The Lemon Index2018 Jeep Compass.
The 2018 Jeep Compass is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 519 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 300, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 25 to 26 mpg combined. The best Jeep Compass year is 2013.
Lemon alert. 3× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2013
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 945 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Jeep Compass year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 35K miles on the car (478 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 6K–32K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 9K–43K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 6K–37K miles
Recalls 6
- electrical 2018
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
- brakes 2018
The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
- suspension 2018
The front lower control arms may be incorrectly welded, potentially resulting in a control arm separation.
Show all 6 recalls
- electrical 2017
The brightness of the backlighting for the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) cannot be adjusted.
- airbags 2017
The passenger side air bag assembly may have inflator mounting nuts loose within the module assembly.
- engine 2017
The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Jeep told dealers about
Jeep sent dealers 333 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Loss of Steering Assist This bulletin involves replacing the steering column due to water…
- Steering Wheel Switches, Terrain Switch Inoperative, Backup Camera Display Has No Grid Lines
- Customer complaint may include MIL/Check Engine lamp
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Compass SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Jeep Compass SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2450–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
The vehicle will randomly shut down while driving. Interior electrical stops working first. This has happened on a highway and on a Town side street. The strut and sway bar linkage have gone bad and need to be replaced.
2018 Jeep Compass owner · NHTSA complaint 11399511
More owner reports
Car has shut off 3 times while driving in last week. Simply shuts down in middle of a highway or side street.
NHTSA complaint 11144169
When idling in park, threw a check engine and service transmission light. When attempting to shift into drive, vehicle roughly slams into gear and is unable to switch gears once driving.
NHTSA complaint 11141674
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Jeep Compass reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 300; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Jeep Compass year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2018 Jeep Compass problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (57%), electrical (29%) and transmission & drivetrain (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Jeep Compass have?
6 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Jeep Compass get?
25 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 Jeep Compass safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2018 Jeep Compass problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,000 and 35,000 miles. The middle report was at 18,200 miles, from 478 complaints.
Does the 2018 Jeep Compass have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 19% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 Jeep Compass cost in fuel a year?
About $2450 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Jeep Compass have?
2.4L 4-cyl.
What Jeep Compass year is better than the 2018?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2015 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works