195 of the
6,123 complaints filed about the Jeep Compass
are about the steering —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
Within the first month of ownership I began hearing a noise from the right front of the vehicle consistent with a brake or suspension issue. I reported this to the selling dealer repeatedly during that first month; it was not resolved. The noise continued and worsened over the following year, eventually also affecting the right rear. At approximately 20,000 miles, an independent licensed inspection mechanic found that the right front inner tie rod required replacement due to significant wear, and the right rear wheel bearing also required replacement. The vehicle failed state safety inspection as a result of these findings. The mechanic noted the repair scope required disassembly of the steering column, indicating a defect beyond routine wear for the vehicle's age/mileage. Given that these are safety-critical steering and wheel components, the vehicle has been taken off the road entirely pending repair, out of concern that continued driving could result in loss of steering control. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. A written statement from the inspecting mechanic documenting these findings is available.
NHTSA complaint #11752965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brake caliphers went bad 2 days after I purchased, now a heavy humming sound that I literally feel vibration in my seat, loud weird noise when making sharp turns, turning the wheel while in park grinding noise, loud rumbling when air conditioner is on, jerking forward when press on gas. This car is horrible
NHTSA complaint #11745995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased this car in August 2024 used. In April 2025 I took it to the dealer, Mc Peek Dodge in Anaheim for clicking noises while turning either direction and Drivers front side wheel sound like its wobbly. They replaced both half axles. Again the vehicle made the same noise about a month later. I took it back in May. They replaced them again. This year in May I took it back and had it for 2 days and never looked at it. So I called Jeep customer care and they said take it elsewhere. I went to Premiere Jeep in Buena Park. They kept it for a week and replaced the left half axle again. They said the wobbly noise must be from my brake rotor and wanted to charge me $550 to resurface and reinstall the same rotor. I declined since the noise is constant and not when I'm braking. The vehicle is again making the same noise. Especially when I'm turning left. Sounds like my wheel only has one bolt attached and falling off. The clicking noise from the steering is also still present. I'm afraid my tire or suspension is going to fail and cause injury to my family, commuters or myself. Jeep can't seem to fix this suspension and steering issue after 2 years and 3 times having the vehicle in service. This is costing me time from work and the cost of rental cars.
NHTSA complaint #11743830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Steering rack needs to be replaced per dealership. Reported loud clunking noise when turning. Not covered under warranty. Was told it was regular car maintenance. 49k miles with bumper to bumper expired a month before complaint. Have noted in forums multiple complaints for same issue yet jeep refuses to cover.
NHTSA complaint #11740475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Three times now, my steering wheel feels like it’s jerking out of my hands and difficult to turn. It has happened at low speeds while maneuvering in parking lots. I’m afraid it’ll happen at higher speeds as it gets worse.
NHTSA complaint #11729120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This first occurred on 3/10/2026 and then occurred again on 3/15/2026. When driving the coolant temp warning will randomly come on. This causes the car to lock up. After about 30-60 seconds it goes back to normal. This could very dangerous if I were on the interstate that I take every day to work. I am a mechanic, have hooked it up to a computer and there are no codes. I have tried to research it a learned that it is a consistent issue that seems to be common in the Jeep Compass, going back as far as the 2019 model.
NHTSA complaint #11724485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA Safety Complaint Summary Component: Braking System / Electronic Stability Control / Electrical System Incident Date: November 5, 2025 Vehicle Mileage: 5,207 Description of Defect: While operating the vehicle at highway speeds on the Grand Central Parkway, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete loss of primary braking function. Simultaneously, the dashboard displayed multiple critical system failures, including: "Service Electronic Stability Control," "Start/Stop Unavailable," "Service Park Brake," and "Dynamic Torque Service Required." The brake pedal became unresponsive/hard, requiring extreme force and distance to bring the vehicle to a stop, nearly resulting in a high-speed collision. This was a non-collision catastrophic mechanical failure of the braking and electronic control modules. Post-Incident History: The vehicle was held by an authorized manufacturer dealership (Hempstead Jeep) for over 60 days. Despite attempted repairs, the vehicle continues to exhibit electrical instability, including intermittent battery failure and charging system warnings. The manufacturer has been unable to provide a permanent remedy for the underlying electrical-to-braking system fault. This vehicle remains a severe risk to public safety and life. Thank You [XXX] & [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11716183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission jerks had in the shop three times for the same problem it feels like it's going to throw you through the windshield. It's been in the shop since October 23rd 2025 for several problems and the guy told me it was using oil.
