What 80 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Jeep Compass

Catalytic converter problem Warning engine light keeps coming on. This has happened over several years. It now comes on everyday. It is now in shop to be fixed and code shows front converter is bad which includes the manifold.

NHTSA ODI 11653648

Attached is a work order request for a defective door handle on my Jeep Compass. The driver side door handle we have determined is wrapped in metal and is delaminating. It has caused a hand injury to my daughter due to the wrapping on the door handle coming apart and being extremely sharp. We have taken the car to our local dealer for inspection and they have verified that this is not normal and we believe the part is defective. Additionally, the passenger side handle is starting to do the same. This is a dangerous defective part and attempts to correspond with Jeep/Stellantis have been completely ignored.

NHTSA ODI 11619761

Passenger seat headrest ejected itself. Outside of the car was getting a handwash and suddenly the headrest just shot open. Now nobody is able to sit in passenger seat safely. Unsure how this could happen as car was operating just fine prior.

NHTSA ODI 11568658

This vehicle before had the cvt transmission replaced as it was over heating/inoperable. Complete replacement. Flash forward not even a year I was driving and thr transmission made a noise and basically locked up causing the driver to hit curb at high rate of speed along the freeway. The vehicle again is disabled with a transmission defect and requires replacement. 2nd transmission failure and will need replacement and caused injury during collision with curb at high rate of speed without any indication lights of a mechanical issue prior to impact.

NHTSA ODI 11532355

The vehicle was taken in for a recall of the catalytic converters and PCM software, July 2019. May 2021, while driving at highway speeds the transmission temperature light illuminated and an un-commanded deceleration occurred to about 10 mph, it would go no faster got to the nearest off ramp and to a rest area sat for an hour, then the vehicle performed normally. May 13, 2021, took the vehicle to the repair facility no trouble codes were set but they replaced the transmission filler tube. A few days later the light illuminated again but no adverse driving conditions occurred. June 18, 2021, at highway speeds the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph a service engine light illuminated a transmission overtempt light also and made it home about ten miles at no more than 10mph, 19 aug 2022 drove the vehicle at a few mph to my local Jeep dealer for check engine and no power.

NHTSA ODI 11491729

While preparing to enter my car today (6/5/2022) I heard a fairly loud popping/exploding sound. I quickly backed away from the car then approached it again and realized the passenger headrest, though attached, had basically split in 2. Upon further inspection I couldn’t see why this had randomly happened as I didn’t have a passenger with me and hadn’t touched it. I tried to force it back together but couldn’t figure out how to get it to move so I left it as is. Later this evening I started searching online for how to fit it back together and it appears this happens frequently especially with jeeps and is a failure of a safety feature called active headrest. I went back out to look at it and saw exactly what I had seen other drivers mention, there’s 2 teeny tiny pieces of black plastic that apparently keep it from deploying and the right one had cracked. Just lucky that no one was sitting there at the time or that it wasn’t the driver headrest while driving - very unsafe, I can’t even believe a “safety feature” is approved when it’s only withheld by a piece of plastic so small you wouldn’t think twice about discarding it if you found it while opening a toy.

NHTSA ODI 11467671

The vehicle was taken in for a recall of the catalytic converters and PCM software, July 2019. May 2021, while driving at highway speeds the transmission temperature light illuminated and an un-commanded deceleration occurred to about 10 mph, it would go no faster got to the nearest off ramp and to a rest area sat for an hour, then the vehicle performed normally. May 13, 2021, took the vehicle to the repair facility no trouble codes were set but they replaced the transmission filler tube. A few days later the light illuminated again but no adverse driving conditions occurred. Oct 18, 2021, at highway speeds the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph a service engine light illuminated a transmission overtempt light also and made it home about ten miles at no more than 10mph, 19 Oct 2021 drove the vehicle at a few mph to my local Jeep dealer for check engine and no power. 22 Nov 2021 they had me pay them $3000.00 and they ordered a transmission. 15 Mar 2022 the transmission arrived they installed it and a transmission cooler and new sparkplugs cleared all troubles, I paid another $3,815.62 and got my vehicle back in good working order. No accidents or injuries were incurred by the sudden decelerations due to our safe driving skills.

NHTSA ODI 11457415

Jeep first issues was at 89k, not shifting. Second issues was at100k transmission over heated. Dealer/ warranty had me changed the fluid and filter for transmission. Third issue, 130k transmission made a whining noise and stopped. Jeep was towed to the shop. After doing some research, turns out that the transmission on several these Jeep’s have same issue. The transmission should be on manufactured recall.

