Home · 2021 Jeep Compass · Complaints

What 76 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Compass

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (76)Crash / fire / injury (6)Electrical system (31)Engine (16)Transmission & drivetrain (8)Brakes (6)Steering (6)Speed control (5)Driver assistance (4)Fuel system (4)Lights (4)Engine & cooling (3)

4 of 76 complaints match · Driver assistance · clear filters

Dec 5, 2024Driver assistance

I been having a problem as I noticed it’s been seen multiple times with a jeep compass well mine is a 2021 jeep compass trail hawk. The car will shut off and say high coolant temp when that’s not the problem. The car is not hot and there is no problem with it just lose power and have no control over the car. It shuts off when I’m driving on the highway has left me stranded multiple times. Almost got hit turning on to the highway and it died as I was turning with a car head on. This is so unsafe. The car has been in the shop multiple times they replace stuff say it’s fixed it’s not and happens the minute I drive off. I been stuck in the middle of the lane with oncoming traffic’s and almost been hit. The dealership seams to not know what’s wrong with it and it’s so unsafe to be driving around in. Along with the many other people who have had the same problem. This is dangerous and keep should not be selling unsafe cars.

NHTSA ODI 11628976

Aug 7, 2024LightsBrakesDriver assistance

1.When I come to a stop my car jolts forward hard like I was hit from behind. 2. Issue is the lighting display is very dim during the day time once in a while randomly dims making it difficult to see my speed. 3. My radio panel shuts off randomly. 4. Auto collision detector is off .

NHTSA ODI 11606937

May 19, 2022EngineDriver assistance

My 2021 jeep Compass transmission and front camera has been causing me problems. My car for months has been jumping out of gear and jerking forward. The jerk get to a point where it feels as if someone just hit me from behind. These jerks almost caused me to get into about 3 accidents where I almost hit the person in front of me. In addition one time when I was at a red light and switched from brakes to gas as I was in drive my car did not go forward but reversed instead. My car has been in the shop for over 150 days with 7 different service orders. They tried to fix the jerking but was unsuccessful since it would go away for a short period and then get worse each day. Now for the front camera when I first bought the car about brand new I turned on the lane departure warning and a light popped on saying that it was not working. They replaced the camera and now I had a forward crash collision light and crusie control light turn on which has to do with the front camera and was just switched out again. My car is still in the shop after being there for over 2 months and the jerking still needs to looked at and addressed as well as the car driving in reverse.

NHTSA ODI 11465353

Dec 11, 2021Driver assistanceLane Departure

Lane Assist and Front Collision Camera ceased functioning...yes available for inspection Lane assist and traffic collision camera went out while driving in the rain on the freeway. Traffic came to a quick stop and was able to stop without assistance by sliding off to shoulder, was able to miss the other cars but it sure was close. Took to dealer (leased Dec. 2021) with 3,100 miles on it. Told I would have to leave for 72 hours while they figured out what the issue is. (no rental provided). Have not taken in yet. Drives okay without the lane assist and front camera but you cannot rely on these components. Especially when needed. No one has inspected yet. Warning lights are still on dashboard. The warning message came on as the components quit working.

NHTSA ODI 11443457

Working with the data? Download all 76 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2021 Jeep Compass verdict →