2009 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

    suspension arms and bushings

    11 unsafe, 1 broken

    12
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=15, median 46,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "2009 JEEP COMPASS, WITH 31,278 MILES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR IN BOTH THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND OUTER TIE ROD END. THOUGH COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ISSUE IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH OUR 2007 JEEP PATRIOT. THE NHTSA SHO…"~31,278 mi, complaint #851126
    • "I WENT IN TO A MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THIS NOISE WAS IN MY FRONT END, HE TOLD ME MY BALL JOINTS WERE BAD AND ONE WAS REACHING CRITICAL TO FAIL. I CALL MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS PART WAS WELL KNOWN TO FAIL BETWEEN 40K AND 80K MILES. I WAS WON…"~46,202 mi, complaint #924085
    • "VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE IN THE FRONT AT LOW SPEED, WHEN BACKING AT LOW SPEED AND SLIGHT FRONT VIBRATION AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND DRIVEN AT NORMALLY EXPECTED CONDITIONS, NEVER INVOLVED IN AC…"~65,458 mi, complaint #986216
    • "I WAS DRIVING TO WORK DEC 23 MORNING AND REAR SUB FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM CONTROL ARM SENDING ME IN THE DITCH..LUCKY IT WAS 25 MPH. HAD LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER LOOK AT IT AND BECAUSE IT WAS.MADE IT CANADA THEY WON'T FIX IT UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRNTY.. I JUST GOT…"~109,000 mi, complaint #1371496
    • "OUR JEEP HAS A ROTTED SUBFRAME WHICH POSES A SAFETY RISK. WE HAVE THE LIFETIME MAXCARE WARRANTY WITH CHRYSLER, HOWEVER, THEY DENIED OUR CLAIM AND ADVISED US TO CONTACT JEEP, BUT JEEP INDICATED THEY COULD DO NOTHING. $3000 REPAIR!!!! WE HAVE REPLACED BEARI…"~253,000 mi, complaint #1277697
  2. #2

    corrosion and rust

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "FRONT SUBFRAME ROTTED OUT ON 2009 WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF DRIVING AND BRAKES, WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS SHOULD NOT BE THIS ROTTED FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE. I BROUGHT IT TO ME…"~90,700 mi, complaint #1509063
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE CROSS MEMBER OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED SEVERELY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE CROSS MEMBER REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED.…"~101,000 mi, complaint #1323295
    • "FRONT KFRAME/SUBFRAME CROSS MEMBER RUSTED INTO. FRONT OF LF LOWER CONTROL ARM PULLED OUT OF SUBRAME BECAUSE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED INTO AT THAT SPOT. ALSO BACK SEEM FROM LEFT SIDE ALL THE WAY TO RIGHT SIDE HAS ABOUT A 1 INCH SEAM/TEAR FROM RUST"~174,000 mi, complaint #1655117
  3. #3

    airbag system

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

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

    • "THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS MAINTAINED ITSELF ON APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS, AND EVERY 10-15 MINUTES IT SENDS ME AN ALARM, WARNING ME THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG, AND THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING ACCORDINGLY.THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING IN USE AND I…"~133,800 mi, complaint #1613402
  4. #4

    engine stall or no start

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED OR ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V528000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CON…"~37,000 mi, complaint #846351
    • "2009 JEEP COMPASS MANUAL TRANSMISSION ENGINE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALSO AT IDLING. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT USUALLY STARTS BACK UP AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT START, ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIGH…"~190,000 mi, complaint #1594403
  5. #5

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT CHRYSLER VEHICLES. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE ENGINE CUT DOWN TO 30 MPH AND INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON, ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL AND "RED LIGHTNING BOLT" (ETC ELECTRONIC THROTTLEBODY CONTROL). WHAT IS HAPPENI…"~99,100 mi, complaint #1642867
  6. #6

    brake hydraulics

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "The contact owns a 2009 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard with several warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle would overheat with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine…"complaint #1846050
  7. #7

    control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT…"~115,000 mi, complaint #1473891
  8. #8

    engine internal

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR WAS CORRODED AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHIC…"~135,000 mi, complaint #1237935
  9. #9