NHTSA ODI 11443721

PURCHASED 2013 JEEP COMPASS WITH 109,000 MILES. NOTICED IT BURNED OIL BAD. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, CHANGED OIL TO SYNTHETIC AS RECOMMEND AND FILTER. CONTINUED TO HAVE EXCESSIVE OIL BURN. 3 BOTTLES EVERY 2 WEEKS. WAS DRIVING IT AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SOMETHING DIDNT FEEL RIGHT., SHE PULLED OVER AS OIL LIGHT CAME ON. NOW OIL WAS CHECKED AND WAS FULL PRIOR TO DRIVING 40 MINUTES, NOW OIL LIGHT ON, CHECKED OIL AND WAS LOW. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, HAD IT TOWED TO GARAGE AND ENGINE IS FRIED. AT 111,000 MILES, NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. ENGINE IT IS IS A 2.4L . IF MY DAUGHTER DIDNT THINK QUICK TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI 11405886

I PURCHASED THIS JEEP A YEAR AGO VERY LOW MILEAGE. ABOUT 2 WEEKS INTO IT THE JEEP STARTED HEATING UP. LONG STORY SHORT THIS VEHICLE AT ITS 100K MILES NEEDED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT THAT COST ME OVER 3000.00 WITH SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ERROR., IVE HEARD SEVERAL OF THESE JEEP COMPASSES NEEDING TRANSMISSIONS UNDER 100K MILES

NHTSA ODI 11387382

DANGEROUSLY DROPPING INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING OR ABILITY TO OVERRIDE FOR SAFETY. EARLY FULL SYSTEM TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT NO OPTIONS FOR REPAIR. FINALLY DIED BY MAKING WHINING NOISE, GOING INTO LIMP MODE AND STAYING THERE. THE EXCESSIVE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION MAKES IT NOT COST EFFECTIVE. ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE ALTOGETHER.

NHTSA ODI 11385343

I HAD MY JEEP IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE & IT WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A RUSTED SUBFRAME. IT WAS SUGGESTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT. IT WAS EVALUATED & DETERMINED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ISSUE WITH PREMATURELY RUSTING. I CONTACTED JEEP CUSTOMER CARE ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WILL NOT HELP. THE COST TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME IS OVER $1,300. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE & IF NOT REPAIRED WILL CONTINUE TO CORRODE & DIMINISH THE HANDLING OF MY JEEP AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT.

NHTSA ODI 11363673

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE ALSO STARTED TO HEAR AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED ZAPPONE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM CLIFTON PARK LOCATED AT 1780 AL-9, CLIFTON PARK, NY 12065, (518) 383-2277, AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO HER RESIDENCE AND INFORMED HER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11352815

CVT TRANSMISSION OVER HEATING DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. DANGEROUSLY DROPPING INTO LIMP MOLD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING OR ABILITY TO OVERRIDE FOR SAFETY. EARLY FULL SYSTEM TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT NO OPTIONS FOR REPAIR. FINALLY DIED BY MAKING WHINING NOISE, GOING INTO LIMP MODE AND STAYING THERE. THE EXCESSIVE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION MAKES NOT COST EFFECTIVE. ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE ALTOGETHER.

NHTSA ODI 11348911

FAULTY TIPM SHORTLY OUT SOME ELECTRICAL RELAYS. STATIONARY COOLING FANS DON'T SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN IGNITION KEY IS OFF. AC BLOWER FANS INTIMIDATE ON AND OFF. AT CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR 10 DAYS. ALL RELAYS CHANGED 'ALL SENSORS CHANGE. TIPM DIAGNOSIS SAYS SHORT IN TIPM. $1500.00 PART AFTER REPAIR OF RELAYS AND SENSORS. TOTAL $2500+. BILL. AWAITING NEW TIPM TO COME IN. CHRYSLER CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11342725

