2008 Jeep Compass 4x4

Routine

Owners filed 47 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
71,089 milesMedian miles at failure

43 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000150,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension14
000
Steering6
000
Fuel/Propulsion System6
000
Structure › Body5
000
Power Train4
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
000
Electrical System2
000
Wheels1
000
Unknown or Other1
010
Tires1
010

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Aug 28, 201870,000 milesNJ

SEVERE NOISE AND FRAME RUSTED OUT!

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 29, 2018138,000 milesNC

THE REAR END WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. TOOK IT INTO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS CLOSE TO BREAKING. HE HAD TO SECURE THE REAR END TO THE FRAME WITH RATCHET STRAPS TO ALLOW ME TO DRIVE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO COULD FIX IT. ONLY ONE BOLT SECURED THE REAR END TO THE FRAME IT WAS SO DAMAGED. HAD IT BROKEN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED IF NOT KILLED.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 13, 2018122,000 milesVA

WITHIN 2 MINUTES AFTER PUMPING GAS CAR STALLS AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SITUATION AFTER PUMPING WHETHER STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed May 31, 2018135,000 milesKS

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED/TOPPED OFF THE CAR RANDOMLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR STEERING LOCKS UP AND IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENS UNTIL THE GAS TANK IS LESS THAN FULL.

Structure › Body
Filed Apr 16, 2018NY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 23, 2018110,000 milesIL

GAS TANK WANT TAKE GAS WHEN FILLING TANK KEEP SHUTTING OFF, I WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS A VALVE IN THE TANK.

Steering
Filed Mar 22, 2018124,400 milesIL

FRONT SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT.

Suspension
Filed Dec 5, 2017105,000 milesOH

RECEIVED THE FEBRUARY 15, 2017 LETTER ABOUT THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS/ UNLIMITED MILES ON THE FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBERS. AT THE TIME OF THE LETTER THE CONDITION MENTIONED HAD NOT BEEN EXPERIENCED. THE CONDITION DID PRESENT ITSELF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE RECOMMENDED BE REPLACED HOWEVER WAS INFORMED THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS FROM THE BUILD DATE WHICH WAS IN OCTOBER 2007 THEREFOR MISSING THE WARRANTY PERIOD BY A MONTH. IF THE LETTER STATED THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE AN INSPECTION COULD HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED BEFORE IT EXPIRED.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 3, 2017VA

EVERY TIME I FILL MY CAR WITH GAS I EXPECT THE CAR TO STALL AND TURN OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WHICH JEEP NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR AND REFUSES TO. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WHOSE ENGINES CAN SHUT OFF AT ANY MOMENT CAUSING THEM TO COME TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM IS THE VAPOR/LIQUID SEPARATOR VALVE LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VALVE IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT LIQUID FUEL FROM ENTERING THE CHARCOAL CANISTER/EMISSIONS SYSTEM. WHEN THE VALVE FAILS, LIQUID GAS CAN ENTER THE LINE AND FILL THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. AFTER REFUELING THE PCM ON THE VEHICLE DETECTS A CHANGE IN FUEL LEVEL. THEN, WHEN THE ENGINE MEETS CERTAIN TEMPERATURE AND DRIVING CRITERIA, THE PCM ISSUES A PURGE COMMAND TO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER TO REMOVE THE STORED GAS VAPORS. IT'S AT THAT POINT THAT ALL THE LIQUID GAS IN THE LINE GETS SUCKED INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. THE PCM EXPECTS TO SEE GAS VAPORS ENTERING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IT IS PREPARED TO ADJUST AIR/FUEL MIXTURES TO COMPENSATE. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT PREPARED TO SEE LIQUID GAS COMING INTO THE INTAKE. THAT'S WHAT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GAS TANK.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 23, 2017MO

THE GAS TANK WILL NOT TAKE GAS. I HAD THE CATALYT. COVERTER FIXED. THE VALVE INSIDE THE GAS TANK DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND MY RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH JEEP COMPASSES.

Suspension
Filed Feb 24, 2017124,500 milesOH

THE REAR CROSSMEMBER/KFRAME IS COMPLETLY ROTTED THRU. ALMOST ALL OF THE SUSPENSION PARTS ARE VERY RUSTY AND NEEDS REPLACED. I DID NOT FIND OUT IT WAS THIS BAD UNTIL I HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VECHICLE. DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND MAJOR PROBLEM.I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE THUMPING BEGAN. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAMILY CARS AND I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE. I AM PARKING IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY BLEW ME OFF. THEY SAID THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS 2007 MODELS BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM UP TO 2009.

Suspension
Filed Dec 5, 2016120,000 milesOH

I WAS PUTTING A SET OF REAR BRAKE PADS ON THE VECHICLE WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE REAR CROSSMEMBER IS ROTTED OUT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VECHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS TO PROMISED TO FIX THE 2007 MODELS, WHEN THE 2007, 2008, AND 2009 ALL SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TO PAY$1500.00 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD VECHICLE THAT SHOULD NOT BE THIS RUSTED OUT.

