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Electrical system

2018 Jeep Compass Electrical problems

Owners have filed 382 complaints about the 2018 Jeep Compass's electrical system with NHTSA - 40% of all its complaints, most recently on November 10, 2026. They describe 3 crashes, 3 fires and 1 injury. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Complaints
382
Recalls
2
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
1
Deaths
0

Electrical recalls for the 2018 Jeep Compass

Electrical system: front underhood

18V52400012,779 vehicles affected

The problem
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
The risk
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

Electrical system: instrument cluster / panel

17V74000025,823 vehicles affected

The problem
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2017-2018 Jeep Compass vehicles. The brightness of the backlighting for the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) cannot be adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
The risk
An instrument cluster that is too bright, and cannot be dimmed, can reduce the driver's ability to see at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update IPC software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T70.

Electrical complaints

Electrical system

My Jeep has developed the known factory screen delamination defect, which is causing phantom ghost inputs that repeatedly dial 911 while driving. this is an illegal misuse of emergency dispatch lines and a severe distracted driving hazard caused by defective factory hardware. I need a corporate goodwill authorization to have this repaired. I went to the local dealer and they told me they are unable to do anything which I find hard to believe

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11776997
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

This vehicle has had multiple electrical issues since time of purchase in 2020. It has been serviced at 3 different jeep dealerships and nobody can seem to resolve the issues. when it was first purchased it would have an issue where after i started it, every warning light and message would flash, the radio would keep restarting, and the vehicle would not let me turn it off. all of this would happen simultaneously. It then sometimes would start and be normal, but the battery and auto start stop light would come on,...

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then it would pop up with a message that says stop vehicle safely, vehicle will shut off soon. It has also given us issues where it would not start at all, no lights would come on like it was dead. More recently, after an 1.5 hour drive, after shutting it off to run in the store, it did not restart when i came back out. No lights would come on at all. We jump started it and tested the main battery, auxiliary battery, and the alternator; and all tested fine. Now neither my main headlights will come on when i start it, nor any of my dashboard lights, but the radio and all other lights still work

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11776809
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

When trying to start the jeep it says the hood is open and continues to act like the jeep is going to start over and over again! When it does start it runs rough! It's is stating it needs coil 1 replaced which has been replaced and didn't fix a thing it can't be driven appears to be junk. Also the start stop has not been working at all

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11774110
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

•Manufacturer: Jeep / Stellantis •Year: 2018 •Model: Jeep Compass •VIN: [[redacted]] •NHTSA ODI Complaint Number: 11771736 •Date of Formal NHTSA Complaint: October 16, 2026 I am writing to formally escalate a serious and recurring electrical and starting-system malfunction affecting my son's 2018 Jeep Compass, identified above. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11771754
Electrical system

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a service center, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that when the failure occurred, multiple warning lights illuminated, including the start/stop warning light. The contact stated that multiple attempts using the key fob were required to start the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the infotainment system displayed a blank screen due to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by telephone. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11771736
Electrical system

Back-up camera (reverse) is inoperable. Camera image is black.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11769950
Electrical systemAcceleration & cruise control

Aux battery failed; start/stop, stopped at a red light car shut off in start/stop mode, when I went to drive my car went into limp mode and emergency break engaged and every single light on my dash came on. I had to turn car off in the intersection. Once I turned the car back on every light came back on and when I shifted it into drive the transmission slammed so hard it jerked the entire car. This has issue started around 60,000 miles. I have 131,000miles now. Being broke down in the middle of an intersection is...

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extremely dangerous especially with a new born in the car and it reoccurs every couple of months. Also wheel speed sensor has frequently loosen since 60,000 miles. This caused every light to come on the dash and car go into limp mode. It happened the first time on the highway going 70mph. The car lost drivetrain we almost lost control. It's has not been inspected by a "certified tech" but a backyard tech has. No accidents have been caused. Also oil leaks where the dipstick meets the block and has since I purchased the car at 34,000 miles. I've spent well over $1000 in main batteries and auxiliary batteries since 2020 (year of purchase) to fix the stalling issues each time they occur. If I don't catch the aux battery dying in time it kills my main battery and I have to purchase both just so my car doesn't stall in the middle of the road and possibly cause a life threatening accident.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11766578
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Vehicle 2018 Jeep compass, 2.4 l tiger shark multi-air space safety defect summary, my vehicle is experiencing a severe recurring safety hazard causing unexpected vehicle stall and loss of power while driving at high speeds on the highway while operating normally the vehicle abruptly jerks and immediately forces itself into neutral or defensive lip mode leaving me unable to accelerate and placing me in immediate danger of a high-speed collision concurrently the dashboard displays severe failure messages including...

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service electronic throttle control and service transmission the vehicle is also suffering from the documented 2.4 l tiger shark excessive oil consumption defect burning oil at a rapid pace and shutting down without a low oil warning indicator light additionally the coolant levels behave erratically causing the vehicle to falsely signal overheating and the vehicle has previously dropped six active safety recalls from its public then history without the mechanical defects actually being repaired the manufacturers temporary software patches have failed to resolve the structural engine and powertrain failures. I have also going to attach a screenshot of the six open recalls I found with my specific Vin number from the Kelley Blue Book website last July in 2025. And now searching my VIN number there's no open recalls and this is very concerning. This has became a huge safety issue with me and I've tried reaching out to y'all before and y'all still have not tried to reach out to me, I'm taking it to the dealership this week.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11762479
Electrical system

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message that the vehicle would shut off was displayed several times, requiring the driver to pull over. Additionally, while the contact's husband was driving, the vehicle stalled. The driver pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V524000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11758451
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

I have had this car for a little over a year and it has given me nothing but problems they won't let me out of my contract. It's a 2018 Jeep compass and I've already had to replace the thermostat. My service transmission light is coming on all of a sudden, I'm having to put the oil in all the time it has completely shut down on the highway. Just stopped moving turned off on is own! So dangerous and I

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11758044
SuspensionElectrical systemEngine & cooling

My odometer flashes since buying. Bluetooth connection causing screen to glitch and jump between settings. Screen turns blue and back up camera doesn't work randomly. Overheating issue came out of nowhere. No check engine lights. The jerking is a hazard while driving. The vehicle has been inspected and repaired by multiple shops. All these issues have been hazardous to me and my family.

