2014 Jeep Compass Suspension Problems

am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my 2014 Jeep Compass. While driving, the vehicle feels as though the passenger-side front wheel is going to snap off at any moment. The sensation and noise appear to come from the wheel or axle area, and the instability is strong enough that the vehicle does not feel safe to operate. I have taken the vehicle to multiple mechanics for inspections and test drives. Despite these efforts, no one has been able to locate the source of the problem or identify any faulty components. Although the mechanics report finding nothing wrong, the issue remains and makes the vehicle extremely concerning to drive on public roads. Because the problem affects steering stability and overall safety, I believe this may be a potential defect. I am requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this issue, determine whether other drivers have reported similar complaints, and consider whether an investigation or recall may be necessary. I can provide additional information, videos, photographs, or repair documentation if needed. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA ID

11703474

Incident

Dec 5, 2025

The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that initially, while driving approximately 65 MPH, the rear-end of the vehicle was swaying. Upon inspection, there was severe rust on the rear suspension of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who diagnosed that there was severe rusting to the rear suspension, with fractures on the passenger's side of the vehicle, with a fractured, detached suspension on the driver's side. The mechanic replaced the rear sub-frame, stabilizer links, and control arm. Approximately one year later, after driving 130,000 additional miles, the daughter informed the contact that oil needed to be added more frequently. The contact was informed that while her daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated quickly; and while depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine revved abnormally and coasted before decelerating. The driver was able to make it to the nearest parking lot and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a Certified Mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with a rear catalytic converter failure; however, replacing the part failed to fix the vehicle. The mechanic advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter and Oxygen sensors had failed; however, the vehicle was not repaired. Subsequently, a different mechanic replaced the front catalytic converter and performed an oil change. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11689109

Incident

Apr 23, 2025

I took my car to be inspected for yearly registration. I was told by the repair shop that I have parts of the subframe and suspension that are excessively rusted, to the point where they are a safety concern and have to be replaced. Other model years of the first generation Jeep Compass have been issued extended warranties on those parts, and I believe it should be extended to the entire first generation of the Jeep Compass.

NHTSA ID

11460395

Incident

Apr 8, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND DETECTED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR, CROSS MEMBER, FRONT END, AIR CONDITIONING CONDUCTOR, BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR AND BOLTS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED KIRKWOOD AUTOWORX (7321 ROSEVILLE RD #9, SACRAMENTO, CA 95842) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11373796

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

Mileage

53,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP COMPASS. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTIVATED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE ILLUMINATED AND TURNED OFF ONCE THE TURN SIGNALS WERE DEACTIVATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER THE ENGINE TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING AND ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11229665

Incident

May 15, 2019

Mileage

82,000 mi

WHEN GOING OVER 30MPH OR UPHILL MY TRANSMISSION STARTS SPUTTERING. I CANNOT ACCELERATE. FREQUENTLY HAPPENS WHEN ON HIGHWAYS. THERE IS A SUDDEN SHIFT ALMOST LIKE IM SWITCHING GEARS. RPM SHOOTS UP BUT CAR WILL NOT GAIN SPEED. HEADLIGHTS WILL GET VERY DIM, INSIDE LIGHTS WILL FLICKER. WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE ITS LIKE IT ALMOST DOESNT WANT TO START. FRONT WINDOW MOTORS WORK WHEN THEY PLEASE

NHTSA ID

11180322

Incident

Jan 24, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP COMPASS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. WHILE DRIVING 45-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED STEADILY AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE BALANCED AND THE FRONT CV AXLE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,136.

NHTSA ID

11025037

Incident

Aug 26, 2017

Mileage

73,136 mi

INFORMED BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PROPERLY ALIGNED WITHOUT REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. VEHICLE HAS 58,334 MILES ON IT AND WAS SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON FRONT TIRES. HAD CONTROL ARMS REPLACED, WHICH CONTAINED SEALED LOWER BALL JOINTS, WAS TOLD BY SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THIS WAS A KNOW WEAKNESS IN THIS VEHICLE'S DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION AND COMMON REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING/TRACKING FINE OTHERWISE, BUT WAS TOLD THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. HAVE NEVER SEEN FAILURE OF CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENT ON VEHICLE WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11013067

Incident

Aug 5, 2017

Mileage

59,334 mi