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2009 Jeep Compass 4X4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 15 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

15 reports
140,000 miles · Jun 3, 2019
SuspensionUnknown Or OtherCrash

THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS LOOK LIKE A BOW-LEGGED COWBOY BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME BASICALLY SNAPPED AS WE WERE DRIVING. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND JEEP REFUSES TO RECALL THIS. 2007 HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY EXTENDED A "WARRANTY" TO GET …

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THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS LOOK LIKE A BOW-LEGGED COWBOY BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME BASICALLY SNAPPED AS WE WERE DRIVING. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND JEEP REFUSES TO RECALL THIS. 2007 HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY EXTENDED A "WARRANTY" TO GET THIS FIXED. 2009 IS MADE, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE SAME JUNK METAL, AND YET THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEIR INCOMPETENCE. WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED DUE TO THIS NEGLIGENCE. NOT HAPPY JEEP.

NHTSA ODI #11217562

130,000 miles · Mar 15, 2019
Unknown Or Other

SUBFRAME IS FRONT OF CAR IS ROTTED OUT. HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11187150

108,000 miles · Oct 7, 2017
Suspension

WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A VERY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, A LOUD CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WAS HEARD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED RIGHT TO GO STRAIGHT, ALONG WITH A LOUD TIRE SQUEAL. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO FIND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CONTACTING THE REAR OF THE WHEEL…

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WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A VERY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, A LOUD CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WAS HEARD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED RIGHT TO GO STRAIGHT, ALONG WITH A LOUD TIRE SQUEAL. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO FIND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CONTACTING THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. INSPECTION UNDERNEATH REVEALED A ROTTED OUT SUBFRAME/CROSSMEMBER WHICH IS SPLIT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BACK. IT ALSO HAS SOME LEAKING FLUID COMING DOWN FROM ABOVE THE CROSSMEMBER WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS SATURDAY AND THE INCIDENT WAS FOLLOWED BY A $135 FLATBED TRIP TO A DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING MONDAY MORNING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HORRIFIC POSSIBILITIES IF THIS SUSPENSION HAD COLLAPSED AT SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11032196

48,000 miles · Sep 3, 2017
Suspension

FRONT SUBFRAME IS ROTTED OUT DUE TO CONDENSER DRAIN DRIPPING ON IT. FOUND OUT 9/3/ 17 DURING OIL CHANGE. WAS SERVICE BULLETIN 23-012-14 FOR THIS BUT ON VEHICLES AFTER 8/25/2005 AND BEFORE 7/23/2007. SEE ? BELOW WHEN HAPPENED. I JUST FOUND OUT

NHTSA ODI #11021273

87,309 miles · May 2, 2017
Suspension

THE REAR SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT AND HAVE WAY WHILE MY NIECE WAS DRIVING IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AND TO NEW OF A CAR FOR THIS. THE REAR SUB FRAME GAVE OUT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10983169

99,860 miles · Apr 24, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THE CAR WILL STALL AFTER THE GAS NOZZLE HAS CLICKED OFF THAT THE TANK IS FULL. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE (AFTER A FEW TRIES) AND BEGINNING TO DRIVE, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND SPUTTER WITHIN A FEW SECONDS TO MINUTES OF LEAVING THE GAS STATION. WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF GETTING FUEL, ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO STOP …

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WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THE CAR WILL STALL AFTER THE GAS NOZZLE HAS CLICKED OFF THAT THE TANK IS FULL. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE (AFTER A FEW TRIES) AND BEGINNING TO DRIVE, THE CAR WILL LURCH AND SPUTTER WITHIN A FEW SECONDS TO MINUTES OF LEAVING THE GAS STATION. WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF GETTING FUEL, ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO STOP AND CAR OPERATES FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME YOU FILL THE FUEL TANK.

NHTSA ODI #10980065

101,250 miles · Apr 24, 2017
Electrical System

THE CAR WILL NOT START. GET IN THE CAR, TURN THE KEY, NO SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO CLICKING, NOTHING. THE RADIO WORKS, THE FAN WORKS, THE LIGHTS WORK. HAVE CHECKED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, NONE OF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH JEEPS BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH. HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN…

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THE CAR WILL NOT START. GET IN THE CAR, TURN THE KEY, NO SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO CLICKING, NOTHING. THE RADIO WORKS, THE FAN WORKS, THE LIGHTS WORK. HAVE CHECKED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, NONE OF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH JEEPS BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH. HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. DOES NOT PUT OUT A CODE FOR A CODE READER TO SCAN AND REPORT.

NHTSA ODI #10980063

100,000 miles · Nov 23, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UP AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIGOROUSLY JERK AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4X4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UP AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIGOROUSLY JERK AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10927726

150,000 miles · May 24, 2016
StructureSuspension

2008 JEEP LIMITED 4 X 4. WHEN CLEANING THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THE HEAD FROM A VERY LARGE BOLT ON THE FLOOR. UPON CRAWLING UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT A BOLT HAD ROTTED OFF WHERE THE REAR FRAME RIGHT SIDE BY THE SHOCK TOWER ATTACHES TO THE BODY. I HAVE HAD NOISES COMING FROM THE AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SHOCKS NEEDED …

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2008 JEEP LIMITED 4 X 4. WHEN CLEANING THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THE HEAD FROM A VERY LARGE BOLT ON THE FLOOR. UPON CRAWLING UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT A BOLT HAD ROTTED OFF WHERE THE REAR FRAME RIGHT SIDE BY THE SHOCK TOWER ATTACHES TO THE BODY. I HAVE HAD NOISES COMING FROM THE AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH THIS BOLT MISSING THERE IS SOME CHANCE THERE IS EXCESS BOUNCE BETWEEN THE UPPER SHOCK TOWER AND THE FRAME. MY LOCAL BODY SHOP TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WOULD BE TO DROP THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE AND GET THE BROKEN BOLT OUT TO REPLACE. VERY EXPENSIVE. THERE IS NO WAY A BOLT LIKE THIS SHOULD ROT OFF, UNLESS THE BOLTS WERE BAD TO START WITH. IF THIS HAPPENS TO A FEW MORE I COULD HIT A BUMP AND HAVE THE BODY FALL OFF THE FRAME WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10870525

72,000 miles · Mar 25, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I JUST RECENTLY FAILED INSPECTION ON MY 2009 JEEP COMPASS 4 X 4 FOR RUSTED CROSS MEMBERS. THE CROSS MEMBER IN THE FRONT IS RUSTED TO THE POINT IT HAS THROUGH HOLES IN IT. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS NOT AS SEVERE BUT IS ALSO HEAVILY RUSTED.

NHTSA ODI #10851527

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.