NHTSA complaint #11712241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On 6 occasions in varying driving conditions “Service AEB System Immediately” message and warning lights has appeared on instrument cluster. When this occurs all safety features are also disengaged. Furthermore, on a different occasion the vehicle was parked for 4 hours and after starting the vehicle I received a “Power Steering Overheat” message and warning light on the instrument cluster. Due to this the steering also became stiff. Finally, on 4 occasions now a “Parking Light Out” message has appeared on the instrument cluster. When exiting the vehicle it is observed that the DRL in the passenger headlight will frequently turn off during operation and just go black. Then after restarting the vehicle will come back on. This vehicle has already been in service twice (and is going in a 3rd time this week) for these issues and have shown no signs of resolution. I am seriously wanting to lemon law this vehicle at this point as it does not feel safe to operate with the many electrical faults.
NHTSA complaint #11703868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my 2014 Jeep Compass. While driving, the vehicle feels as though the passenger-side front wheel is going to snap off at any moment. The sensation and noise appear to come from the wheel or axle area, and the instability is strong enough that the vehicle does not feel safe to operate. I have taken the vehicle to multiple mechanics for inspections and test drives. Despite these efforts, no one has been able to locate the source of the problem or identify any faulty components. Although the mechanics report finding nothing wrong, the issue remains and makes the vehicle extremely concerning to drive on public roads. Because the problem affects steering stability and overall safety, I believe this may be a potential defect. I am requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this issue, determine whether other drivers have reported similar complaints, and consider whether an investigation or recall may be necessary. I can provide additional information, videos, photographs, or repair documentation if needed. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
NHTSA complaint #11703474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Randomly high temperature warning light comes on dash which causes car to immediately shut off. After a complete stop you are able to restart car. All obvious cooling components fine. This happens often and random putting occupants in serious danger of collision. Has happened on highway and in middle of intersection making a turn. This false warning causing car shutdown happens 5-8 times a month.
NHTSA complaint #11700410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This car has stalled 9 times while I was driving. I live in a very busy, densely populated area where car stalling in the middle of streets can get me badly injured or killed. The car stalls in Drive, while I'm braking, and slowly coasts along about an extra 2 feet before completely stopping. I cannot tell that it has stalled because I can't hear the engine, and the Dash always says "Run" with all the lights lit up. Also, Lane Assistance comes on when no cars are around and the car just starts braking on its own and slows down with loud bells ringing and flashing lights on the inside of the car. I turned Lane Assistance off, but it stills comes on by itself. I'm afraid to drive it, but it's all I have and in this city you need a car to get around because nothing is close to home.
NHTSA complaint #11697727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled and started jerking, with the battery warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was shaking abnormally during the failure. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
NHTSA complaint #11693307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I noticed a subtle clunk noise about a month ago coming from the steering wheel and the front left side of the vehicle when turning the steering wheel at a low velocity and also when the car was idle. The noise gradually started becoming more frequent and louder as days went on. As I was driving the vehicle was not driving smooth as usual it almost felt wobbly when turning the steering wheel. There has not been any warning lights or warning messages that came on or alerted me. I thought it could possibly be my front left tire since the noise was coming from the front left side of the car. so I had my tires checked and had a rotation done. The car continued to make the noise and wobbly when I would turn the steering wheel. I felt the vehicle may possibly not be safe to drive especially on the highway so I decided to make an appointment for Monday September 15,2025. I brought my vehicle to the San Antonio Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealership early morning to get the issue checked. I had to leave my vehicle there due to the service advisor stating it would take 2 days for the diagnostic to be done. They inspected the vehicle and ran diagnostic. Two days later let me know their tech test drove the vehicle replicated the clunk noise and used a special diagnostic tool called Chassis Ear tool in order to pin point the issue and found that it was coming from the steering gear. They gave me an estimate stating the steering gear and outer tie rods ends need to be replaced. When I spoke to the service advisor he told me they would have to order a rack and pinion steering gear system. Stated the repair will not be covered under jeep train warranty and my limited warranty already expired just 4 months ago. My vehicle only has 35,500 miles. I keep up with all maintenance and multi point inspections have been done on my vehicle on time. They don’t know why the steering gear has failed and also mentioned they currently have other customer’s Jeep compass there with the same exact issue
NHTSA complaint #11688759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I START THE CAR, THE STEERING WHELL IS FROZEN, WILLNOT MOVE AN THE GEAR SHIFT WILL MOVE BUT IT CAR WILL NOT MOVE,, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF PULLING THE EMERCENCY BREAK AN TURNING IT OFF AND GOING THRU THE SHIFT PATTERN , THE CAR MAY MOVE,,,SOMETIMES I HAVE TO SHUT THE MOTOR OFF AN ON TO GET THE WHEEL UNFROZEN AND THE GEARS TO WORK.... HAVE OWNED THE CAR 3 MONTHS AN THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES.... AT THIS TIME THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, HOWEVER THEY CAN NOT GET THE CAR TO DO THE SAME THING FOR THEM, SO THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT TO FIX..THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON...BEING REAL HELPFUL,,BUT CAN NOT FIX A PROBLEM THEY CAN NOT FIND.
