2008 JEEP COMPASS

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    corrosion and rust

    26 unsafe

    26
    incidents
    Typical range: 69,500–111,000 mi

    Median 89,000 mi, based on 37 reports (12% had no usable mileage)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CROSS MEMBERS OF THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CROSS MEMBERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN COATED PROPERLY DURING THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. THE…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1274749
    • "2008 JEEP PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2010. IN 2019 WITH ONLY 71,000 MILES AND NOW VIISIBLE RUST ON THE VEHICLE, MY MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED THROUGH WITH RUST AND WAS SOFT AND THE SUBFRAME NEEDS REPLACING ($1,750). I CONTACTED FCA (FIAT CHRYS…"~71,000 mi, complaint #1620854
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS ENTIRELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…"~88,000 mi, complaint #1135060
    • "SUB-FRAME CROSS MEMBER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND DANGEROUS, CAR HAS LOST ALIGNMENT. LOST CONTROL BUT MANAGE TO STOP, CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET MIAMI FLORIDA , ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS AND 4X4? LIGHTS ARE ON."~109,450 mi, complaint #1434112
    • "DURING MY ANNUAL INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH MY FRONT AND REAR CROSS FRAME MEMBERS WERE SO SEVERELY RUSTED THAT IT TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE TILL THEY ARE REPLACED. I CALL THE DEALER WHO THE JEEP WAS BOUGHT FROM AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE 2007 MODELS HAVE AN…"~131,000 mi, complaint #1267462
  2. #2

    suspension arms and bushings

    11 unsafe

    11
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=20, median 100,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "I HAD REPLACE THIS PART FOR THE SECOND TIME NOW IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. AUTO TECH SAID THIS SHOULD NOT WEAR LIKE THIS FOR THE MILEAGE OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS 67400. CURRENTLY THE JEEP LIBERTY HAS A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT BUT THE COMPASS DOES NOT. THIS IS OF…"~52,124 mi, complaint #1050136
    • "NOISES AND UNEVEN TIRE WEAR IN MAY OF 2013, NEEDS BALL JOINTS. (60000 MI). SAME THING IN AUG. 2015 (85000 MI). AND NOW K FRAME IS RUSTING OUT."~60,000 mi, complaint #1213372
    • "BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A FRONT END NOISE. MECHANIC DETERMINED MY FRONT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER ESPECIALLY THE FRONT WERE ROTTED OUT WITH HOLES. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CAR COMPANY DATED 2/15/2017 THAT CAR WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED FOR TEN YEARS. THE PROBLEM WAS N…"~94,000 mi, complaint #1576314
    • "FRONT SUB FRAME THAT HOLDS CONTROL ARMS ROTTED RIGHT OUT COULD LOSE FRONT TIRE"~105,000 mi, complaint #1376641
    • "WHILE IN MOTION, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD IN REAR END. INDEPENDENT GARAGE (ZELLER AUTO CENTER,[REDACTED ADDRESS]., TORRINTON, CT. 06790, [REDACTED PHONE]) DIAGNOSED A RUSTED AND ROTTED REAR SUBFRAME. INTERNET CHECK REVEALED OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL EXPER…"~111,000 mi, complaint #1524795
  3. #3

    other

    7 unsafe, 3 annoyance

    10
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "MY JEEP IS UNSAFE HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES ACCORDING TO JEEP AND AFTER REVIEWING ONLINE SEEMS THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT CHRYSLER JEEP IS IGNORING THE SOON AS MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED THEY TOLD ME CAR SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD AND WANTED ME TO PAY O…"~12,949 mi, complaint #995421
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A MODERATE VIBRATION AND STALLED WHILE BEING OPERATED AT 20 MPH. THE WHEELS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1472394
    • "2008 JEEP COMPASS 115,000 MILES ROTTED SUBFRAME. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THANK YOU! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ARE NOT FIXING IT ON THE 2008. NOISE STARTED WHILE DRIVING…"~115,000 mi, complaint #1305042
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A…"~134,000 mi, complaint #1450783
    • "THE SUBFRAME IS ROTTING OUT TO THE POINT IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE"~189,000 mi, complaint #1547262
  4. #4

