2019 Jeep Compass Engine Problems

While driving through a tunnel in Boston, MA, the vehicle shut off completely without warning and could not be restarted. The dashboard displayed multiple warning lights and the engine would not crank (clicking sound only). I was stranded inside an active tunnel in live traffic, requiring a Massachusetts State Police response and a tow. The dealer diagnosed a shorted starter, and during the same repair found the radiator leaking from its lower corner seam with no coolant remaining in the system (dealer repair order 316800, at 66,453 miles). An independent repair shop had documented dried coolant residue under the radiator three months earlier at 63,656 miles, indicating the leak had been developing. This vehicle also has a history of auxiliary battery failures affecting the stop/start system: the auxiliary battery failed at 22,517 miles and was replaced under warranty, and failed again at 58,094 miles. A sudden engine shutdown in a tunnel with no ability to restart is a serious safety hazard, and I am filing this complaint to document the failure. Repair invoices are available and can be uploaded.

NHTSA ID

11751519

Incident

May 18, 2026

Experienced countless "high coolant temp" followed by power loss and engine shutoff, yes—while driving—like everyone else. NHTSA CAMPAIGN: PE22013 Search it and read. They investigated it already & ruled it not dangerous enough. It took me spending so much money trying different fixes, then countless hours searching for a solution to finally realize that full investigation case was tucked away years ago. No big deal apparently. The conclusion gets it wrong of course. Part of the ruling claiming no safety risk is based on implying the car starts back right after engine loss and that's simply not true. Twice mine wouldn't start back after the incident, not immediately not within 30 minutes. Only once did it fail, then restart after. I've read through the hundreds of similar complaints and many are stranded after it happens as well. But there's definitely one thing in common EVERYONE'S DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENS. This is a severely dangerous issue, putting peoples lives at risk. This is 100% on the manufacturer to bring to light and shamefully haven't. This started last summer for me and I didn't post about it but seeing brand new report still being added irks me. It didn't happen over the winter. And no it wasn't the alternator, battery, fuses, radiator, or injector.. I (understandably) heard it all and tried it all. Honestly I let it sit for a while and it stopped. The issue is unpredictable and undetectable by mechanics. Not sure what else you need.

NHTSA ID

11741196

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

I have to continually add motor oil to my engine. Every 1,000-1,500 miles I need a quart of oil added. There should be a recall to address this issue.

NHTSA ID

11740089

Incident

May 26, 2026

Car jerks and temp gadgets jumps too high. Message reads high coolant temperature.

NHTSA ID

11735421

Incident

May 3, 2026

After replacing both batteries in my jeep compass 2019. The “Stop safely vehicle will shut down” message kept coming on. In traffic the car shut off completely and wouldn’t start. This is a reoccurring issue and jeep doesn’t care. It needs to be fixed. To shut off completely during driving is a safety hazard!!!

NHTSA ID

11727899

Incident

Mar 28, 2026

-Vehicle would not start several times, this occurred just after purchasing, then battery was replaced and it occurred again over the course of 8 months. -A few days ago after getting the jeep to start, the RPM would not go >2 and the speed would not increase >20 MPH. This happened on PA220 with speed limit of 40MPH causing a near-wreck when pulling out onto the road and not being able to accelerate to the flow of oncoming traffic. My 6 year old child was in the vehicle with me. -Yesterday I stopped for gas & turned the engine off, then it would not start up again. Another person used their vehicle to jumpstart the jeep with jumper cables. The dash showed there was a “coolant issue” and to check the engine. The jeep was inspected today and serviced with no issues to the battery, it was not the cause. -Previously on multiple occasions the front screen for the radio would not turn on, has glitched and flickered, would not connect to cords plugged in for carplay, chargers will not charge the phone/connect inconsistently (multiple different chargers, worked in other vehicles/outlets), screen would be black but radio would play and unable to turn off/adjust the volume, screen “buttons” will not work/respond to touch often. I have video of this happening, unable to upload footage to this complaint. Can provide if necessary. -Per the service dept at Tyrone Ford Dealership, the O2 sensor is on along with several other codes regarding this issue. This is a manufacturer’s defect, not a user error. It is a safety concern and is not something the consumer should be held accountable to pay for/fix. This is poor craftsmanship on Jeep’s part and needs resolved on their dime, not a single mother’s.

NHTSA ID

11727330

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

I was driving to work at about 4:30am and was stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green I tried to accelarate and the engine stalled. The engine temperature warning light came on. I waited a few minutes and the vehicle started right up.

NHTSA ID

11726941

Incident

Feb 6, 2026

I was driving home from work and stopped at the stoplight. When the light turned green, I tried to accelerate and the engine stalled. The service engine, electronic throttle control and the stop/start system warning lights all came on. I waited a few minutes and restarted the engine.

