the automatic stop on the gas pump never shut off. Gas began spilling out of my car onto the ground. I placed the gas pump back and attempt ed to start my car, my car started but shut off right after signaling my oil was low. I just got my oil changed a week before. My car is now at the shop and I am out of pocket to fix this issue. This was a brand new car and it continues to stall and won't hold a charge. After searching this issue it seems to be a common issue with this vehicle. Also I am told by the dealership that my warranty will not cover this issue.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

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