- The problem
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500, 1500 Classic and Jeep Compass vehicles. The windshield wiper arm or arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to not operate properly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.
- The risk
- Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W25.
Vehicle safety record
2020 Jeep Compass Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 143 complaints about the 2020 Jeep Compass with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (83) and the electrical system (66). Those complaints describe 3 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in April 2020 for the linkages. For comparison, the 2019 has 333 and the 2021 has 83.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Compass year, for its age
#50 most complained-about 2020 vehicle
- Complaints
- 143
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 3
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 3
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2020 Jeep Compass problems
Share of all 143 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2020 Jeep Compass recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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143 complaints about the 2020 Jeep Compass
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 6.
Carvana falsifying 150 inspection on tie rods that's having issue with two different vehicles on 2020 jeep compass and 2021 jeep compass
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. While driving for 5-10 minutes at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated, and a "Pressure Overheating" message was displayed. The Automatic Emergency Braking feature activated. The contact called roadside assistance and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the valve cover gasket, spark plug, and battery. The failure persisted. The vehicle was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was taken to...
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a second independent mechanic, who checked the cooling system, performed a coolant test, and completed an oil change. The failure recurred, and the vehicle was towed back to the mechanic, who flushed the coolant and replaced the coolant hose, radiator hose, and coolant reservoir tank. The failure continued with a collapsed radiator hose. The contact had a friend purchase a main radiator hose for replacement. The vehicle was taken to a third independent mechanic; however, no diagnostic trouble code was retrieved, and the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact was informed that the engine and transmission might need to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
My 2020 Jeep Compass develops significant shaking and vibration when I apply the brakes while traveling above approximately 70 mph. The vibration affects the vehicle's stability and makes me concerned about maintaining control and stopping safely at highway speeds. The vehicle was inspected and serviced by an authorized Jeep dealership after I reported the shaking. The dealership identified problems involving the inner tie rods and steering system. Before the repair, I specifically questioned whether the brake...
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rotors could be contributing to the shaking. The dealership assured me that it was completely certain the problem had been corrected. The vehicle rides somewhat better following the repair, but the same high-speed braking vibration remains. The vehicle now has new tires, but the shaking continues. The problem occurs primarily when the brakes are applied at highway speed, which raises concerns involving the brake rotors, hubs, calipers, steering rack, tie rods, wheel bearings, or related suspension components. There are no warning lights before the shaking occurs. The vehicle and its components are available for inspection. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether recurring high-speed braking vibration, premature steering-component wear, or related brake and suspension problems constitute a safety defect in Jeep Compass vehicles.
My start/stop battery keeps dying , causing my regular battery to die !
I drove myself and my passenger to our destination without issue. After the vehicle was parked for approximately three hours, I started it and drove toward the exit lane leading to the main road. I stopped completely before exiting and was traveling approximately 10 mph as I crossed toward the leftmost turning lane. Suddenly, the dashboard displayed a "High Coolant Temperature" warning, the check engine light illuminated, and the accelerator pedal became resistant/unresponsive. The vehicle slowed to a stop and the...
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engine completely shut off. Without me shifting the transmission out of Drive or selecting Reverse, the vehicle then began rolling backward on its own. The road was not inclined or sloped. The brake pedal and steering wheel became extremely hard to operate. I had no choice but to allow the vehicle to roll backward into the exit lane. I was extremely concerned that it could cause a collision or strike a pedestrian or building, seriously injuring myself, my passenger, or others. The vehicle eventually stopped, but it was left partially in the exit lane and partially in the main roadway. I was in the right-turn lane, and approaching traffic could not easily see my hazard lights due to the vehicle's position. I exited the vehicle and opened the hood to signal that the vehicle was disabled. I attempted to shift into Neutral so the vehicle could be moved out of the roadway, but the emergency brake switch would not disengage. The only warning displayed before the incident was "Oil Change Required," which had appeared approximately three weeks earlier. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. I have previously had similar breakdowns, and each time I was told the auxiliary battery had failed. After this incident, the dealership again stated that the auxiliary battery was the cause. I am skeptical that this adequately explains the vehicle rolling backward while still in Drive. I am reporting this incident so the underlying cause can be investigated.
Unknown. Vehicle has been inspected prior for electrical issues while under warranty. Dealer claims no issue. Backup camera does not work, vehicle temperature settings are not accessible on screen.
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...
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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.
Vehicle shuts off randomly. Restarts after stopping but it's consistent as if the car over heated yet the coolant temperature reads 194-200
The transmission cooling system failed causing immediate failure of the transmission. The vehicle has less than 60k miles and is still covered by the manufacturer powertrain warranty. Dash lights for service engine and service transmission only came on at the immediate time of failure (10 min prior to full transmission failure). No issues were noted in the vehicles prior service 7 months prior to failure. The dealer has confirmed the cause of transmission failure is due to failure of the cooling system.