NHTSA complaint #11688159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Since 20,000 miles I have had problems with my steering column. I first took it in back in August of 2023 due to a clunking noise coming from my steering wheel. When I first took it in my suspension was tightened but this did not resolve the issue. When I took it back in a week later I was told I needed to replace my rack and pinion. The rack and pinion was replaced but my car still had the faint clunking sound. The clunking came back a year later. At 30,000 miles I was told both of my front axles had failed and both were replaced. The clunking sound still remained but faint. Seven months later the clunking returned once again and much more aggressively (I was out of warranty at this point). I was told one of my axles failed once again prematurely and was replaced after sitting for nearly a month. When I got my car back after nearly 4 weeks i noticed the exact same aggressive clunking noise in my steering column. I returned my car back a week later for a new diagnosis after speaking with the service manager. The report came back stating that both of my lower control arms went bad and needed to be replaced. Also discovered was a bad intermediate shaft causing the clunking noise. The dealership decided to goodwill the service to fix my lower control arms since it was a dangerous situation to drive in and I had been driving my car like this for 20,000 miles since I originally took the car in. The dealership says they can not do anything about the intermediate shaft which could cause me to lose all steering abilities and cause a serious car accident. I no longer feel safe in this car and 100% believe this car is a lemon.
NHTSA complaint #11679989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Increased a 2022 Jeep Compass with 25500 Miles and was almost $25.000.00 from Carvana Based out of Atlanta and Tempe AZ. My daughter was so excited as it was delivered by Carvana and about 2 hours after it was delivered to her she drove it onto the highway and as soon as she drove it on the highway at about 50 miles per hour it rattled so violently and pulled right like the vehicle was about to fall apart. So frantically and scared and crying was able to Limp it to the side of the highway and called me and called Carvana & took almost 2 hours to get someone live other than robots chat things. She was told by Carvana to take it to pep boys. With no apology or a bit of concern for her safety said nothing or even apologized. A criminal company. So the service manager said that he could not believe that a so called 150 point inspection that the most important system for safety on a vehicle being the braking system. The rotors were bad and warped. They were never turned or replaced. He said they took a horrible and risky and illegal repair at Carvana with just putting new brake pads on damaged rotors and a badly worn tire and never balanced any of the tires and all were terribly out of balance and alignment was so far off specs he was upset she could even drive it down the street so this is unacceptable and unsafe and I hope this criminal company can be fined and sued and made an example out of. I will be contacting the media in Atlanta, Georgia and Tempe, Arizona as well as the local newspapers & news channels on your side for investigations. Also I will notify the organizations I belong to after serving in Iraq and [XXX] being the reason I could not go see it as it was delivered as they don’t allow test drives or inspection by customer before delivery so we rely on these crooked people to make sure 150 point inspection of nothing. But being a [XXX] I will contact the [XXX] & American Legion & VFW as social media. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(
NHTSA complaint #11671736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving down the road going about 40mph. The car stopped abruptly and displayer low coolant warning. Car would not restart. I towed it to a local mechanic who replaced the auxiliary battery. Car has been working and hasn't shut off but warning lights sometimes pop up for a split second. I'm worried it's going to happen again while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11665533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.