    fuel tank and lines

    7 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    8
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=11, median 125,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TRIED TO PUT FUEL IN TANK AND FUEL SPLASHED BACK AND KEPT SHUTTING OFF. TRIED 2 OTHER STATIONS AND SAME RESULT. MY DAUGHTER HAS THE CAR AT COLLEGE. SHE SAID SHE COULD ONLY PUT FUEL IN THE CAR BY CONTINUING TO PUMP VERY SLOW AND TO KEEP TRYING. WITH ANY KIND OF…"~42,000 mi, complaint #1135131
    • "AFTER DRIVING AND IT SETS FOR ABOUT 45 MIN OR 1 HOUR IT IS HARD TO START WHEN IT DOES START THE IS A SMELL OF FUEL COMING OUT OF THE VENTS, WHEN IT IS COLD STARTS FINE OR IF YOU GONE FOR A SHORTER TIME IT STARTS FINE BUT STILL HAS THE FUEL SMELL OUT OF THE VEN…"~95,000 mi, complaint #1303245
    • "CAN'T FILL THE FUEL TANK FAST. THERE IS AN ANTISIPHON BALL VALVE IN THE TANK THAT STICKS. TAKES FOREVER TO FILL THE TANK"~101,750 mi, complaint #1544061
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN…"~125,000 mi, complaint #1175085
    • "WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK ALL THE WAY UP. THE CAR LOCKED UP STEERING WAS UNCONTRALLOBLE BRAKES WERE LOCKING ON AND OFF LIKE JUMPING AND ALMOST HIT AN ONCOMING CAR. CAR SHUTOFF AND WENT TURN BACK ON UNTIL 5 MINUTES IN WAS IN FULL MOTION GOING 55MPH ON A CITY…"~200,000 mi, complaint #1584871
  5. #5

    engine stall or no start

    7 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 119,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "I JUST GOT GAS AND WAS ABOUT TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE MY ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS WERE STILL WORKING BUT WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL I NEVER MOVED. I HAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE JUST TO GET GOING AGAIN. THERE WAS…"~96,316 mi, complaint #1447122
    • "EVER TIME AFTER YOU FILL THE CAR UP WITH GAS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND HESITATE WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE GAS STATION. FOR A MILE OR TWO. AFTER THAT IT WILL RUN FINE UNTIL NEXT FILL UP."~98,000 mi, complaint #1527114
    • "SO THIS AMONG OTHER ISSUES START LATE LAST YEAR WITH OUR 2008 COMPASS. WAS SITTING AT STOP LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT. JEEP STARTED RIGHT UP AND WAS FINE THE REST OF THE DAY. MY WIFE DRIVES IT MORE THEN I DO AND SHE SAYS IT STUTTERS QUITE FREQUENTL…"~119,245 mi, complaint #1274190
    • "AFTER REFUELING WITHIN 1-2 MILES SPITS SPUDERS BUCKS, THEN STALLS! SAFTY IS AT ISSUE OF CAUSING A ACCIDENT OR GETTING HIT!!!! MAKE JEEP ACCOUNTABLE! HAPPENS EVERTIME NOW 6 MOS."~206,000 mi, complaint #1582785
    • "DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. JUNE 18,2014 DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. JULY 10,2014 DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. JULY 29,2014 DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. AUGUST 6,2014 DRIVING AND ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. AUGUST 16,2014. THIS IS THE LAS…"~241,748 mi, complaint #1098651
  6. #6

    transmission automatic

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "HAD TO HAVE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS REPLACED IN DEC 2013. WHEEL BEARING REPLACED JAN 2014 AND NOW AM TOLD NEED NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR"~68,000 mi, complaint #1059051
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SUDDENLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN…"~85,000 mi, complaint #1386077
    • "WHINING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE OVER 65 MPH. HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION BEFORE. DID REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THE JEEP COMPASS. DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION OIL LIGHT CAME ON. COULDN'T MOVE IN THE GEARS. HAD TO PULL OVER FOR A 1 HR TO L…"~127,000 mi, complaint #1223889
  7. #7

