— Owners of 2017 Jeep Compass SUVs should be careful about following Jeep's instructions for jump starting the SUVs. According to Chrysler, about 13,000 model year 2017 Jeep Compass SUVs have user's guides that are wrong.
Included in the instructions is a picture graphic showing how to connect to the battery terminals, but the graphic is reversed and will cause the polarity to be reversed.
Following the instructions could fry any number of computers in the Compass, burn out the radio or windshield wipers or destroy many other electrical components. It's also possible to blow up the battery if the jumper cables are hooked up to the wrong battery terminals.
Chrysler learned from a supplier in May 2017 about possible problems with the user's guides included with the 2017 Jeep Compass SUVs, so engineers opened an investigation and confirmed the error in the manuals.
Chrysler searched for information concerning complaints or incidents where the jumper cables were reversed, thereby reversing the polarity of the charge. FCA found no warranty claims, injuries or crashes, but did find an owner complaint.
The recall affects all 2017 Compass SUVs built for the North American market, from the start of production to April 28, 2017, the day corrected versions of the user's guides were delivered to the assembly plant.
The Jeep Compass recall will begin August 21, 2017, when Chrysler will notify owners and replace the incorrect user's guides.
Owners may contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 and make reference to recall number T46.
