Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

80 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
35

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

sudden stalling 23fluid leaks 3
A recent report: I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2021 Jeep Compass Limited due to repeated coolant loss, overheating/high-temperature warnings, and eventual engine failure. The vehicle began losing…
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I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2021 Jeep Compass Limited due to repeated coolant loss, overheating/high-temperature warnings, and eventual engine failure. The vehicle began losing coolant and required frequent refilling. The problem progressively worsened until coolant would immediately leak out underneath the vehicle when added. I paid approximately 1,400 to have the radiator replaced, but the same problem returned approximately two weeks later. The vehicle subsequently developed additional problems including shaking, a check-engine light, Cylinder 1 misfire, and diagnostic code P0117 related to the coolant temperature sensor/circuit. The vehicle also displayed a warning that the oil temperature was too high and the engine needed to cool down. The vehicle eventually became undrivable, and I believe the engine may have locked up. The progression from severe coolant loss and overheating to misfire, high-temperature warnings, and possible catastrophic engine failure is concerning. This vehicle is used to transport my children, including daily school transportation. I am concerned that a sudden loss of coolant, overheating, loss of power, or engine failure while driving could create a serious safety hazard. The radiator replacement did not resolve the underlying problem, which makes me concerned there may be a larger defect involving the cooling system, temperature control, or related engine components. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether similar coolant-loss, overheating, temperature-warning, and engine-failure problems are occurring in 2021 Jeep Compass vehicles and whether a safety defect may exist.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11762492 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
27

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 12sudden stalling 8electrical shorts 2
A recent report: The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled in the middle of the highway. The vehicle lost power, but was able to be…
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The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled in the middle of the highway. The vehicle lost power, but was able to be restarted, and the vehicle drove in LIMP Mode to the dealer. The "D" on the instrument panel was flashing during failure, and there was an electrical odor inside the vehicle. The failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was unable to reproduce failure but serviced the auxiliary battery and reprogrammed the transmission; however, the failure persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764065 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: While driving my vehicle the parking brake engaged itself and my vehicle stopped suddenly without me engaging the brakes. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they stated it was an issue with the…
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While driving my vehicle the parking brake engaged itself and my vehicle stopped suddenly without me engaging the brakes. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they stated it was an issue with the emissions system that caused the vehicle to do an “emergency stop”. I paid the amount required by the warranty and they stated they fixed the issue. However, while driving in the freeway (approximately 75 mph), the vehicle began to have the same issue and began to stop while I was driving. My daughter and myself were in the vehicle, during high traffic and we were fortunate not to be hit while driving when this happened. I have contacted the dealership again to have them inspect the vehicle again. I am concerned there is a manufacturing issue that is causing this problem and I am afraid to drive my vehicle especially with my children in the car.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11653805 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
8

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

loss of steering 4premature wear 2sudden stalling 1
A recent report: Since I first got my brand new JEEP COMPASS in 2021, the tire pressure light would flash on and off, with a warning that my tire pressure was low. When I first saw this light come on, I obviously…
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Since I first got my brand new JEEP COMPASS in 2021, the tire pressure light would flash on and off, with a warning that my tire pressure was low. When I first saw this light come on, I obviously didn't realize that this light was faulty and inaccurate. I took it to the dealership to check my tire pressure and it was completely fine and normal, so all of that worry and time taking it to the dealership for nothing. That initially happened only about four months into having the brand new vehicle. Since then, that light still flashes on and off, and I ignore it because I know that it is faulty. This is a major safety concern, because if my tire pressure is low, I won't ever know if it is accurate or not, so I could be driving with low tires and potentially get into a bad accident. Additionally, the automatic stop / start button has come on multiple times. It initially came on May 2024, which then triggered the check engine light. I had to take in my car due to this issue, and it was in the dealership for a week, resulting in a thousand dollar charge, and all of the Ubers I had to pay for. The automatic stop / start button killed both of my batteries and I had to replace those. Not even a year later, March 2025, the automatic stop / start button light came on my dashboard again. I took it into the dealership yet again this month, and it was in there for a full week, so I was without a car that entire time having to pay for Ubers and so on. When I picked up the car, the mechanic informed me that this is a common issue and will continue to be an issue. In his professional opinion, he thought this should be a recall. I know it his not his call, but I do think that there should be some sort of resolution or help that I receive for this. I know that this will continue to be an issue, especially a SAFETY issue, so what is the resolution here? Please help.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11650937 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

airbags not deploying 1premature wear 1electrical shorts 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bags warning light illuminated on the instrument panel with the message "Air Bags Wiring…
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The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bags warning light illuminated on the instrument panel with the message "Air Bags Wiring Fault" displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the passenger’s side seat belt latch was defective and failed to latch properly. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,972.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11727245 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
4

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1
A recent report: Gas pedal broke off while driving. It is made of plastic and the arm that attaches to the pedal snapped off. We towed to a shop to have repaired today. No warning lights or sounds. Thankfully I was…
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Gas pedal broke off while driving. It is made of plastic and the arm that attaches to the pedal snapped off. We towed to a shop to have repaired today. No warning lights or sounds. Thankfully I was going slow and not on a busy street. It could have been a bad outcome if I was merging into on coming traffic. My safety and others were at serious risk due to my car not being able to accelerate with no warning.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11715296 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 80 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2020 and 2026, roughly 13 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.