Filed Incident Suspension · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11756084
Electrical system

The Stop/Start function malfunctions frequently. On multiple ocassions, the computer system glitches causing the automatic parking brake to engage, the gear shift to lock, and the vehicle to become stuck. This has happened several times while the car was idling at a stop light, causing traffic safety issues each time. There is no warning light or system notification. Regular mechanics are not able to diagnose or fix these issues because of the computer system, requiring a specialist that is not always accessible. There is no notification when the auxillary battery is dead or dying, the car just won't turn on.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11751065
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

The vehicle has stalled in traffic multiple times, it sends emergency messages while operating that the vehicle must pull off of the road or shut down, it is constantly displaying "service stop/ start system" messages and service lights, it sometimes doesn't start after having gotten to a location but will start up without having the vehicle jump started later, it drains the batteries quickly, as well. I was on the highway with my son in the vehicle, not near any exit and in thick traffic, when it told me to pull...

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off the road or it may shut down. On a separate occasion, I had my family in the car, we stopped for an event and the vehicle randomly didn't restart, stranding us until we could reach another ride. Another time I was driving to work and it the engine shut off and when I tried to go it randomly did not go and I had to shut the vehicle down while in traffic, restart the engine and put it back into drive before I could allow traffic to move again. I took it to an authorized Jeep/ Chrysler Dealership for these issues and no recalls were put out for my vehicle, despite these exact issues being a part of a recall of nearly 13,000 Fiat Chrysler vehicles under NHTSA 18V524000 (Chrysler recall U87).

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11748167
Electrical system

Dash warning came up "stop safely, vehicle will shut off soon" towed it to Jeep dealer took them over a week to get a diagnosis, they said they had to communicate with Detroit office. The issue is "probably" an alternator

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11746886
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Pulled up in my drive way turned car off and when I went to start ut to go to work it just would not start anymore

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11741428
Electrical systemBrakesDriver assistance

Engine light came on, breaking light, abs

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11738361
Electrical systemLightsEngine & cooling

The headlights and interior lighting flickers when turned on. The vehicle often will not start, but once hooked up to a jumper pack starts immediately despite the batteries being inspected previously and being okay. The start/stop function doesn't always work, and the engine stalls while driving, causing a massive safety issue.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11738275
Electrical systemBrakes

On around 5 occasions beginning since late 2025 I have been driving and my emergency brake has turned on automatically while driving. Yesterday, while at a stop light the light turned green and my emergency brake turned on which caused traffic to be halted I had to turn my car on and off repeatedly to have my car work. When I turned right at the intersection this happened again. I was able to slowly pull over and once again turn my car off and on. Then it did it again today at the same intersection I was able to...

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slowly pull over and turn my car off and on. I went to the Jeep dealership today and they could not find anything wrong. No codes indicated anything they said I had a small oil leak but that is all they could find.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakesNHTSA 11734295
Electrical systemLights

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while receiving an oil change, the contact was informed that the passenger's side headlight failed to operate. The contact attempted to replace the light bulb; however, the headlight failed to illuminate. The original light bulb was reinstalled. The contact stated that the START/STOP system failed to restart the vehicle after an idle stop. The message "Battery Charging System Failure" was displayed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11726914
Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

Issue occurs in [[redacted]] during normal daily driving, including while reversing and operating the vehicle at low speeds. The malfunctioning touchscreen interferes with safe vehicle operation in parking areas, residential streets, and regular traffic conditions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11725241
Electrical system

While driving I stopped at a light and an issues occurred where my stop start light appeared on dashboard. The car turned off for a minute and eventually started back up.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11721097
Electrical system

My car has the start/stop when it turns off when your idle, well sometimes when you release the brake to go it will hesitate to turn back on and or even not start again at all and you have to fully turn the car off and back on.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11713725
Electrical system

The vehicle will turn over but does not go into gear. With all emergency systems lighting up. When vehicle was running it would randomly turn off or stall in the middle of the road.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11709556
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Unknown / Check engine lights came on, and then a warning saying stop safely, the engine will shut down soon, now it will not start. Leaving me stranded. This happened multiple times but now the car won't start and will need to be towed. I have asked several repair shops and done research online, and nobody knows how to fix this issue.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11709049
Electrical systemDriver assistance

When coming to a stop at a stop light or stop sign sometimes the car will stall and the automatic stop/start will turn off and put the cars emergency brake on. This is typically in the middle of traffic. I put the car in park and the car won't turn off. I have to take my foot off the brake while it is in park, turn off the car that way. Then to turn it back on, put my foot on the brake and start the car all over again. All while cars are behind me and it is taking me minutes to get my car moving. This is happening very often. It can happen in dangerous places in the road as well. This cannot be normal.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11709033

Jeep Compass electrical complaints by year

Compass electrical problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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