My 2020 Jeep Compass experiences sudden, unexpected engine shut-offs while driving. The engine loses power and stalls without warning, and shortly afterward the dashboard displays a 'Coolant Temperature Too High' warning. The vehicle has stalled while in motion, including at highway speeds, creating a serious safety hazard. After the stall, the vehicle restarts and behaves normally, but the problem has recurred multiple times. This matches the engine-stalling and coolant-temperature issue described in the NHTSA investigation of 2019-2020 Jeep Compass vehicles equipped with the 2.4-liter Tigershark engine.
While turning out of a parking lot, onto a side street, a suspension component failed without warning, causing the front axle to pull out of the transmission. The vehicle immediately became unsafe, as I was unable to turn the wheel (it wasn't connected) to get me out of the middle of the road. This was a sudden, catastrophic mechanical failure with no prior warning lights, messages, or symptoms. It had to be towed. I called a corporate phone number, to create a case number, and heard back from Jeep Autonation...
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immediately. The gentleman who spoke to me, was extremely rude, and told me this was a normal wear and tear situation, and just to "bring it in so they could get to fixing it." I believe a full diagnostic report is necessary, and I'd like to know WHY this failed. I was on the highway just earlier the morning that this happened. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, to which I'm not getting any traction on. Unfortunately, it needs to be towed there, and I was told the tow would be $100, which I won't be paying, as this was a safety failure. I have also been renting a car for the last three weeks, when this happened. I'm out $1200 for that, and still have no answers. This failure created a significant safety risk to me and other drivers on the road. I am filing this report because the dealership and manufacturer have been unresponsive, and I am concerned this may be a defect that could affect other vehicles.
We have been without our 2020 JEEP since the end of February 2026 due to an engine issue (had the car only 6-7 months). The first company thought there might be coolant in the head gasket causing the issue. After our extended warranty company wanted the engine opened to confirm, we had to send the car to Precision Tune at the end of March to do this (prior place didn't open engines or repair them and recommended Precision Tune). Based on the engine codes of P0301 and P1061, as well how the car started, Precision...
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Tune knew that the multi air actuator had failed. We both kept asking the extended warranty company how opening the engine would tell them that the multi air actuator failed (Precision Tune and JEEP dealer both said it would not show them that). 5 days later the extended warranty company said that the part was not covered. By that time the multi air actuator was on backorder. On April 10, I called up JEEP to ask about the part and when it might be back in stock. I was told that JEEP is doing an engineering review on the part because of the various issues and until that is resolved there is no timetable on when the part will be available leaving customers without a vehicle. This may not seem like something the NHTSA cares about but there is defiantly an issue. In fact, there was a case investigated by the NHTSA about this issue that was closed in 2023. It seems like the issue was never resolved by JEEP and is continuing to the point that the part has to go back through engineering.
Car stalls out when driving. Car also stalls when I dont press the automatic start button.
At approximately 35,900 miles, vehicle failed a block test indicating combustion gases in the cooling system. Cylinder head gasket was replaced, cylinder head was machined, and exhaust valves were replaced at an independent shop at a cost of over 5,000. Shortly after, at approximately 36,300 miles, vehicle was towed in with sudden loss of power and would not accelerate. Diagnostic codes P1064 (cylinder 4 oil supply solenoid stuck), P0171 (fuel system lean), and P0304 (cylinder misfire) were found. The MultiAir/VVT...
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actuator was confirmed to have an internal failure. Both the independent shop and a Jeep dealership parts department confirmed the component was on indefinite national backorder due to high demand caused by widespread failures of this part. At approximately 37,500 miles, vehicle failed a second block test. The cylinder head was found warped again and required a second full replacement along with motor mount replacement. The vehicle has had its cylinder head replaced twice in under seven months. Total out-of-pocket repair costs exceed 8,000. The sudden loss of power while driving created an unsafe condition. The failure has been confirmed and documented by both an independent repair facility and an authorized Jeep dealership. Check engine light was present prior to each failure event.
I've had this car since March 8, 2020 and from the very beginning I've had electrical issues at first. It started with just my lights flickering the dashboard as well and it progressed overtime and also gave my different messages on my dashboard. The radio would shut off making it impossible to use my backup camera as well, I wasn't able to take it to the dealer because when I called they said that it all had to come out of my pocket, even though I had just bought the car so it was a little impossible for me to be...
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able to afford that at the moment so I put it all off overtime. It did progress and I had to get the battery switched out twice as well as the second battery this happened while I was pregnant and it actually was because the car stalled out on me. I was out in Palmdale visiting my parents when the car completely turned off all the electrical options were nonexistent. I was at a stoplight and when the car didn't turn back on, it was dark because Palmdale is a desert area. I had no lights, and I had no way of telling the rest of the drivers I was having an emergency if I got out the car, I was putting myself at risk as well as my babies. My car stalling happened a few times over the years which also exposed extended family members. I repeatedly asked Jeep to help me and they have possession of the car at the moment. I still have payments on this car and I have the tags due in two weeks. I've called them and they are giving me the runaround and it's very disheartening and very frustrating. I'm a full-time mom, I work, I go to school and I have a home to run. They never offered for a replacement car or any type of temporary help, they said they would run the diagnostics free of charge and now the dealership wants to charge me as well. I can't afford it after paying a private mechanic for that diagnosis as well. Jeep is unwilling to help me at this point and I need further assistance.