DRIVING MY CAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED, THE LIGHTNING BOLT LIGHT CAME ONE, AND THE LOST ABILITY TO MOVE AT MORE THAN 5MPH. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT WAS FINE. GOT IT HOME AND TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. DEALER ASSURED ME THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS AND COULD FIX IT. GOT IT BACK A FEW DAYS LATER AND IT WAS FINE. FAST FORWARD A FEW MONTHS, MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND DID THE SAME THING. SHE MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD, A 4 LANE MAJOR HIGHWAY, SAFELY AND CALL ME. CALLED THE DEALER AND HAD IT TOWED. WAS TOLD THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING OVER AND RESET THE COMPUTER IT SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO. AGAIN, CAR WAS FINE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THE WHOLE PROCESS STARTED OVER. AGAIN, THE THIRD TIME, HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY CALLED AND WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND COULD SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEIR ADVICE WAS THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED TO LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM STILL RUNNING SO THEY COULD SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR 4 YEARS NOW. REALLY, THAT IS YOUR EXPERT ADVICE. I DO NOT DRIVE IT MUCH ANYMORE AND HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE THIS THING IS A DEATH TRAP. CANT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY I CAN UNLOAD IT, WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER JEEP IN MY LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 11340335

HEADREST DEPLOYS WHILE NO CRASH HAS HAPPENED

NHTSA ODI 11337557

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHTS TURN ON AND VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP" MODE CREATING THE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE OVER 10MPH. WHEN PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE JEEP STALLS AND THEN GOES INTO LIMP MODE. SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN THESE SCENARIOS. HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE THE JEEP HAD 50,000 MILES AND HAS CONTINUED TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AS OF JUNE 2020 (ISSUES BEGAN IN JAN 2019). EXTREME HESITATION HAS OCCURRED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON AN ON-RAMP ALSO CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD AS TO NOT GET UP TO THE APPROPRIATE SPEED TO SAFELY MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. CVT TRANSMISSION BEGAN OVERHEATING AT 55,000 MILES, ALSO CAUSING THE JEEP TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330758

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH BENSONS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM IN GREER SC SINCE THE SPRING OF 2019 ABOUT RECALLS ON MY JEEP. FINALLY, MY DAD DECIDED TO JUST CALL CHRYSLER AND THEY SENT US TO THE BIG O WHICH IS IN GREENVILLE SC THE INSTRUCTED US THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS AND CALL US WHEN THEY COME IN. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 7 MONTHS SINCE WE CALLED THEM IN EITHER JUNE OR JULY ABOUT THIS AND SINCE IT IS AIRBAGS AND SEATBELTS WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH MY SAFETY IF I WAS TO GET INTO A WRECK.

NHTSA ODI 11317254

2013 JEEP COMPASS LATITUDE. CVT TRANS HEARD UP AND STOPS ALL POWER. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND LET COOL AND REPEAT PROCESS EVERY 10 MILES OR SO

NHTSA ODI 11286290

ACTUATOR THROTTLE BODY SENSOR IS SHOWING A WARNING ON MY DASH WITH A CODE OF P2173

NHTSA ODI 11267564

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXTRA FORCE WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE OUTER TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11265847

ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND STALLING, NOT GETTING ABOVE 45 WITHOUT JARRING AND TRYING TO STALL OUT. I HAVE HAD KENDALL AUTO GROUP IN SOLDOTNA, ALASKA TRYING TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR SINCE MARCH 2019. THEY HAVE HAD STAR CASES OPENED WITH CHRYSLER TECHNICIANS. IT'S BEEN A GUESSING GAME. THEY HAVE RETURNED THE CAR TO ME SEVERAL TIMES SAYING IT WAS FIXED. ONLY TO HAVE IT STALL OUT ON ME. ONCE HAVING TO GET IT TOWED BACK TO THERE FACILITY. AT TIMES IT WAS OVER A MONTH BEFORE ANY COMMUNICATION TO BE.

NHTSA ODI 11255336

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND AND EXCESSIVE FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. THE FIRE GREW LARGER FROM OUT OF THE HOOD. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND CAME OUT SIDE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH THEIR OWN FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT MADE. THE CONTACT CALLED BAXTER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (17950 BURT ST SUITE 200, OMAHA, NE 68118 (402) 800-1230). THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE FAILED. MECHANICS SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR TOMORROW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11240589

TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION OVER HEATING LIGHT CAME ON. THE JEEP LOST ALL POWER. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES THE LIGHT WENT OFF. WE PULLED TO SAFE LOCATION. JEEP STILL DIDN'T HAVE MUCH POWER. TRANSMISSION SOUNDED AWFUL. JEEP WAS TAKEN HOME ON A FLATBED. NOW I AM BEING TOLD BECAUSE IT HAS 101340 MILES THE WARRANTY IS OVER. DEALERSHIP IS SAYING BECAUSE THE CODE LIGHT IS OFF THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11234648