8.1

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,794 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2020 Jeep Compass Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #37

Sep 162023

Compass

  • miles

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

I was making a left turn when the temperature indicator shot up to red, it had been reading right in the middle which is normal. Then "coolant temperature high" lit up on the dashboard display. The car started to sputter (like shaking) as I was going through the intersection and I thought it was going to turn off completely. I hit the gas because there was still oncoming traffic and it seems like the car recovered. The gauge showing the temperature slowly went back to normal and the error light went away. The same situation happened about 3 months ago when my husband was driving. However, he was sitting at a light when the temperature went up and the error occurred. The car completely shut down and had to be restarted.

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #36

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 #35

May 312023

Compass

  • miles
While at a stoplight the engine stalled and the instrument cluster displayed a "coolant temperature high" message. After restarting the engine the temperature gauge displayed the normal mid temp. This has happened once before when reversing in the driveway at home. This scenario is identical to the open investigation at NHTSA from December 2022.

- Saint Charles, IL, USA

problem #34

Apr 192023

Compass

  • miles

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

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 #33

May 022023

Compass

  • miles
Engine temporarily shut itself off by itself in the freeway as I was slowing down pressing my brakes because of the cars in front of me in traffic hour. The car flashed a -??coolant temperature too high-?? message then immediately turned itself off for a minute. The engine/coolant temperature gauge was normal the whole time I was driving (in between the cold and the high sign). But even then it flashed that -??coolant temperature too high-?? message and shut itself off right then for a minute after it flashed me that sign. It was over 100 degrees fahrenheit outside and inside the car without ac it was awful. I immediately turn on my four ways but cars still kept coming up behind me even though I could not move my car. The car would not turn on. I changed gears from drive to neutral and then to park. And after a minute the car turned on again. Even with my four ways on, drivers kept pulling up behind me on the freeway despite my four way lights being on. I prayed I wouldn-??t get hit and cause an accident on the freeway because of my disabled vehicle. A few drivers almost rear ended me because they kept coming up behind me. I kept pressing my brakes and tried restarting my vehicle. I was scared and almost got hit by a some cars. This has happened multiple times every year since I bought the car back in 2021. Before it kept happening at a stop light in the middle of the street and now it happend on the freeway. On the freeway I am driving between 65mph to 80mph and it stopping like that randomly made my heart skip a beat. I thought I was going to be involved in several accidents on the freeway with cars going over 65mph. The car shutting itself off messed up my steering and the braking system. It is a safety hazard. I have gone to the dealership multiple times for this issue and it still happens to me every year. I could have died or caused an accident today.

- Phoenix , AZ, USA

problem #32

Apr 262023

Compass

  • miles
The vehicle was in motion going 40 MPH when the dashboard displayed high coolant temp. The dashboard continued to flash other warnings such as check engine and oil change required. Then, the emergency brake light was on, engine light, and oil light. This caused the vehicle to lose total power in the accelerator and partial power in the brakes. The event led my vehicle to cause a complete stop in the middle of a highway. To the resolve the issue, I powered off the engine and restarted the vehicle. After powering the vehicle back on, all was normal other than the check engine light was still on, but it did run perfectly fine. Coolant level in reservoir is normal. This instance has taken place on multiple occasions.

- Pace, FL, USA

problem #31

Feb 192023

Compass

  • miles

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

Electronic Malfunctions The Jeep completely turn off. Energy lights did not turned on both batteries died. Unable to move the car to -??N-?? to move it out of the freeway. CHP used flares to detour the traffic. Could have been a feral accident due to the electrical turning completely off on the freeway

- El Sobrante , CA, USA

problem #30

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 #29

Jan 192023

Compass

  • 63,774 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while approaching a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving to his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,774.

- Odessa, TX, USA

problem #28

Jan 082023

Compass

  • miles
Car showed false high coolant message. And the engine shut off and would not start again

- Deerfield Beach , FL, USA

problem #27

Nov 012022

Compass

  • miles

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

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 #26

Dec 182022

Compass

  • miles
Stopped at red light and coolant over heating warning came on screen and vehicle would not move. Powered vehicle down and back up and engine was revving aggressively. Turned vehicle back on after a few minutes and it was fine like nothing happened. At no point was the vehicle actually overheating.

- Byron Center, MI, USA

problem #25

Dec 012022

Compass

  • miles
Vehicle started indicating High Coolant temperature then engine would shut down. It would restart after shut off. Radio would fade in an out. While vehicle was in motion the engine should shut down and had to pull over and restart the vehicle. This happened on several occasions before the vehicle completely shut down. Towed vehicle to dealership with a repair of $700 to replace both batteries.

- Rochester, Mi, MI, USA

problem #24

Oct 302022

Compass

  • miles
The engine on my 2020 Jeep Compass will turn off unexpectedly and without warning after the vehicle has come to a stop. Sometimes, the engine will restart easily with the push start button after the transmission selector has been moved to "Park". Other times the vehicle cannot be restarted for several minutes and random messages appear on the dashboard display. These messages include but are not limited to, "coolant temperature high", "service airbag system" and other assorted nonsensical messages. This issue appears to be related to the Stop/Start feature on my vehicle. This phenomenon is dangerous and unsettling since it leaves my vehicle stranded in precarious situations for undetermined periods of time. The dealer has not been able to reproduce this exact issue. The vehicle and related components have only been inspected by the dealer. This issue has been happening for nearly 45 days. Up to this point there have been no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the engine shutting off by itself.

- Rialto, CA, USA

problem #23

Nov 282022

Compass

  • miles
Electrical transmission problem. Car stopped working in the middle of street almost got in accident. Won-??t accelerate over 20 miles. Problem turning on after turns off automatically. Seen so many people with this problem. This car needs to be investigated is not safe.

- Fort Myers , FL, USA

problem #22

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 #21

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 #20

Sep 172022

Compass

  • miles
The vehicle has 44k miles on it. Upon starting the car in my driveway today it would not start and was throwing an ECM error code along with "engine coolant temperature too hot". The vehicle fluids levels are perfect but it just will not start. I called the dealership and was advised they've seen lots of these issues but have no clue how to fix the problem. The car will automatically shut down if being driven and this occurs (we read other blogs on this issue) and it is truly a hazard.

- Buckeye, AZ, USA

problem #19

Aug 012022

Compass

  • miles
Over the past month my car has had issues with my car not starting up and killing out my battery. Today I had was driving and my vehicle shut off at a stop light and wouldn-??t turn back on. After getting the battery powered up I went to work and turned off my car and now it won-??t start again. When trying to start my car it will tell me that my coolant temperature is high and then it will tell me the coolant temperature is to low and it will flash and tell me EBS system. The car has even stopped suddenly as I slowed down to make a right hand turn almost causing me to get into multiple accidents. The auto start/stop light is always on. I have already been through 2 batteries in this car so far and I am so frustrated as is my job over this issue.

- Jbsa, TX, USA

problem #18

Aug 122022

Compass 4-cyl

  • miles
Second time vehicle refuses to turn on. Purchased a "New" battery from the dealership and just a few months later the vehicle refused to turn on once again. According to the dealership the electrical wires were burnt out by the computer in my jeep. Tire pressure on my vehicle are always incorrect and I have purchased four sets of new tires trying to correct this error. First claim filed with Jeep case number: [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mission, TX, USA

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