← New search

2009 Jeep Compass

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Jeep Compass are lower than the model-year median of 126.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Compass years →

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

33 reports with mileage · 11 unknown

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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

44 reports
1,500 miles · Jul 18, 2015
Unknown Or Other

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 WATER IS DRIPPING FROM MY OVERHEAD LIGHTS DOWN INTO MY GEAR SHIFTER. THI…

Read full complaint

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 WATER IS DRIPPING FROM MY OVERHEAD LIGHTS DOWN INTO MY GEAR SHIFTER. THIS IS A MAJOR DISTRACTION TO ME BECAUSE IT TAKES MY ATTENTION AWAY FROM MY DRIVING WHILE I AM FOCUSING ON TRYING TO STOP IT FROM LEAKING ALL OVER MECHANICS IN MY VEHICLE AND ALSO TRYING TO KEEP IT FROM SHORTING OUT MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. YOU CAN'T IGNORE IT BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU DRIPPING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING!

NHTSA ODI #10734903

36,000 miles · Sep 29, 2014
SteeringSuspension

NEW TIRES AT 36000, AND BREAKS AND WAS TOLD FRONT TIE ROD NEED REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639994

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2014
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. HIT THREE HARD OBJECTS,KNOCKING DOWN A TREE. THE AIRBAG SAFETY AND SEATBELT SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK, STRANGE THING, THE DRIVER SEAT DID NOT WORK AND THE PASSENGER EMPTY SEAT DID. THE JEEP WAS TOTAL. THE ROOTS OF THE TREE GOT INTO THE CABIN AN. BROKE MY FACE ALSO HURT MY SPINE. THE JEEP COMPASS WAS S…

Read full complaint

I HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. HIT THREE HARD OBJECTS,KNOCKING DOWN A TREE. THE AIRBAG SAFETY AND SEATBELT SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK, STRANGE THING, THE DRIVER SEAT DID NOT WORK AND THE PASSENGER EMPTY SEAT DID. THE JEEP WAS TOTAL. THE ROOTS OF THE TREE GOT INTO THE CABIN AN. BROKE MY FACE ALSO HURT MY SPINE. THE JEEP COMPASS WAS SOLD BY INSURANCE AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM EXCEPT THE SIDE CURTAIN (THAT NEVER CAME OUT) WERE NOT SOLD. THE INSURANCE CLAIMS THAT THE SOLD THE CAR BECAUSE THEY HAD IT AND I ASKED WHY IF IT WAS TOTAL(?) AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING. CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT I DESTROYED THE EVIDENCE AND THEY COULD NOT EXAMINED THE JEEP COMPASS. I HAD A SPECIALIST DO A COSTLY EXAMINATION WHICH DECLARED THE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM. IF THEY SOLD IT IN THE THREE DAYS AT THE JUNK YARD THEN THERE IS A PERSON OUT THERE WITH THEIR LIFE AT RISK. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN CRUEL TO ME AND ITS' LAWYERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618868

94,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Unknown Or Other

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 5 WITH NO WAY TO PULL OVER AND GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP …

Read full complaint

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 5 WITH NO WAY TO PULL OVER AND GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND THEY FOUND "NOTHING WRONG". THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM WHICH I TOLD THEM OF COURSE THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT THEY AREN'T TRAVELING ON A LONG TRIP. I GOOGLED IT AND I SEE THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE JEEP COMPASS THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND CAN NOT BE FIXED. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR IS INJURED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10609030

65,458 miles · Jun 14, 2013
Suspension

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 ACCIDENT OR MISHAP CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FAILED PARTS SUCH AS BEING DRIV…

Read full complaint

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 ACCIDENT OR MISHAP CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FAILED PARTS SUCH AS BEING DRIVEN INTO A DITCH, ETC. TIRES WERE REPLACED AT AROUND 45,000 MILES. INSPECTION AT DEALER SHOWED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED INSPECTION AND THE TIRES WERE "ABNORMALLY WORN" AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES OF USAGE. MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE THERE WAS A RISK OF THE FRONT WHEELS SHEARING OR BREAKING OFF DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE BALL JOINTS.I HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED IMMEDIATELY AT A COST OF $833.01. WHEN RESEARCHING AUTO PARTS ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AS OEM AT AROUND THE COST THE DEALER CHARGED ME OR A "PROBLEM FIXER" PART WAS AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL COST. THIS PROBLEM FIXER PART WAS A GREASABLE BALL JOINT AND THE OEM AS WELL AS THE FACTORY ORIGINAL PARTS ARE NOT GREASABLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE PART MANUFACTURERS IF NOT THE AUTOMAKER IS WELL AWARE THAT A NON-GREASABLE BALL JOINT IS A BUILT IN DEFECT AS WELL AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A HANDLING OR DRIVING ISSUE, ONLY AN ANNOYING AND OCCASIONAL NOISE AND SLIGHT VIBRATION AND AT LESS THAN 55,000 GENTLY DRIVEN AND CAREFUL MILES IT WAS NEVER THOUGHT THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WITH THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SUCH A VITAL PART SHOULD FAIL SO RELATIVELY EARLY WITHOUT ABUSE OR INCIDENT TO CAUSE IT TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519761

24,852 miles · Dec 26, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V528000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,852 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #10490059

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2012
Tires

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 AND INFLATED BEFORE BEING FIT TO TRAVEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463573

46,202 miles · Jun 21, 2012
Suspension

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 WONDERING IF CHRYSLER KNOWS THIS PART IS FAILING ON VEHICLES WITH SUCH LO…

Read full complaint

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 WONDERING IF CHRYSLER KNOWS THIS PART IS FAILING ON VEHICLES WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL OR EVEN AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS PART. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES WITH WELL OVER 200K MILES ON THEM AND HAVEN'T HAD BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462500

16,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Steering

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 THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CUR…

Read full complaint

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 THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #10428353

31,278 miles · Apr 11, 2011
SteeringSuspension

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 SHOULD INVESTIGATE BOTH THE JEEP COMPASS AND PATRIOTS FOR A DESIGN FLAW I…

Read full complaint

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 SHOULD INVESTIGATE BOTH THE JEEP COMPASS AND PATRIOTS FOR A DESIGN FLAW IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. A LOWER CONTROL/BALL JOINT/TIE ROD FAILURE, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAN RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395558

Official recalls

1

08V528000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Oct 9, 2008

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

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.