NHTSA ID

11726938

Incident

Sep 23, 2024

GOING INTO A TURN OIL LIGHT FLASHED BRIEFLY AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN MID TURN THIS HAPPEND 2 TIMES IN A MONTH I HAVE PREVIOUSLY LOGGED A COMPLAINT WHERE THE START STOP DID A SIMILAR SHUTDOWN IN MIDDLE OF DRIVING THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THE ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE FORUMS ON JEEP SOMEONE WILL DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ITS A REAL LIFE SAFTEY ISSUE!!!

NHTSA ID

11725720

Incident

Mar 19, 2026

2019 jeep compass, 65k miles Car started having misfires while accelerating and decreasing speeds.It stayed pretty consistent at all speeds! Shortly after the car overheated and stated coolant temperature too high. Had it diagnosed and it was confirmed oil is mixing in with the coolant meaning blown head gasket and more than likely engine rebuild/new engine. All regular maintenance has ALWAYS been done. It is absolutely unacceptable that so many people are reporting this same exact issue and nothing is being done. Every other comment is someone stranded or the vehicle has shut off while driving, for the ones whose engine hasn’t failed they are on the verge of doing so. The investigation into this needs to be reopened, how is this not a major safety concern with an obvious engine defect. Is it gonna take several bad accidents, or worse a death ? This needs to be addressed immediately.

NHTSA ID

11719774

Incident

Feb 14, 2026

My vehicle has experienced multiple incidents of sudden engine shutdown while driving, accompanied by a dashboard warning stating “High Coolant Temperature.” These shutdowns occur without warning and while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in loss of engine power and creating a dangerous situation in traffic. The error immediately goes away making it difficult to record in enough time. Authorized repair centers have been unable to recreate the issue due to no fault codes present

NHTSA ID

11709251

Incident

Oct 13, 2022

There is a large system failure in the Jeep Compass, in which the oil is getting mixed with fluid, causing the transmission fluid to become like chocolate milk. This failure is all in the way the vehicle is manufactured that it causes damage to both the transmission and engine costing approximately more than 14k in repairs. The problem has been confirmed at a dealership, as well as too other 2019-2020 Jeep Compass owners and Jeep has done nothing. It is a safety issue as the vehicle stopped in the middle of the fwy, and needed to be towed. All oil changes and maintenance done at dealership on time and nothing was ever caught, was told this is a common problem for this year's models. A warning lamp popped up the same day I had an oil change appointment. It has not been inspected as no one seems to care to help. I was even charged for the oil change that I didnt get and was never refunded. Car is still not drivable as no repairs have fixed issue.

NHTSA ID

11705651

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

Three times since 8/2025 the vehicle flashed a “coolant temperature too high” warning despite the gauge reading normal and no check engine light. Coolant reservoir was at appropriate line. This immediately caused the vehicle to enter limp mode after idling in the drive thru. The vehicle remained in drive with full power but would not allow me to drive or shift to park until i turned the vehicle off. It would restart and allow me to drive. The 4th incident happened 12/13/25. I was at a red light, idling, and when green light came my vehicle flashed the coolant temperature warning and would not allow me to drive. I was stuck in traffic for 5 mins and had to shut my car off to be able to drive. Thankfully in this situation the person behind me was paying attention and did not slam into me. I recently had the main battery replaced. On my way home last night the warning flashed and my car abruptly went into limp Mode while I was actively driving in busy traffic. Thankfully it did not stall and I was able to turn right into a business parking lot. The last two situations could have resulted in accidents and / or injuries and should not be looked over.

NHTSA ID

11705537

Incident

Dec 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated, and the coolant hot warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle was pulled over and allowed to cool down, and then coolant was added. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a cylinder had failed, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

NHTSA ID

11703282

Incident

Dec 5, 2025

Mileage

141,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle lost power with the check engine and fuel warning lights illuminated. The engine failure, check engine, transmission, engine oil, and alignment messages were displayed. Additionally, the doors locked and unlocked, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and then stalled. The vehicle was restarted after 30 minutes, and on the second failure, the vehicle restarted in approximately 10 minutes. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the Jeep dealer for assistance. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there were multiple communication errors and that the software needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred a month later. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where the failure could not able to be replicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,586.

NHTSA ID

11684469

Incident

Nov 21, 2024

Mileage

31,586 mi

My 2019 Jeep Compass (VIN: omitted per instructions) experienced a serious powertrain issue where coolant leaked into the transmission, causing overheating and vehicle failure. The car became inoperable without warning at 74,000 miles. There were no prior signs or symptoms. A certified Jeep dealership confirmed a mechanical failure involving a faulty internal part that allowed transmission fluid and coolant to mix. Jeep denied full coverage despite it being a known issue among other owners. This is a significant safety risk, especially if the vehicle were to fail while driving. I am the original owner and the vehicle has been well-maintained with no accidents. A case was filed with Jeep, and a partial repair discount was offered, but the out-of-pocket cost is still unaffordable. This defect needs to be addressed as it renders the vehicle unreliable and unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11667256

Incident

Jun 12, 2025

traveling approximately 45-50 mph on two lane road (speed limit 55...had just accelerated from a 4 way stop) I had only been on the road leaving my residence for about 7 minutes. the display showed the temperature gauge rise all of the way to the top, the error message stating "high coolant temperature' (along those lines) and the car jerked enough to cause a decrease in speed. I was almost rear ended. This is a dangerous issue. Ive looked at several forums where they were reported (hopefully to NHTSA as well) to dealers and they had not found a reason yet. batteries (aux and regular) were replaced last fall. PLEASE tell me it wont take someone getting seriously injured for something to be done.