    airbag system

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "T-BONE ACCIDENT - 1 SUV RAN RED LIGHT - HIT JEEP AT CA. 50 MPH ON PASSENGER SIDE, AND HIT OTHER SUV WHICH WAS PARALLEL TO AND LEFT OF JEEP. JEEP TRAVELED AT CA. 20 MP (GREEN LIGHT) AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON JEEP, DID ON OTHER TWO SUVS WHICH WERE BIGGER SUVS -…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1610456
  8. #8

    control module

    1 stranded, 1 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED A MUFFLED HUMMING NOISE, LOCATED IT UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS COMING FROM THE T.I.P.M. THEN MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP, INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, DOOR LOCKS AND SECURITY SYSTEM STOP…"~85,490 mi, complaint #1210435
    • "CAR DROVE FINE. WENT TO WORK FOR 8 HOURS. CAME OUT AND THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER. STILL NOTHING. CALLED A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE WIRELESS CONTROL MODULAR. AFTER REACHING IN THE INTERNET LOOKS LIKE MANY 2008 J…"~150,000 mi, complaint #1267605
  9. #9

    stability and traction control

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "ETC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON FOR NO REASON RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. ISSUE ALSO OCCURS WHILE MERGING/ TURNING WHILE ACCELERATING, CAR IS USUALLY STATIONERY FIRST. THIS I…"~117,000 mi, complaint #1390534
  10. #10

    transmission cvt

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "CVT TRANSMISSION CAUSING WHINE UPON ACCELERATION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 70K MILES. WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT 70K MILES. *TR"~68,000 mi, complaint #1040106
  11. #11

    wiring harness

    1 stranded, 1 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL, TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INCORRECTLY (STUCK IN WRONG GEAR), AND MELT ELECTRICAL WIRES INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRST SYMPTOM WAS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THIS CAN BE OVERRIDDEN…"~40,155 mi, complaint #1070152
  12. #12

    engine internal

    1 stranded

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "BALANCE SHAFT MODULE HAS LEFT METAL IN OUR OIL.IT WENT BAD CAUSING OUR ENGINE TO GO DEAD WHILE WE WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE."~123,000 mi, complaint #1660828
  13. #13

    engine mounts

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 JEEP COMPASS TOOK IT IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE CRADLE,THERE WORDS NOT MINE,WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED AND NEEDED REPLACED! I DO ALOT OF TRAVELING TAKING MONTHLY TRIPS TO ALABAMA AND ALSO DELIVER…"~108,367 mi, complaint #1406653
  14. #14

    fluid leak unspecified

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "LEAKS FROM THE MAP LIGHTS.I THINK IT IS COMING FROM THE MOON ROOF."~90,400 mi, complaint #1544081
  15. #15

    throttle and pedal

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LITE COMES ON RANDOMLY WHEN STARTING OR DRIVING LOCKS THE CAR IN LIMP MODE THEN ABS LITE COMES ON AND THE CAR SHAKES TILL YOU STOP AND TURN IT OFF. WHEN THE CAR IS IN LIMP MODE YOU CAN ONLY GET THE RPM'S UP TO 2000. CAR WENT FROM 6…"~87,000 mi, complaint #1035752
  16. #16

    tire failure

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "NEW NEXXEN N5000 TIRES PLACED ON VEHICLE AND FRONT END ALIGNED. WITH IN 2 MONTHS TIRES SHOWED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR WITH WIRES SHOWING IN AREAS. SUBMITTED THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES UNDER WARRANTY FOR REPLACEMENTS. 3 MONTHS LATER AT AROUND 15,000 MILES REAR TIRE DEVELOP…"~125,000 mi, complaint #1392424
  17. #17

    wheel bearing

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TOOK INTO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE BAD. WAS WITHOUT VEHICLE FOR OVER 10 DAYS AND THE COST WAS $750.00. GOT VEHICLE BACK AND WITHIN A WEEK HEARD A RUBBING SOUND WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE BAD WHEEL BEARINGS. WAITING FOR…"complaint #1027190

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for JEEP COMPASS directly.