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the infotainment screen began to display a pixilated and distorted image. Due to the failure, the rear-view camera failed to operate while in reverse(R). The failure persisted, and several lines appeared on the infotainment screen before the screen went blank. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that the radio was defective and needed to be replaced. The...
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manufacturer was notified of the failure on several occasions, and the contact was provided with a case number. The dealer offered to cover half the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
I tried the auto start on the fob car would not start I tried to the push start nothing again . Did get warning coolant temp high Had to tow car They are investigating
My vehicle's engine has shut off completely in the middle of the road TWICE, both on busy highways. The first time, I was turning left and the engine shut off as I was turning into oncoming traffic and was stuck in the middle of two lanes. Second time, I was stopped at a red light and the engine shut off again. Once the car is turned off and back on, the light for the Auto Stop/Start came on and said to service the Stop/Start feature. The first incident, I had the car brand new for maybe a week. The second incident just happened last week.
My engine light kept on coming on esc failure I replaced the aux battery then reg battery then alternator went bad then the u connect is not working at all it will not load the maps on the screen it's doesn't recognize my phone I bought this jeep brand new
On December 9th, my Jeep compass caught fire in Tyson's corner parking lot (1750 Tysons BLVD). The fire department believes it came from the engine. No warning signs such as engine lights or temperature overheating prior. The car was parked in a spot when this occurred. My daughter was in the car and smelled smoke, car was turned off, got out and it was smoking and sparking then caught fire. 911 was called during this process and came to the scene. The insurance is aware and deemed it total loss. The police and fire department have records we are trying to obtain. The fire spread to other cars.
Driving home at night car flashed a hi temp coolant warning and shut down..Waited a couple minutes and it started right up. I have never had any issues before this.
I bought my 2020 Jeep Compass from Moses Factory Outlet in Teays Valley WV 2/1/25. The whole time I have had and operated the vehicle it has had this safety issue. It shuts down unexpectedly with a "high coolant temperature warning" displayed on the dash then resets and turns back on. Sometimes I have to physically turn the vehicle back on. This happens on the interstate randomly when I am going 65 mph or sitting at a red light. I spoke to Moses about it, and they told me I would have to take it to a jeep...
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dealership because this is something they would not be able to fix. I took it to the Walker Jeep dealership in Hurricane WV they inspected it and said they could not find anything wrong with it. This is very scary when it happens, and I have no idea how to get it fixed because the dealership I bought it from nor an actual jeep dealership can fix it. I drove it to Columbus Ohio one time, and it done it six times that's a 5hr round trip.
While driving the 2020 Compass a message will s poradically appear on the dashboard display about "High Coolant Temperature" and immediately sends the vehicle power to shut down and after a couple of seconds the error disappears and the temperature returns to normal. It once shut the engine down completely in the middle of the street and I had to put car in park in middle of traffic and then restart it. This happens at all rates of speed - on the highway driving 65 mph or on a city road driving 40 mph. Dates...
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is has happened that I took note of: 09/11/2025, 10/04/2025, 11/01/2025 and 11/17/2025. It has happened previous to 09/11/2025 as well. It is a serious safety issue to loose power while driving.
The car suddenly would not accelerate over 20 miles per hour when I was driving on a busy road. The car has made clunking noises whenever I accelerate since I bought it 6 months ago. There is a recall for other 2020 Jeep Compass Latitudes that would explain this problem (W48/NHTSA 20E-037) but my VIN is not included in the recall. I think that this is a mistake.
The screen on the dash has quit working and the backup camera does not work this started when we got snow, thought once weather warmed up things it would work tried the reset button to no avail. Hesitated about buying another jeep now I wish I hadn't nothing but trouble
Jeep Compass: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 | 0 | C |
| 2023 | 49 | 2 | B |
| 2022 | 226 | 4 | F |
| 2021 | 83 | 0 | B |
| 2020 | 143 | 1 | C |
| 2019 | 333 | 2 | D |
| 2018 | 952 | 6 | F |
| 2017 | 229 | 4 | C |
| 2016 | 294 | 1 | D |
2020 Jeep Compass vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Jeep Compass | 143 | 1 | C | |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 1,554 | 23 | F | Compare |
| 2020 Subaru Forester | 603 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 2020 Jeep Cherokee | 338 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2020 Kia Sportage | 171 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan | 141 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2020 Mazda CX-5 | 110 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander | 32 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | 0 | 5 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2020 Jeep Compass
Does the 2020 Jeep Compass have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2020 Jeep Compass: linkages (April 2020). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Jeep Compass?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (83), electrical system (66), transmission & drivetrain (29).
How many complaints has the 2020 Jeep Compass had?
143 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 25, 2020 and the latest on October 13, 2026. Of these, 3 describe a crash and 2 a fire, and together they report 3 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2020 Jeep Compass a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 49 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Jeep Compass year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Jeep Compass years have the most complaints?
2018 (952), 2007 (434), 2019 (333). See every Jeep Compass year compared.
What should I do if my 2020 Jeep Compass has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
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