NHTSA ID

11666771

Incident

Jun 13, 2025

This has happened three times in the last 4 months. There is no pattern, rhyme, or reason to understand why this happens. Today, while driving on the interstate at approximately 60mph, My 2019 Jeep Compass (80k miles) jerked violently and displayed the “Engine Coolant Temp High” warning message while the temperature gauges spiked. I coasted off to the shoulder. This could have caused an accident.

NHTSA ID

11653553

Incident

Apr 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that a message that the coolant level was high was displayed on the instrument panel and immediately after the message was displayed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. Additionally, the windows failed to open and close, the doors failed to lock and unlock, and there were other unstated electrical malfunctions. The contact coasted over to the side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle several times for the vehicle to operate as needed. The failure was intermittent but had occurred approximately 12 times. The dealer was contacted; however, the contact had not received a callback. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11647371

Incident

Apr 10, 2024

Mileage

60,000 mi

The car flashed an error code "Coolant temp too high" and the engine shut down while I was entering the parking lot of my son’s school. The car froze up, but then turned itself back on. The coolant temperature was normal. I’ve been terrified to drive ever since.

NHTSA ID

11647232

Incident

Mar 7, 2025

The car flashed an error code "Coolant temp to high" and shut the engine down while I was entering the on ramp to the expressway. The car stalled in the middle of the lane. The coolant temp was normal and not high. I was able to restart the car and had no issue for rest of the drive. I checked my coolant levels and everything is normal. This again happened the next day in my neighborhood thankfully. The code flashed and the engine immediately shut down. There was little to no time to react. My fear is this will happen again when my daughter is driving.

NHTSA ID

11646406

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

I was driving normally down the street and the car suddenly shut itself off and a warning light came up that said something like "coolant high" and then it lost all power. after 5-10 seconds, everything came back on as normal. this has happened approximately 20 times in the last 2 years. I took it to the Jeep dealership and they tried to pull codes to see what was happening and they state that they cannot figure out what is wrong with it because it is not pulling any codes for that.

NHTSA ID

11642108

Incident

Feb 11, 2025

I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2019 Jeep Compass, which suffered catastrophic engine failure at only 50,000 miles despite regular maintenance and timely oil changes. The vehicle has been well-maintained, with all scheduled oil changes performed on time using the recommended oil and filters. Despite this, the engine experienced a dropped cylinder, leading to total failure and requiring a full engine replacement. The manufacturer, Jeep (Stellantis), refuses to cover the repair, stating that the vehicle is just outside its 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty due to the time limit. However, engine failure at only 50,000 miles is highly premature and raises concerns about possible defects in the engine design, materials, or assembly. Given that many modern engines last well beyond 100,000 miles with proper maintenance, I believe this failure may indicate a widespread manufacturing defect that could pose safety risks to other Jeep Compass owners. If the engine fails unexpectedly, it could cause loss of power while driving, creating a serious hazard for drivers and passengers. I request that the NHTSA investigate whether other Jeep Compass owners have experienced similar premature engine failures and determine if this issue requires a recall, extended warranty coverage, or manufacturer accountability. Jeep should not be allowed to avoid responsibility for major engine failures in vehicles with such low mileage. Safety Concerns: •Unexpected engine failure can lead to sudden loss of power, increasing accident risks. •If this issue is widespread, other Jeep Compass owners could face similar failures without warning. •The manufacturer should be held accountable for defects leading to premature catastrophic failures. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this issue and determine if a recall or extended coverage program is warranted to protect consumers from unexpected and costly failures.

NHTSA ID

11641517

Incident

Jan 28, 2025

When I exited my car to enter my workplace on January 27, 2025, I noticed the radio had not turned off, which was unusual. I re-entered the car, turning the ignition on and off, hoping to shut the radio down. However, when I attempted to start the car, it made stalling noises, and would not turn on. After several attempts, the car turned on but the temperature gauge soared, and an error message about high coolant temperature appeared, causing the car to shut down immediately. I called my husband, who suggested waiting a few minutes before trying again. Fortunately, the car started, and I went into work, advised by my husband not to touch it until it was time to leave. Later, I drove directly to the Jeep dealership. Two days passed, and they dismissed the issue, unable to replicate it. Online research revealed this is a recurring problem with this model, raising my fears of the car shutting down unexpectedly in risky situations like driving on the highway.

NHTSA ID

11639282

Incident

Jan 27, 2025

When starting my 2019 Jeep Compass an error message stated "coolant temperature high" and "service brake system." It then sputtered and shut down. I waited a minute and then restarted the vehicle. There was a lag for the car to start and then it went back to normal and no codes were present.

NHTSA ID

11637355

Incident

Jan 21, 2025