Steering
Filed Aug 29, 201685,000 milesIL

THE CROSSMEMBER (SUBFRAME) IS ROTTING AWAY AND WHEN THIS PART FAILS A SERIOUS CRASH MAY RESULT. JEEP ISSUED A BULLETIN (23-012-14) FOR 2007 COMPASS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION TO WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS AND IF FOUND TO REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO OWNER. JUST CALL JEEP ABOUT MY 2008 COMPASS AND THEY TOLD ME SINCE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY HAS EXPERIED I WOULD BE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COST. FIRST OFF, THE CROSSMEMBER SHOULD NOT ROT AWAY AFTER ONLKY 8 YRS, SECOND SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE 2007 HAD A PROBLEM , MY 2008 SHOULD BE INCLUDED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, SINCE THE FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD RESULT IN LACK OF CONTROL AND MAY CAUSE A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL JEEPS TO INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY PARTS SHOWING SEVERE RUST AND ROTTING.

Power Train
Filed Aug 22, 2016150,000 milesOH

WHILE ME AND FIANCE DRIVE DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 65-70MPH ON A HOT DAY, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE LIGHT TURNS ON AND WE LOSE ALMOST ALL POWER AND CANT GET IT TO GO. WE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANS COOLER, TRANS LINES,AND TRANS FLUID. BUT THE ISSUE IS STILL HAPPENING. IT IS ALMOST GETTING TO THE POINT OF WHETHER WE SHOULD EVEN TRY TO GET IT FIXED OR WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO FIX IT. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED WE HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS.

Suspension
Filed Jun 30, 2016140,000 milesPA

I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN 2007 WITH 98 MILES ON IT. IN 2011, WITH NEARLY 40,000 MILES, BOTH MY FRONT CONTROL ARMS NEEDED REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE NEEDED THEM (ALONG WITH THE TIRES) REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. GRANTED, I NOW HAVE OVER 140K MILES ON MY CAR, BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. I'VE HAD AT LEAST 3 MECHANICS TELL ME THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS MADE ON OTHER COMPASS VEHICLES AND TO "HOLD ON TO MY RECEIPTS" IF THERE IS A RECALL.

Suspension
Filed May 3, 2016115,000 milesOH

WAS UNDER OUR 2008 COMPASS WHILE CHANGING THE SERPENTINE BELT AND NOTICE SEVERE RUST ROT ON THE SUBFRAME. CAN ACTUALLY PUSH MY FINGERS THROUGH IT. I SEE THAT THE 2005 THROUGH 2007 MODELS HAVE A RECALL ON THE SUBFRAME BUT NOT THE 2008 MODEL EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS.

Engine
Filed Mar 26, 201679,000 milesOH

CAR HAS ~79,000 MILES. IT STALLS AFTER FILLING UP EVERY TIME. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINS OF KEEPING THE IDLE UP BY PUSHING THE GAS THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY. I'VE READ THAT THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS LINE OF VEHICLES (INCLUDING PATRIOT).

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 20, 201668,000 milesKY

RECENTLY MY 2008 JEEP COMPASS STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH REFUELING. IT WOULD SPIT FUEL BACK OUT ANYTIME I TRIED TO FILL THE TANK. THE DEALER CLEANED THE CHECK VALVE IN THE FUEL TANK, BUT IT ONLY LASTED FOR ONE FILL UP. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! TODAY, FUEL CAME GUSHING BACK OUT AND SOAKED MY PANTS LEG AND SHOES. CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED OTHER JEEP MODELS (AND OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES) FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MINE IS NOT BEING RECALLED BECAUSE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FOR MY MODEL. YET I LOOK ONLINE AND SEE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER JEEP COMPASS OWNERS! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY FUEL TANKS AND REGARDLESS OF RECALL STATUS, THEY SHOULD BE REPLACING FUEL TANKS FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM! MY JEEP ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME TODAY IN FUEL SOAKED PANTS AND NOW THE INTERIOR OF MY JEEP STINKS OF FUEL! THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT COULD HAPPEN WITH THIS FUEL TANK IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE HEAT OF SUMMER GETS HERE AND MY FUEL TANK ISN'T VENTING PROPERLY IT COULD BE AN EVEN BIGGER SAFETY RISK! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE ASAP! I CAN'T AFFORD $1,000 TO REPLACE A FAULTY PLASTIC FUEL TANK!

Power TrainFire
Filed Mar 2, 2016171,000 milesMS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT. SPARKS AND FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLAMES EXTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AND THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, AND BEARING SEIZED. THE FRONT AXLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,000.

Steering
Filed Dec 7, 2015143,000 milesCT

THE CLOCK SPRING WAS GOING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT STARTED AS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AXLE SHAFT AND REPLACED IT AND STILL HAD THE SAME NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY FOUND THE CLOCK SPRING WAS BAD. HE SAID THAT WHEN THESE GO YOUR STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP. ALSO, UPON CALLING JEEP FOR THE PART HE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

20 of 47 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200915000Routine
2008 — this page47040Routine
2007156120Routine

Compare every Compass 4x4 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.