    evap system

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "VEHICLE STATIONARY-ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON EVERY TIME I PUT GAS IN VEHICLE DUE TO SMALL LEAK IN EMISSION SYSTEM AT GAS FILL NECK AND GAS CAP. APPEARS TO BE DUE TO FORMATION OF BROWN SUBSTANCE ON METAL GAS NECK. NEW GAS CAP HELPS FOR ABOUT 3 OR 4 FILL-UPS BEFO…"~40,000 mi, complaint #1427472
  10. #10

    glass and windshield

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "WHEN IT RAINS, WATER POURS INTO THE CABIN FROM THE DOME LIGHT WHILE DRIVING. WATER ALSO POOLS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR."~68,000 mi, complaint #1334480
  11. #11

    noise or vibration unspecified

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF THE WIND BLOWING OUTSIDE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE ISSUE BECAME IRRITATING. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER W…"~1,000 mi, complaint #708242
  12. #12

    other

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS ROTTED. THIS WAS NOTICED WHEN GETTING AN OIL CHANGE."~88,000 mi, complaint #1347668
  13. #13

    stability and traction control

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM, AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKE…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1393489
  14. #14

    steering rack mechanical

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RATTLING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT TH…"~16,000 mi, complaint #883320
  15. #15

    sunroof

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "THE DRAIN IN THE SUNROOF IS DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM. I CONSTANTLY "CLEAR THE DRAIN AS TOLD BY THE CAR DEALERSHIP" BUT THE DRAIN STILL LEAKS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND THIS BECOMES A MAJOR DISTRACTION. THE WAT…"~1,500 mi, complaint #1199871
  16. #16

    throttle and pedal

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL HAS SEVERE PROBLEM, ALMOST STALLING OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IAM SCARED OF A 'STALL-OUT" WHILE IN TRAFFIC THAT COULD RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. FIRST SEVERE OCCURRANCE WAS ON MAY 15TH,2015. AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING FREQUENTLY…"~72,471 mi, complaint #1200551
  17. #17

    tire failure

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "FIRESTONE AFFINITY S3 TOURING P215/60R17 FACTORY INSTALLED, TIRES ROTATED EVERY 5,000 KM, STILL GREAT DEAL OF TREAD REMAINING WHEN THE SERVICE STAFF CHECKED THE DEPTH DURING THE 50,000 KM SERVICE CONTRACT CHECK. LEAVING THE SERVICE CENTRE, I BELIEVED THE TIRES…"complaint #818573
  18. #18

    tpms

    1 broken

    1
    incident

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

    • "WHILE WE WERE SERVICING THE CUSTOMER'S VEHICLE THE TIRES WERE CHECKED. DURING THE CHECK THE VALVE STEM BROKE FROM THE TPMS SENSOR CAUSING ALL AIR TO ESCAPE FROM THE TIRE. A NEW TPMS SENSOR WAS REQUIRED TO BE PURCHASED AND THE TIRE WAS DISMOUNTED, RE-MOUNTED AN…"complaint #925610
  19. #19

    transmission automatic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND VEHICLE LOST POWER,ALWAYS REPLACING ROTORS,BEARINGS, AND HAD TO HAVE MAJOR WORK AT EVERY INSPECTION MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I GET RID OF THE VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE OF HOW CHEAPLY THE FRAME WORK IS VERY UNSAFE!! "~97,200 mi, complaint #1204017
  20. #20

    transmission cvt

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "MY 2009 JEEP COMPASS OVERHEATS ON LONG TRIPS. IT DOES A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN TO 40 MPH AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO GO FASTER. THIS IS VERY BAD WHEN YOU ARE ON INTERSTATE [REDACTED ADDRESS] TO PULL OVER AND GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR.…"~94,000 mi, complaint #1084191
  21. #21

    wiring harness

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "THEY (DEALERS) KEEP SAYING MY WIRING HARNESS NEEDS REPLACE. THEY REPLACE IT ONCE ON 7/11/16 CAUSE MY RADIATOR FAN WOULD NOT COME ON AND THEY REPLACE THE TIMP. NOW THE FAN WON'T TURN OFF EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS OUT. MILES ON THIS IS 130,859 I BELIEVE THERE A ISSU…"~129,957 mi, complaint #1360465

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