2009 Jeep Compass FWD Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Jeep Compass FWD, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure233.3%
- Suspension233.3%
- Engine116.7%
- Powertrain (other)116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUB FRAME ROTTED OUT - SAFETY ISSUE
IT HAS RAPIDLY RUSTED OUT (SUB FRAME). I HAVE OWNED IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND IT WAS NOT THAT WAY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IS THERE A RECALL?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT (FRONT DRIVER SIDE) LOWER CONTROL ARM FELL FREE FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE WHICH ATTACHES IT TO THE WHEEL, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE ABILITY TO STEER AND EVENTUALLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (MOVING LOSE UNDER THE CAR), BECAME LODGED BETWEEN THE WHEEL RIM AND THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO SHIFT FORWARD INTO THE FRONT FENDER / BUMPER AND BECOME IMMOBILE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE MADE IT HOME AND IT WAS IN PARKING THE VEHICLE THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE TIRE INNER RIM AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY, SO NO CRASH OR INJURY OCCURRED, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS.
IT HAS RAPIDLY RUSTED OUT (SUB FRAME). I HAVE OWNED IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND IT WAS NOT THAT WAY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IS THERE A RECALL?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING FROM NORCAL TO SOCAL DRIVING 80+MPH FOR 2 OR MORE HOURS THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I STARTED TO LOOSE POWER-PULLED OFF THE ROAD LET IT COOL DOWN AND IT RESTARTED AND DROVE 65 THE REST OF THE WAY WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS. 3 WEEKS LATER HEARING LOUD ENGINE NOISES WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE RADIATOR LIGHT AND SMOKE WAS SEEN BEHIND ME I PULLED OVER TO FIND MY SERPENTINE BELT WAS EATEN AWAY AND SNAPPED. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY IS SIEZED UP NOW. ALL OF THIS WITHIN A YEAR OF A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NEW RADIATOR WAS INSTALLED BY PROFESSIONALS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR LOST POWER GOING ABOUT 50MPH ON 9/15/2014. I HAD CAR TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, BOBB AUTO GROUP (11009 WEST 133RD AVENUE, CEDAR LAKE, IN 46303). MECHANICS REPLACED THE CLUTCH KIT (PART# 5062150AE), CYLINDER (5273431AB), AND COVER (PART# 4884904AB). I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 9/19/2014, PAYING $1,284.47 FOR REPAIRS AND PARTS WERE WARRANTED FOR 12,000 MILES OR 2-YEARS. ON 11/17/2014 CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 40MPH. CALLED BOBB AUTO GROUP TO INFORM THEM AND GET HELP. SINCE I WAS IN CHICAGO THIS TIME THEY ADVISED TO TAKE TO THE NEAREST CHRYSLER/JEEP/DODGE DEALER SO THAT WARRANTY CAN BE HONORED AS IT SOUNDED TO THEM THAT THE PART THEY JUST INSTALLED FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SOUTH CHICAGO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (7340 SOUTH WESTERN AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60636) FOR SERVICE WORK. ON 11/18/2014 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE CLUTCH WAS THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, IN THEIR OPINION THE PART FAILED DUE TO "DRIVER ABUSE" AND NOT A PART DEFECT OR INSTALLATION ERROR AND NO WARRANTY WILL BE HONORED. THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC AT BOBB AUTO GROUP DID NOT AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT AND EVEN STATED THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. HE SAID THAT WE SHOULD CALL CHRYSLER LLC AND HAVE THEM REVIEW THE CASE AND FORCE THE DEALER TO DO REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE AREA MANAGER FOR CHICAGO HAD PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE SENT TO THEM AND THEY NOT ONLY AGREED THAT THE WARRANTY WILL NOT BE HONORED BUT ALSO FLAGGED MY VIN NATIONWIDE TO PREVENT OTHER DEALERS FROM WARRANTY WORK. THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH, AND SPEAKING TO OTHER MECHANICS THAT WORK FOR OTHER CHRYSLER DEALERS AND OTHERWISE, I HAVE COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT "DRIVER ABUSE" WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME AND ALSO LESS THAN 2K MILES. I FEEL THAT A PART OR VEHICLE DEFECT IS BEING COVERED UP AND/OR REPAIR FRAUD IS OCCURRING AT SOUTH CHICAGO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .